<h1>Govt Delays Unique Transaction Number Requirement for 2009-10 Tax Returns Due to Communication Issues; Launch Expected January 2010.</h1> The government plans to mandate the inclusion of a Unique Transaction Number (UTN) in income tax return forms for assessees allocated this number by the Income-tax Department. However, since the UTNs have not yet been communicated to taxpayers, this requirement is postponed for the 2009-10 assessment year. Each transaction involving tax deduction or collection at source will receive a UTN, which must be quoted in tax returns to facilitate prompt verification and tax credit allocation. The UTN system is expected to be operational by January 1, 2010, as stated by the Minister of State for Finance in a Lok Sabha session.