ITR Filing Deadline Sept 15: For the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26), the deadline for many categories of taxpayers to file their Income Tax Returns (ITR) has been set as September 15, 2025. This applies especially to individual taxpayers, salaried persons, pensioners, HUFs, and others whose accounts do not require audit.
ITR Filing Deadline Sept 15
This September deadline is itself an extension: the original date (July 31) was postponed to September 15 by the CBDT due to delays in release of utilities and changes in ITR forms.
The Glitches and Challenges
Taxpayers and tax professionals report that they are facing a number of issues with the fulfilment of the tax obligations, and in particular with the approaching deadline:
1. Portal availability issues: Some of the most important e-filing portals, for example, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), are going offline from time to time, especially at peak hours.
2. TRACES downtime: The TRACES portal for TDS certificates access and verification of tax credits has been out of service since around September 11. As a result, a lot of people who need to do the verification or data access are blocked.
3. Delay in the release of ITR utilities / forms: Some ITR form utilities (Excel/online) for ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6, etc. were released later than usual. This shortened the time for taxpayers and professionals to prepare, reconcile, and file.
4. Overload and slow response: It is reported that the e-filing system is slow and that sometimes pages, forms, or verification processes are hanging or showing error messages. The cause is referred to as higher traffic.
5. Risk of missing other deadlines: For example, payment of certain taxes, or audit/reporting deadlines for those taxpayers that do require audit, remain pressing. Overlapping compliance obligations are increasing the pressure.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
It’s important to be aware of what happens if you don’t file by September 15:
1. A return that is late is transformed into a belated return. This means that you are not allowed certain advantages (such as the use of losses in the future for some cases) and you are also charged with late fees/penalties.
2. Delays in refunds. In case you are to get a refund, it may not be on time because the processing will start late, especially if there are a lot of returns at the deadline.
3. Possibility of being under the Income Tax Department’s close inspection or receiving additional notices due to the discrepancies caused by the rush. Mistakes, mismatches, incomplete information, etc. are more likely in a stressful situation.
What the Income Tax Department suggests for a trouble-free filing?
In order to keep last-minute trouble away from the taxpayers, the Income Tax Department has presented several recommendations. Here is what you have to do in order to reduce the risk of a glitch.
1. Use only the supported browsers and systems
Make sure that you are filing your return through the browser and operating system that are compatible. ITD has announced the versions:
- Browsers like Microsoft Edge (v88+), Chrome (v88+), Firefox/Mozilla (v86+), Opera (v66+)
- OS such as Windows 7 or newer, Linux, Mac OS.
2. Enable required settings
Enable CSS and JavaScript, allow cookies. These are necessary for the portal to function properly.
If filing using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), ensure it’s valid and of the required class (Class 2 or Class 3 where applicable).
3. Don’t wait for the last moment
Because traffic is heavier near deadlines and glitches more likely, starting early reduces risk. Even a few days difference could allow time to correct mismatches or errors.
4. Check AIS, Form 26AS, TIS early
Bring your data from these statements and summaries into your ITR preparation beforehand. If these are inaccessible or show mismatches, you’ll need extra time to resolve them.
5. Save drafts and review
Before final e-submission, fill the return but save as a draft (where possible), check all data, especially income sources, deductions, bank/bank account/IFSC etc. Once submitted and verified, errors are harder to fix.
6. E-verify promptly
Even after you submit, the return needs to be e-verified (via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, etc.). Without this, the return may not be valid or accepted.
ITR 2025 Deadline Approaching: Just One Week Left to File Your Income Tax Return
ITR Filing Deadline Sept 15: Extension Possibilities
Because of all the issues, there are growing demands from CAs, tax practitioners, and tax bar associations for another extension past September 15. Some propose pushing non-audit ITR deadlines further (for example, to October 15) to allow time for the glitches to be resolved.
But so far, there is no official announcement from the finance ministry or CBDT confirming a further extension.
What You Should Do Now?
To reduce your stress and avoid unwanted penalties:
- If you haven’t already, start your filing now. Don’t hope for extension; treat September 15 as fixed unless told otherwise.
- Run through all your documents, statements arising in AIS / 26AS / TIS, reconcile your TDS / income‐deductions carefully.
- Use a reliable, updated system, good internet connectivity, and recommended browser.
- Keep backups, screenshots, or draft versions, in case you need them.
If you face errors (portal down, verification failure etc.), document them (take screenshots, note timestamps), because they may come handy if there’s a request for relief or if any authority considers letting delays pass under “reasonable cause.”
