ITR Filing: Only a day is left for taxpayers who have not yet filed their income tax returns (ITR) for the FY 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26). As the deadline approaches, many taxpayers are wondering whether the government will extend the date further. As of now, there are no such reports, and the government has not issued any statement regarding an extension. The date which was originally July 31, was extended to September 15 by the government. Salaried individuals and non-audit category taxpayers are required to file their ITR before this deadline.
Why was the deadline extended?
The extension was announced in May after repeated appeals from chartered accountants and professional bodies, who cited difficulties faced by taxpayers in meeting the original July 31 deadline. Users reported many problems while filing an ITR, which includes portal/ technical glitches, data mismatches, delayed forms and new Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) format.
ITR filing: Rules and penalties
The last date for non-audit taxpayers to file their ITR is September 15, 2025. But in case you miss the deadline, you can stile file a belated return until 31 December 2025. However, it is important to note that late filing fees and interest will apply in such cases. The penalty for belated filing depends on the taxable income, if the taxable income is less than Rs 5 lakh, the penalty is Rs 1,000; if it exceeds Rs 5 lakh, the penalty is Rs 5,000.
Apart from this, interest will also have to be paid on the outstanding tax. The biggest disadvantage is that with belated filing, you will not be able to switch tax regime, carry forward losses or claim certain deductions.
If you owe taxes and fail to file your return, interest will be levied on the unpaid tax amount under Section 234A of the I-T Act. A simple interest of 1% per month (or part of a month) will be charged on the unpaid tax, calculated from the due date of filing the return until the actual date of filing.
How to file ITR?
To file ITR, Log in to the income tax portal using PAN (as user ID) and password.
Navigate to ITR filing section and select assessment year.
Choose filing status.
Select the ITR form.
Review and confirm information.
Pay tax dues and submit.
E-verify the return.
Also Read: Only 2 Days Left! Earning Under ₹12 Lakh Should Also File Your ITR Now – File Online in 5 Easy Steps
