Extension also comes in view of difficulties faced by taxpayers as quoting Aadhaar number was made mandatory for ITR filings

The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for 2016-17 has been extended till August 5, the Income Tax Department said on Monday, and asked taxpayers to link their Aadhaar Cards with PAN latest by August 31.

"In view of the difficulties faced by taxpayers, the date for filing of Income Tax Returns for 2016-17 has been extended to August 5," the department tweeted.