New Delhi: The government on Monday extended the due date for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2025-26 by a day to September 16 as technical glitches disrupted filings on the last day.
A record over 7.3 crore ITRs were filed till September 15, surpassing last year’s 7.28 crore, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a post on X.
“To facilitate further filings of ITRs, the due date has been extended by one day (16th September 2025),” the CBDT said.
According to the ministry, the first extension had been necessitated by a delay in the release of income tax forms. Chartered accountants and taxpayers have since continued to flag recurring access issues, particularly during peak filing hours.
Chartered accountant Chirag Chauhan expressed frustration over the latest extension, calling it inadequate and performative. “A one-day extension is self-mockery by @IncomeTaxIndia,” he said, adding that a meaningful extension of at least five days was both expected and necessary to address the widespread portal issues.
The ITR-2 form for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26) includes new reporting mandates, including asset and liability thresholds raised to ₹1 crore, bifurcated capital gain schedules post-Finance Act 2024 changes, and updated TDS reporting codes.
With just hours to go before the revised deadline, the extension offers temporary relief but underscores broader concerns about infrastructure readiness. The tax department has not indicated any further deadline relaxations.
Taxpayers are advised to avoid last-minute filing and prepare all necessary documentation—including Form 16, Form 26AS, rent receipts, capital gains statements, and deduction proofs—in advance.
