Taxpayers and professionals are facing a new hurdle for Assessment Year 2025–26, as the Income Tax Department’s release of ITR forms has been plagued by delays. While all seven forms are now out, a staggered rollout and technical issues have led to an official extension of the filing deadline.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has already pushed the non-audited cases deadline from July 31 to September 15, 2025. However, calls for further relief are growing louder, with groups like the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) lobbying for an extension to October 30, 2025.
What’s Causing the Chaos?
- Late Utilities: While ITR-1 and ITR-4 were released in April, utilities for forms like ITR-7 didn’t become available until August. This gave taxpayers and professionals a very tight window to complete their filings.
- Technical Glitches: The new forms and utilities have been riddled with validation issues and other errors, making a smooth filing process difficult.
- New Reporting Rules: Taxpayers need time to adapt to updated schemas and new reporting requirements, adding another layer of complexity.
Key Deadlines to Know
- Non-audited cases: Extended to September 15, 2025
- Audit cases: October 31, 2025
- Transfer pricing filings: November 30, 2025
- Belated/Revised returns: December 31, 2025
With the clock ticking and no official word from the CBDT on a further extension, taxpayers are in a race against time.