ITR filing FY 2024-25: The deadline to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for AY 2025-26 is September 15, 2025. Every year the ITR filing deadline is July 31, 2025, but this year the Income Tax Department extended it by a month-and-a-half as changes in ITR forms and Excel utilities required more backend preparations.The deadline was extended for non-audit taxpayers, including most individuals, Hindu Undivided Family (HUFs), and other entities not subject to auditIn cases where a taxpayer’s accounts do not require auditing under the Income Tax Act, it is termed as a non-audit case. This category typically includes
- Individuals and HUFs earning income through salary, pension, house property, capital gains, or other sources.
- Business owners and professionals who choose the presumptive taxation scheme (Sections 44AD, 44ADA, 44AE) with turnover below the audit requirement threshold.
Will the ITR filing deadline be extended?
The ITR deadline has already been extended to September 15, 2025 from July 31, 2025. As of now there is no intimation of the Income Tax Department looking to extend the ITR filing deadline. It is therefore advisable that you file your ITR before the September 15, 2025 deadline to avoid last minute rush or a penalty for delayed filing after September 15.
- Begin by accessing incometax.gov.in and authenticate using your PAN/Aadhaar credentials and password.
- Navigate through e-File, select Income Tax Return and proceed to File Income Tax Return.
- Select the assessment year AY 2025-26 and identify your suitable form.
- Examine the auto-populated information, including salary details, TDS and bank interest.
- Include any additional income or deductions and select your preferred tax regime (Old/New) before final submission.
CBDT statistics indicate a steady increase in ITR submissions, demonstrating enhanced tax compliance and an expanding taxpayer base. During AY 2024-25, ITR submissions reached an unprecedented 7.28 crore by July 31, 2024, showing a 7.5% increase from the previous year’s 6.77 crore submissions in AY 2023-24.
ITR filing FY 2024-25: What is the late filing penalty?
When income tax returns are submitted beyond the stipulated due date, a late filing fee is applicable. The standard fee stands at Rs 5,000, whilst for those with total income below Rs 5 lakh, the fee is limited to Rs 1,000.Furthermore, delayed submissions incur an additional monthly interest charge of 1% on outstanding tax amounts, separate from the late filing penalty.
