ITR Filing Deadline 2025: With just over a month remaining until the September 15 deadline, the debate over a further extension is heating up. The Income Tax Department has already pushed the due date for non-audit taxpayers (like individuals and HUFs) for the financial year 2024-25 from the usual July 31 to September 15, 2025. This 46-day extension was a response to significant changes in ITR forms and a delay in the release of filing utilities.
Despite the extension, tax experts and professionals are calling for more time. Chartered Accountant Himank Singla, for example, has publicly urged the government to extend deadlines for not just ITR filing, but also tax audits, company law filings, and GST annual returns. His primary argument is that the delayed rollout of essential ITR utilities has created a compressed and chaotic filing calendar for both taxpayers and the professionals who assist them. For instance, some of the forms for trusts, partnership firms, and companies (ITR-5, 6, and 7) were not released until well into the filing season.
As of mid-August, the Income Tax Department’s data shows that while millions of returns have been filed, the number is still a fraction of the total expected. The department is likely counting on a surge in filings as the deadline approaches, a common trend observed in previous years.
However, taxpayers who miss the September 15 deadline face a series of penalties and interest charges.
Revised Deadlines and Penalties:
- Non-audit cases (Individuals, HUFs): September 15, 2025
- Audit cases (Section 44AB): October 31, 2025
- Transfer Pricing cases (Form 3CEB): November 30, 2025
- Belated/Revised Returns: December 31, 2025
- ITR-U (Updated Returns): January 1, 2026 – March 31, 2030
Penalties for Missing the Deadline:
- Late Fee (Section 234F): ₹1,000 if income is below ₹5 lakh, and ₹5,000 if income is ₹5 lakh or more.
- Interest Charges: Interest is levied under sections 234A, 234B, and 234C for delays in filing, shortfalls in advance tax, or delays in advance tax installments.
- Loss Carry-forward: Filing a belated return (after September 15) can result in the loss of benefits, such as the ability to carry forward certain losses.
While a further extension is not officially confirmed, tax experts consistently advise taxpayers to file their returns well before the deadline to avoid penalties, ensure a smooth process, and secure potential tax benefits and refunds.