Last year post-offices were convenient points for filing income-tax returns. But not this time round.

First, the tax administration went on record wanting to discontinue this facility because the personnel at the post-offices had last year accepted even incomplete returns.

This year, some post-offices in Delhi did start to accept returns belatedly only to back out during the crucial last days to the deadline. Was the tax administration downplaying the post-office facility only to bolster the fortunes of the new kids on the block the Tax Returns Preparers or TRPs? One hopes from next year post-offices will accept IT returns.

If Mr Lalu Prasad can entrust them with the task of selling rail tickets, the Finance Ministry should take full advantage of their easy accessibility for filing returns.

S. Murlidharan