Urgent Tax Filing Deadline: Avoid These Common Mistakes for a Smooth Return
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With the extended Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline of September 15, 2025, just around the corner, many taxpayers are in a final rush to complete their submissions. While the extension was granted to ease the process, last-minute filing often leads to errors that can cause delays in your refund or even trigger a notice from the Income Tax Department.
Here are some of the most critical mistakes to avoid before you hit submit:
- Wrong Assessment Year: The most common blunder is using the incorrect assessment year. For income earned in the financial year (FY) 2024-25, the correct assessment year (AY) is 2025-26.
- Incorrect ITR Form: Make sure you’re using the right form for your income profile.
- ITR-1 (Sahaj): For salaried individuals earning up to ₹50 lakh.
- ITR-3: For those with business or professional income.
- Filing with the wrong form can render your return defective.
- Not Reconciling with Form 26AS and AIS: It is vital to cross-verify all your tax credits, including TDS and TCS, with your Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS). Mismatches can lead to a demand for additional tax or a delayed refund.
- Missing Income Sources: You must declare all your income, including interest from savings accounts and fixed deposits, rental income, and capital gains. Failing to do so can attract penalties and scrutiny.
- Inaccurate Personal and Bank Details: Even a small typo in your PAN, bank account number, or IFSC code can delay your refund or cause it to fail. Ensure all your personal details are up-to-date and correct.
- Multiple Form 16s: If you switched jobs, combine the income and TDS details from all your employers’ Form 16s to report your total salary accurately.
- Forgetting to E-Verify: Your ITR filing is not complete until it is e-verified. You have 30 days from the date of submission to complete this step. An unverified return is considered invalid.
To ensure a valid and smooth filing, carefully review your form, cross-check all details with supporting documents, and e-verify your return promptly after submission.
