Finance Desk – The Income Tax Department has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for AY 2025–26 by one day, until September 16, 2025. The extension came after many taxpayers faced technical issues on the e-filing portal, including login failures and submission errors, during the last-minute rush.
Record Filings Despite Glitches
Last year, 7.28 crore ITRs were filed till the deadline of July 31.
This year, filings have already crossed 7.3 crore (provisional numbers), with one more day still left.
The steady rise shows better compliance and awareness among taxpayers, though portal slowdowns frustrated many users.
Why the Extension
Originally, the due date was September 15, 2025 (extended from July 31). Complaints on social media highlighted system errors and downtime, leading the CBDT to grant a one-day extension.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Tax experts warn that filing late can lead to serious consequences:
A penalty of up to ₹5,000 for delayed filing.
1% monthly interest on unpaid taxes.
Loss of the right to carry forward certain losses (like capital losses).
Loss of the option to switch to a more favourable tax regime, possibly leading to higher tax outgo.
Delayed refunds and greater chances of scrutiny by the tax department.
Department’s Advisory
The Income Tax Department urged taxpayers to use the extra day wisely and avoid last-hour filings. To fix access issues, it suggested:
Clearing cache and temporary files.
Using a different browser or incognito mode.
