Sep, 14 2025
The government has pushed India’s income tax return deadline for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) from July 31 to September 15, 2025. If you were racing against the clock, breathe easy—there’s a six-week cushion now. The Central Board of Direct Taxes said the move was necessary because of newly notified ITR forms and the backend upgrades they triggered. Add to that a practical issue: tax deducted at source (TDS) credits start reflecting only after the May 31 deadline for TDS statements, which meant a tight filing window for salaried filers. More than 6 crore returns are already in, and the helpdesk is on round-the-clock duty. But don’t mistake this for a free pass—there’s no word on any second extension, and the department has been clear about that.
For most salaried people, this change means fewer last-minute surprises and a better chance to reconcile Form 16, Form 26AS, and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) without errors. The revised forms demand more precise disclosures—think granular capital gains, certain foreign asset details, and cleaner matching of TDS/TCS with your reported income. That takes time, both for the ecosystem to adapt and for filers to get the numbers right. The new date—ITR filing last date 2025—is now the one to circle on your calendar.
Who gets more time, and what the new timelines look like
The September 15 deadline applies to individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUF), Associations of Persons (AOP), and Bodies of Individuals (BOI) that do not require a tax audit. Other categories follow the staggered schedule below, which the department has kept intact:
- Individuals/HUF/AOP/BOI with no audit requirement: September 15, 2025
- Cases where a tax audit is mandatory: October 31, 2025
- Cases with transfer pricing (international or specified domestic transactions): November 30, 2025
Missed the main deadline? You can still file a belated return till December 31, 2025. Expect a late filing fee under Section 234F—Rs 1,000 if your total income is up to Rs 5 lakh, and up to Rs 5,000 if it’s higher. Interest under Section 234A also applies when there’s unpaid tax after the due date. If you owe tax, every month’s delay adds cost. Paying any self-assessment tax before filing helps cut that interest meter.
There’s another time rule many people forget: e-verification. Your ITR must be e-verified within 30 days of filing, or it’s treated as not filed. You can do this via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, bank account EVC, or a digital signature (DSC) for cases that need it. If you prefer the physical route, speed post the signed ITR-V within the stipulated time, but online methods are faster and safer.
Why the extension now? Two reasons stand out. First, the new ITR forms ask for sharper reporting—a good thing for accuracy, but it means software changes, testing, and coordination across TRACES, AIS, and pre-fill systems. Second, TDS statements for the year are due by May 31, and credits start syncing from early June. Without extra time, many filers risked mismatches or incomplete returns.
A quick note for businesses and professionals: if your books require an audit, plan backwards from October 31. Transfer pricing cases should work with a longer checklist that includes form filings besides the ITR. These timelines tend to get crowded, and portal traffic spikes near every cut-off. Getting the audit report and other certifications in early spares you a scramble.
How to file right: documents, choices, penalties, and practical tips
Start with a simple checklist. You’ll save hours later, and you’re less likely to miss income or claim the wrong deduction.
- Form 16 from your employer and Form 16A (for interest, rent, or other TDS as applicable)
- Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS to cross-check income, TDS/TCS, and high-value transactions
- Interest certificates from banks and NBFCs; dividend statements from companies or brokers
- Capital gains statements from your broker or RTA; include equity, mutual funds, debt funds, and bonds
- Home loan interest certificate; rent receipts for HRA; property tax bills where needed
- Investment proofs for deductions: Section 80C (PF, PPF, ELSS, life insurance), 80D (health insurance), 80G (donations), and others you’re eligible for
- Details of any foreign income or assets, if applicable
Next, choose your tax regime. The new regime is the default. If you have business or professional income and want to opt out, you typically need to file the prescribed form within the due date; salaried individuals can choose the regime in the return itself. Run the numbers both ways—higher deductions often favor the old regime, while simple salary structures with fewer deductions may pay less under the new regime.
Before you hit submit, reconcile everything. Common mistakes include double-counting salary (pre-filled plus manual), missing small savings account interest, forgetting dividend income, or skipping a minor capital gain from a mutual fund switch. Any mismatch with AIS or 26AS can trigger a query or an adjustment in the intimation under Section 143(1). If something in AIS looks off, add a note in the response utility and report the correct figure in your return.
Worried about interest and penalties? Here’s the short version:
- Section 234F: Late filing fee up to Rs 5,000 if you miss the due date (Rs 1,000 if total income is up to Rs 5 lakh).
- Section 234A: Interest for delayed filing when tax remains unpaid after the due date—calculated monthly until payment.
- Sections 234B and 234C: Apply if you didn’t pay enough advance tax. Salaried taxpayers with correct TDS usually don’t see big hits here, but check if you have large capital gains, rental income, or interest income. Resident senior citizens without business income are generally not required to pay advance tax.
If you filed in a hurry and spot an error later, you can revise your return by December 31, 2025, or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier. Belated returns can also be revised within the same timeline. Keep your acknowledgment, computation, and proofs organized—digitally and in a folder. If the department asks for clarification, you will be ready.
One last practical tip: avoid the final-week rush. The e-filing portal usually holds up, but upload queues, OTP delays, and bank gateway hiccups are common when everyone logs in at once. Pay any self-assessment tax a day before filing so payment gets confirmed and reflected. Then file, and e-verify right away.
The message from the tax department is clear: use the extra time well, but don’t wait it out. For non-audit taxpayers, September 15, 2025, is the line in the sand. After that, the meter starts running. For audit and transfer pricing cases, the later dates might look generous on paper, yet they come with more paperwork and coordination. If you still haven’t started, today is a good day to gather your documents and run your numbers.