ITR Filing Deadline Extended to September 15, 2025: Latest Update and What Taxpayers Need to Know

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has officially extended the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) to September 15, 2025. This extension comes after the initial deadline of July 31, 2025, was moved owing to significant revisions in the income tax return forms and related technical challenges.

This change gives taxpayers additional time to comply amidst delays caused by the late release of updated ITR forms and system glitches reported by many professionals. Key ITR forms such as ITR-2 and ITR-3 were only made available by July, with others like ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7 released as late as August, limiting the practical filing window for many assessees.

Alongside the form updates, the delay in the reflection of TDS credits from May 31, 2025 filings has further compressed the timeline for accurate tax filings. The extension thus aims to provide adequate time for taxpayers and professionals to prepare and file accurate returns without the risk of penalties.

Despite this extension, there remains an ongoing demand from tax professionals and members of Parliament, including BJP MPs Bhartruhari Mahtab and PP Chaudhary, for further deadline relaxation. They have formally written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting the difficulties faced by taxpayers including portal issues, new financial statement formats, and natural calamities affecting some regions.

Current deadlines to note for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) are:

• Non-audit taxpayers: September 15, 2025
• Businesses requiring audit: October 31, 2025
• Cases with transfer pricing reports: November 30, 2025
• Belated or revised returns: December 31, 2025

Filing beyond the September 15 deadline for individual taxpayers will invite interest charges under Section 234A and penalties up to Rs. 5,000 under Section 234F. However, belated returns can still be filed until the end of the year with applicable fees.

The government’s decision to extend the deadline reflects responsiveness to stakeholder concerns and underscores the complexities introduced by new compliance requirements. Taxpayers are encouraged to utilize the additional time diligently to avoid last-minute rush and errors.

In summary, taxpayers across India now have until September 15, 2025, to file their income tax returns without penalty, allowing relief from earlier pressures and technical constraints faced earlier this year.