The last date to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25 (assessment year 2025–26) is September 15.
For taxpayers whose accounts require an audit, the deadline remains September 30, 2025, with no changes.
To avoid paying penalties or interest, taxpayers are advised to file within these deadlines.
If the return is filed late, a penalty under Section 234F will apply:
- ₹5,000 if the income is above ₹5 lakh
- ₹1,000 for those with lower incomes
Belated or revised returns can be filed until December 31, 2025, while updated returns (ITR-U) can be submitted up to March 31, 2030.
Why the deadline was extended:
The extension was made due to delays in the release of updated ITR forms and e-filing services on the Income Tax Department’s portal.
Many taxpayers also faced issues like late updates of TDS details in Form 26AS and AIS, leading to requests for an extension to ensure accurate filing, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Impact on tax refunds:
The extension has a benefit for taxpayers expecting refunds. Under Section 244A, they could earn up to 33% more interest on refunds, since the interest is counted from April 1 despite the delayed filing.
However, this interest is taxable and must be included in the ITR.
New offline filing option:
The Income Tax Department has released an Excel-based offline tool for filing ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) for the assessment year 2025–26.
With this tool, salaried employees, pensioners, freelancers, and small business owners can prepare and validate their returns offline by generating a JSON file and uploading it to the e-filing portal – making it possible to file returns without needing an internet connection throughout the process.
