The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26) is September 15, 2025.
The extension was announced in May after repeated representations from chartered accountants and professional bodies, who highlighted difficulties faced by taxpayers in meeting the July 31 deadline. Taxpayers whose accounts require an audit must still file by September 30, 2025, as that deadline remains unchanged.
Reasons for the extension
Tax professionals flagged several issues this year:
• Portal glitches: Many users reported errors, slow logins, and failures while uploading returns on the income tax e-filing portal.
• Data mismatches: Discrepancies between the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS created confusion about tax credits and forced taxpayers to spend extra time reconciling data.
• Delayed forms: Updated ITR forms and utilities were released later than expected, leaving a shorter effective filing window.
• New ICAI reporting format: Revised disclosure requirements introduced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India added to the compliance burden.
The Chandigarh Chartered Accountants Taxation Association (CCATAX) and others urged the CBDT to consider these challenges. Acting on these requests, the board issued a circular on 27 May 2025 extending the deadline by six weeks.
Why filing early matters
Missing the September 15 deadline could result in late fees under Section 234F and interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C. Taxpayers may also lose the option to carry forward certain losses.
{{/usCountry}}Missing the September 15 deadline could result in late fees under Section 234F and interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C. Taxpayers may also lose the option to carry forward certain losses.
{{/usCountry}}With the extension, individuals now have additional time to file accurate returns, but experts caution against last-minute filing as further extensions are unlikely.