If your income tax (I-T) return this year involves a possible refund, then hurry up. The Income Tax department has advised that you should meet the July 31 deadline to file returns to enable speedier processing of your papers.

As it has been in recent years, the department will set up special counters at Vikas Bhawan, Mayur Bhawan and Pragati Maidan to help assessees file their returns. The department will also set up help desks and special counters for senior citizens and disabled persons.

"If a taxpayer wants to get timely and ensured refunds, he or she has to file ITR by July 31. Otherwise it becomes very tedious to get a refund," chief commissioner Digvijai Kumar of the I-T department told reporters.

The special counters in Vikas Bhawan are intended only for taxpayers of north-east and north-west Delhi, for whom 50 counters will be operational on July 28 and 29 between 9.30am and 6pm and on July 30 and 31 from 9.30am to 8pm.

Taxpayers other than companies whose accounts are not required to be audited and having a business turnover up to R40 lakh or with professional receipts up to R10 lakh also have to file their returns of income or wealth for the Assessment Year 2011-12 by July 31.  

Kumar said a separate "A26" registration counter will be set up where a taxpayer can verify whether tax payments made by him or tax deducted at source (TDS) from his or her salary has been correctly reported to the department.