ITR Filing Deadline: The deadline to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the Assessment Year 2025-26 (Financial Year 2025) has been extended from September 15 to September 16 at the last moment.
This means today is the final opportunity for taxpayers who missed filing their returns. If you miss today’s deadline too, you may have to pay a penalty.
The Income Tax Department announced the extension through a post on X (formerly Twitter) just 12 minutes before the midnight deadline on September 15. So, taxpayers who haven’t filed yet can do so today without any penalty.
E-filing Portal Was Under Maintenance
In its tweet, the Income Tax Department mentioned that just before the ITR deadline for Assessment Year 2025-26 (Financial Year 2025), it had been extended from September 15 to September 16.
Earlier, the original deadline of July 31, 2025, was already extended to September 15, 2025. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) then gave one more day for filing.
However, the tweet also noted that the e-filing portal was under maintenance from 12 midnight to 2 am due to updates in utilities, so ITR filing was not available during those hours.
KIND ATTENTION TAXPAYERS!
The due date for filing of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for AY 2025-26, originally due on 31st July 2025, was extended to 15th September 2025.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has decided to further extend the due date for filing these ITRs for AY… pic.twitter.com/jrjgXZ5xUs
— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) September 15, 2025
#duedateextension Was Trending All Day on September 15
For the past three days, taxpayers and Chartered Accountants had been raising complaints on social media about problems with the e-filing portal.
They reported issues like the portal’s slow speed, delays in the release of the Annual Information Statement (AIS), and ITR utilities not working properly.
Due to this, the hashtag #duedateextension was trending on X on September 15, the original deadline day. Many taxpayers and professionals were requesting an extension of the due date.
Late Filing Can Lead to Penalty and Loss of Benefits
Taxpayers who miss the extended deadline can still file their ITR by December 31. However, they will have to pay a penalty of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 and may lose certain benefits.
It’s also important to note that if your income exceeds ₹2.5 lakh, filing an ITR is mandatory, even if there is no tax liability.
For people aged between 60 and 80 years, this limit is ₹3 lakh, and for those above 80 years, the limit is ₹5 lakh.
