Urgent Tax Filing Deadline: Avoid These Common Mistakes for a Smooth Return
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.