In a significant relief for millions of taxpayers across the nation, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced an extension for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR). The deadline for filing ITR for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26) has been pushed from July 31st to September 15th, 2025. This crucial decision comes amidst various adjustments to tax return forms, necessary system upgrades, and modifications to TDS credit functionalities, all aimed at providing taxpayers with a smoother and more accurate filing experience. The CBDT shared this pivotal update via its official social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Taxpayers take note! The deadline for filing ITR has been extended from July 31st to September 15th. This extension is made to facilitate system-related changes and provide users with an easier experience.” While the formal notification is eagerly awaited, this extension grants an additional 46 days to most salaried taxpayers and those whose accounts do not require an audit.

This year’s ITR forms were notified by the Income Tax Department in late April and early May, a deviation from the usual February or March release. This delay was primarily due to the department’s engagement with the new Income Tax Bill, which was presented in Parliament in February. The proposed ITR forms for assessment year 2025-26 incorporate several structural and linguistic improvements designed to make the return process more transparent and user-friendly. The additional time granted by this extension is crucial for integrating and thoroughly testing these upgrades, ensuring a seamless experience for taxpayers. The Income Tax Department has also significantly improved the online ITR filing experience by updating its systems. Users can now enter their data more accurately on the new portal, leading to a faster and more transparent return and refund process than ever before. Moreover, the facility to reflect TDS/TCS credits in real-time will be of immense help to taxpayers, streamlining the entire filing procedure and reducing potential discrepancies.