Revamped income tax portal: Five new features we like the most

• The redesigned website has a user-friendly interface, new functionalities, and a mobile-responsive design.
  
• There is a guided virtual tour with button indicators to make navigation easy.
  
• There is a section called ‘Taxpayer Services’ which makes it easy to navigate to the information you are looking for.
  

The new and revamped income tax portal is here and a visit shows a completely new look design which is easy on the eyes, user friendly and clutter-free. It is noteworthy that this is not a website to file your taxes but the official website of the Income Tax Department. We look at five ways in which the new income tax portal is different and how it can benefit you.

User friendly interface and mobile-responsive design

The website does not look complex and invites you to get in and explore. It is clutter-free and has lots of white space and is hence pleasing to the eye. “The redesigned website provides tax payers with a user-friendly interface, new functionalities, and a mobile-responsive design,” says Suneel Dasari, founder and CEO, EZTax.in.

Guided virtual tools

There is a guided virtual tour with button indicators to make navigation easy. There is a search bar where you can search for any topic you want information on and many ‘how’ to videos which explains how to file ITR offline, how to resolve errors when linking Aadhaar with PAN, how to update tax returns, and so on.

Access a wealth of tax related information

All tax-related information was always there on the website but it was not easy to find. “Now, taxpayers can access a wealth of tax information, including statutes, regulations, circulars, and notifications, in one location,” says Dasari. You can also compare different tax sections, acts and rules.

For example the desktop site has a section Individual/HUF- Salaried Employees- Deductions under which I can get tax benefits, which explains in detail the different deductions available under all the sections. It is easier to find tax forms and locate relevant information which will make it easier to get a grasp on tax matters.

Taxpayer services module

There is a section called ‘Taxpayer Services’ which has sections like ‘return preparation made easy,’ ‘tax tools,’ ‘got a problem’ and others, which makes it easy to navigate to the information you want. What’s more, you can also play a ‘Tax Gyaan’ game to test your knowledge about taxes!

Due date reminder feature

The due date reminder feature is a tool that mentions all due dates for submission of different taxes with the number of days remaining for a certain due date, and also has a tax calendar which highlights all the important dates, so that you do not miss any tax payment deadline.

"Due date reminder is a feature of the redesigned website that assists taxpayers in maintaining compliance,” says Dasari. There are also links to the tax filing portal so that you can file your taxes as and when necessary.

Overall, the revamped website is impressive and should make the subject less dreary and thus invite more to visit the website.