The government has extended the last date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2025-26 by one day.
The new deadline is 16 September 2025.
Earlier, the last date was 15 September, and before that, 31 July.
This extension was announced due to technical problems on the income tax e-filing website.
Many taxpayers complained that the portal was running slow, forms were not uploading, and the system was failing repeatedly.
According to the Income Tax Department, by September 15, over 7.3 crore returns had been filed, compared to 7.28 crore last year.
Website Issues and Maintenance Schedule
On September 15, the website became even slower because it was also the last date for paying advance tax for the second quarter.
Due to the heavy load, many users struggled to complete their filings.
The department suggested checking browser settings or using a different browser, but problems continued.
To fix these issues, the department announced that the website would remain closed for maintenance between 12 am and 2:30 am on September 16.
Different Deadlines for Taxpayers
The last date for filing returns depends on the type of taxpayer:
Common taxpayers, HUFs, and small businesses (no audit required): 16 September 2025
Taxpayers requiring audit: 31 October 2025
Those filing transfer pricing reports: 30 November 2025
If a taxpayer misses the 16 September deadline, they can still file a belated return until 31 December 2025. However, penalties apply:
If taxable income is below ₹5 lakh → ₹1,000 penalty
If taxable income is above ₹5 lakh → ₹5,000 penalty
Additionally, interest may be charged on pending taxes.
Filing a belated return also has drawbacks — you cannot change the tax regime, carry forward losses, or claim some exemptions.
Final Advice for Taxpayers
While this one-day extension has given relief to many, experts warn against waiting until the last moment.
Filing on time is the best way to avoid penalties, technical issues, and unnecessary stress.
