The Income Tax Department has extended the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) from September 15 to September 16, 2025. This decision was made considering technical glitches and requests from taxpayers. The department stated that over 7 crore ITRs have been filed so far.
ITR Due Date Extended: The Income Tax Department on Monday extended the deadline for filing ITR for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) by one day to September 16, 2025. The earlier deadline was set for September 15, which was extended following technical issues and taxpayer complaints. The department reported that over 7 crore returns have been filed to date, and a helpdesk is actively working through phone, live chat, and Webex sessions to assist taxpayers.
Information Shared on Social Media
The Income Tax Department shared the information on the social media platform X. The department stated that over seven crore ITRs have been filed so far, and the number is continuously increasing. The department appealed to all those who have not yet filed their ITR to complete it as soon as possible.
Deadline Extended Previously as Well
The original deadline for filing ITR was set for July 31. However, even then, many taxpayers and professionals complained about issues with the portal. Following this, the deadline was extended to September 15. Now, it has been further extended to September 16.
Technical Glitches on the Portal
Chartered accountants and general taxpayers had complained on social media about difficulties in logging into the e-filing portal and uploading forms. Many also reported issues with tax payment processes and downloading AIS (Annual Information Statement). Considering these problems, the Income Tax Department decided to extend the deadline at the last moment.
Department's Clarification and Maintenance
The CBDT stated that the e-filing portal will be under maintenance from 12:00 AM to 2:30 AM on September 16. Services may be affected for some time during this period. The department said this change is being made to improve the portal's usability and facilitate taxpayers.
Clarification on Fake Information
Late on September 14, a message went viral on social media claiming that the ITR filing deadline had been extended to September 30. The Income Tax Department immediately refuted this information, calling it fake. The department advised taxpayers to rely only on information released on the official social media handles of Income Tax India. At that time, the department had clarified that the deadline was September 15. However, it was later extended by another day due to increasing complaints.
ITR Filing Compared to Last Year
The Income Tax Department reported that over seven crore ITRs have been filed so far this year. In comparison, last year, a total of 7.28 crore ITRs were filed by July 31. This indicates a good level of taxpayer engagement this year as well. However, technical issues prevented a large number of people from filing their returns until the last few days.
Helpdesk is Operational
The Income Tax Department assured taxpayers that the helpdesk is continuously working to assist with ITR uploads and tax payments. Taxpayers can connect with the department via phone, live chat, Webex sessions, and social media. The department stated that the portal is functioning correctly and advised users experiencing issues to clear their browser cache or try using a different browser.
Appeal to Taxpayers
The department reiterated its appeal to those who have not yet filed their ITR not to wait until the last moment. A large number of people are still filing on the portal, and records are being continuously set. The department expects the ITR filing numbers this year to remain high, similar to last year.
