Synopsis: The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for ITR filing to September 16, 2025, offering a one-day relief to taxpayers. The extension comes after repeated appeals and confusion caused by fake news on social media.
In a major relief to taxpayers, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the last date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2025–26 by one day. The deadline, originally set for September 15, has now been shifted to September 16, 2025.
The decision was announced late on Monday, September 15, in a circular released at 11:48 pm. According to the statement, the e-filing portal will undergo maintenance from 12:00 am to 2:30 am on September 16, to enable necessary changes in the utilities.
This extension comes after multiple requests from tax professionals and organizations urging the government to allow more time. Interestingly, the Income Tax Department had earlier dismissed such appeals and even warned against a fake message being circulated online claiming an extension till September 30.
The department clarified that the official extension is only till September 16 and urged taxpayers to rely exclusively on its verified handle @IncomeTaxIndia for authentic updates.
Meanwhile, ITR filings in India continue to grow steadily. For AY 2024–25, a record 7.28 crore ITRs were filed up to July 31, 2024, showing a 7.5% year-on-year growth compared to AY 2023–24.
Step-by-Step Guide to File ITR Online
- Log in at incometax.gov.in using PAN and password.
- Navigate to e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return.
- Select AY 2025–26 and choose Online mode.
- Choose taxpayer type (Individual, etc.).
- Pick the applicable ITR form (e.g., ITR-1 for salaried individuals).
- Fill in income, deduction, and tax details.
- Preview, validate, and submit your return.
- Complete e-Verification via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or by sending the signed ITR-V to CPC, Bengaluru within 30 days.
- Once verified, you’ll receive a confirmation message with a Transaction ID and Acknowledgement Number.
This short extension is expected to benefit lakhs of taxpayers who were racing against the deadline.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Taxpayers are advised to verify updates from the official Income Tax Department website or its verified social media handles before proceeding with ITR filing.
