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Despite mounting appeals from taxpayers and professionals, the government is unlikely to extend the filing deadline for the Income Tax Return (ITR) from September 15, 2025, to FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26). The government stated that the shift in deadline, already made from July 31 to September 15 due to global demands, provides a significant grace period to solve many compliance issues. The government cited glitches on the income tax portal, delays in ITR processing, and problems with refund status updates as reasons.
Tax professionals and chartered accountants have publicly requested Finance Minister "Nirmala Sitharaman" to extend the deadline of ITR filing to September 30, 2025. They pointed out the constant technical issues, late release of key ITR forms and ongoing settlement problems with AIS and 26AS data. Many warn that this could lead to filing mistakes and unnecessary pressure on taxpayers and consultants.
As of September 11, over 5.3 crore ITRs had been filed, matching previous years, even amid global complaints of glitches and delayed refunds. However, India's government remains firm and holds up to the point, stressing that the current extension already addresses most compliance challenges & that further extension of the due date is impossible. As of September 12, 2025, there has been no official announcement of an extension of the due date.
Also Read: What is Tax Planning: Objectives, Types & Importance
Financial experts share their views, saying that missing the deadline for filing tax returns can lead to penalties under Section 234F, with late fees of up to Rs 5,000 if taxable income exceeds Rs 5 lakh. Apart from this, interests under Section 234A & refund delays are additional risks for not filing ITR on time. So, the safer move for taxpayers is to file ITR before the due date. Those who missed the tax filing deadline can still file a tax return by December 31, but they must bear the penalty for late filing.
With no fresh announcement from the Income Tax Department or the CBDT and over five crore returns already filed, the deadline will likely remain September 15, 2025. Based on which experts and officials suggest completing ITR filing well in advance to avoid last-minute stress, ensure accuracy and secure timely refunds. Delaying the ITR filing while hoping for another extension could prove costly this year.
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