ITR Filing Due Date Extended: New Deadline, Reason Behind Extension, and Key Updates
ITR Filing Due Date Extended: New Deadline, Reason Behind Extension, and Key Updates
Taxpayers who missed filing their Income Tax Return (ITR) for Assessment Year 2025–26 have received relief as the Income Tax Department has extended the ITR filing deadline by one more day. The last date to file ITR without penalty is now Tuesday, September 16, 2025, instead of the earlier deadline of Monday, September 15, 2025.
Why was the ITR deadline extended?
The extension came after the income tax e-filing portal faced heavy traffic and technical glitches on Monday. The portal slowdown prevented several taxpayers from filing their returns on time. In a statement, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said:
“To facilitate further filings of ITRs, the due date has been extended by one day (16th September 2025).”
The problem was compounded as September 15 was also the due date for payment of the second quarterly installment of advance tax for FY 2024–25. Additionally, the e-filing portal was under maintenance from 12:00 am to 2:30 am on Tuesday to update utilities, further delaying access for users.
What to do if facing portal issues?
On Monday, the Income Tax Department also issued a troubleshooting guide on X (formerly Twitter) to help users resolve local access problems. However, several taxpayers continued to face disruptions even after following these steps.
ITR filing growth in numbers
Despite the glitches, ITR filing numbers have shown steady growth.
- Over 7.3 crore ITRs were filed till September 15, 2025, surpassing last year’s 7.28 crore filings.
- For AY 2024–25, 7.28 crore ITRs were filed up to July 31, 2024.
- In AY 2023–24, filings stood at 6.77 crore.
This reflects increasing compliance and awareness among taxpayers year after year.
Key takeaway for taxpayers
- New ITR due date (without late fee): September 16, 2025
- Applicable for Assessment Year 2025–26 (income earned in FY 2024–25)
- Filing after September 16 may attract penalties and late fees.
Taxpayers are advised to complete their filings at the earliest to avoid last-minute issues.
