Mumbai: The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Monday clarified that those who are filing their income tax returns without linking their Aadhaar with PAN can fill and submit their income tax returns forms by August 5 but will have to connect Aadhaar with PAN by August 31.

For taxpayers' convenience, CBDT has allowed them to file their tax returns and also has told them to link Aadhaar with PAN before August 31, 2017. If they fail to do so their tax returns form will not be processed, CBDT informed.

On Monday, the direct taxed body extended income tax filing deadline by 5 more days from July 31 to August 5 after it received complaints from various quarters in which taxpayers said they were facing difficulties in filing tax returns.

"In order to facilitate e-filing of return, govt has decided to give extension of 5 days. The return can be now filed upto 5th August, 2017," Fiance Ministry said.

Earlier, the tax authorities had indicated that they will not give any extension in the deadline for filing income tax returns. They cites that they have already received 2 crore dully filled tax returns applications through its website. And, according to them, there was no need to extend the deadline.

As it was July 31 last day for filing returns, there was a huge rush on to the income tax website that was not working properly and crashed early in the day when taxpayers thronged it.

The Finance Ministry further said that for e-filing returns, it was sufficient to quote Aadhaar or acknowledgement number taxpayer got after applying for Aadhaar card.

India has a total population of 1.3 billion people of which slightly more than 4 per cent or 5 crore people filed their tax returns. In the backdrop of demonetisation, the government has started working towards widening tax base. It also aims to increase tax net and subsequently the tax revenue of country.