Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 15:17 IST

Income Tax Deadline Extension: As professional bodies continue to urge govt to extend the due date, there is no official word from the income tax dept on the deadline extension.

ITR Filing Deadline Extension 2025.

ITR Filing Due Date Extension 2025: With just two days left for the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, the income tax department on Saturday said it has received over six crore returns so far for the ongoing assessment year 2025-26, even as professional bodies continue to urge the government to extend the due date. It also advised all those who have not filed ITR for AY 2025-26, “to file at the earliest to avoid last-minute rush”.

“Thank you taxpayers & tax professionals for helping us reach the milestone of 6 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) as of now and still counting,” the department said in a post on X, adding that its helpdesk is functioning round-the-clock to assist with filing, tax payments and related services.

This year, the last date for filing non-audit returns was pushed to September 15 from the usual July 31 deadline, owing to delays in the release of updated ITR forms. The extension came after several tweaks were required following the interim Budget’s changes to the capital gains tax framework.

The number of returns filed so far lags last year’s pace. By July 31, 2024, 7.6 crore ITRs had been submitted. As of September 13, this year’s tally stood at nearly six crore.

Calls For ITR Deadline Extension Grow

Professional bodies, including the Karnataka State Chartered Accountants Association (KSCAA), ICAI’s Central India Regional Council and the Advocates Tax Bar Association (ATBA), have written to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), citing portal glitches, delayed utilities, floods in parts of the country and festive season pressures as reasons why more time is needed.

Many tax practitioners have also taken to social media, flagging difficulties in filing and warning that the last-minute rush could lead to widespread non-compliance.

However, there has been no official word yet from the department on whether the deadline will be further extended.

ITR Filing Due Date: Who Needs To File By September 15

The September 15 deadline applies to salaried taxpayers, pensioners, non-resident Indians and others whose accounts do not require audit. Businesses and professionals subject to audit must submit their reports by September 30 and file their ITRs by October 31, while those with transfer pricing requirements have until November 30.

What If You Miss It?

Taxpayers filing after September 15 face a penalty of Rs 5,000 under Section 234F, though the fine is capped at Rs 1,000 for those with income below Rs 5 lakh. Late filers also lose the ability to carry forward certain losses, risk refund delays and may attract closer scrutiny from the tax department.

With the clock ticking, the department is urging taxpayers to file early to avoid last-minute issues. Whether the deadline is extended once again remains to be seen.

Mohammad Haris

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More

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