Nilesh Suchak, a lecturer of the R J Tibrewal Commerce College in Ahmedabad, approached the Mithakhali branch of HDFC Bank to file his income tax returns through the e-return scheme.

Suchak was told that the system is not in place at the bank. He then approached Bharat Overseas Bank, but didn't succeed. There are many like Suchak who have approached the intermediaries to file I-T returns through the e-return scheme but came to know that the system is not in place.

The income tax department has appointed three banks -- HDFC Bank, Mithakhali branch; Bharat Overseas Bank, C G Road Branch and Indian Overseas Bank, Ashram Road branch -- as authorised intermediaries to accept I-T returns through the e-return scheme.

The e-return scheme was launched by Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh on August 8, and is available in the four metropolitan cities along with Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderababd.

Officials at the three intermediaries admit that people are making inquiries at the banks.

Leased lines have to be established between these bank branches and the Aaykar Bhawan in order to facilitate transfer of data in electronic form from the banks to the I-T department.

P C Pande, chief manager, Indian Overseas Bank, Ashram Road branch, said that it will take at least 10 days for the service to begin.

"We have ordered for computers and applied to the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for a leased line. As of now, e-return facilities have not begun," he said.

The officer incharge of the e-return facility at HDFC Bank said that at the moment the process for setting up a link between the bank and the I-T department is on.

"At present it is not clear when the system will start. I have not received any instructions on this issue," said Siddharth Trivedi of the bank. Officials at the C G Road branch of Bharat Overseas Branch said that a company appointed to install the leased line between the branch and the I-T office is expected to set up the system within a week.

"People are making inquiries, but we are informing them that the system is yet to be put in place," said a branch official.

Meanwhile, I-T officials said that the commissioner (salaries) has called a meeting of officials at the three intermediaries to sort out the issue.

Among things to be discussed at the meeting are bearing of costs and the possible date on which the e-return system will be implemented in Ahmedabad.