There is a major relief for taxpayers in the country as the Government of India has officially amended the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the Assessment Year 2025–26 by fourteen days. The due date of 31 July 2025 has now been amended to 15 September 2025.
If you are a salaried employee, a small business owner, or performing certain types of contracted services/freelancing, you can use this extension to ensure that your financials are ready for the filing process – but don’t let it be an excuse to delay the filing!
Although the Government has not indicated an official rationale for extending the filing deadline; industry insiders have speculated that the Government was responding to ongoing technical upgrades and adjustments, the requests from tax professionals to allow taxpayers additional time to prepare their documentation, and the public response requesting additional time to file. This extension gives taxpayers a great chance to prevent errors, penalties, and miss deductions at the eleventh hour.
What If You Don’t Meet the New Deadline?
If you fail to meet the new deadline determined by the Government, it might result in:
- Missing out on a few deductions or carry-forward benefits
- According to Section 234F, you will be subjected to late filing charges of a maximum of ₹5,000
- There are greater possibilities of checks or notices by the Income Tax Department.
Instructions to File Your ITR Before the New Deadline
Collect Your Documents – PAN Card, Aadhaar Card
- Form 16 from employer
- Bank statements
- Interest certificates (for savings, FDs)
- Proofs of investments for deductions (under Section 80C, etc.)
Choose Your ITR Form
For salaried individuals – use ITR-1, and ITR-4 for those under the presumptive taxation scheme. Make sure you check if you are eligible for every ITR Form you use.
Check Form 26AS & AIS
Make sure to verify and reconcile your tax credit statement (Form 26AS) and Annual Information Statement (AIS) with your source of income to avoid mismatch notices later.
File with the e-Filing Portal
Visit the income tax official website and follow the guide on the website. You can choose to file your ITR online or upload a pre-filled JSON file.
E-Verify Your Return
E-verifying your return is just as important and you will return filing is incomplete without e-verification. Depending on your individual circumstance you have multiple options. You can use Aadhaar OTP, netbanking or EVC via your bank account.
This extension is more than just a reprieve — it is an opportunity to properly file, deduct your accepted deductions and ensure you are abiding by Indian tax laws. Do not waste this time, because 15th September will be here very soon.
Disclaimer:
The above article is meant for information purposes only and does not amount to tax or legal advice. Please take pro
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