Income Tax Return Deadline Nears: Will September 15 Date Be Extended or Will Penalties Apply?

The clock is ticking for taxpayers in India. The last date to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25 is September 15, 2025, and with just a few days left, concerns are mounting about whether the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will extend the deadline further. While many taxpayers are still preparing their returns, experts warn that late filing could result in penalties and additional compliance burdens.

Why This Year Is Different

This year, filing ITR has been more challenging than usual. The tax department released several ITR forms and utilities later than expected, leaving taxpayers and professionals with very little time to file.

• In 2024, ITR-1 to ITR-4 and ITR-6 were available by April 1. ITR-5 was released by May 31 and ITR-7 by June 21, giving taxpayers nearly three months to complete filings before the July 31 deadline.

• In 2025, however, the situation has been quite different. Although the deadline for non-audit cases was extended from July 31 to September 15, many forms were only issued in July and August. For example, ITR-2 and ITR-3 were released on July 11, while ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7 came in August.

This late release has disrupted schedules and increased pressure on taxpayers and Chartered Accountants (CAs).

Technical Glitches Adding to the Stress

As the deadline draws closer, users are reporting frequent issues on the income tax portal. Common complaints include:

• Session timeouts during filing

• Delays in Aadhaar OTP verification

• Data mismatches while uploading details

• System freezes and maintenance slowdowns

Tax professionals caution that these problems usually worsen during the final days before the deadline, when lakhs of taxpayers try to file at the same time.

Multiple Deadlines in September

According to tax experts, the problem is not limited to ITR filings. September is packed with compliance deadlines, making it an especially stressful month for professionals.

• September 15: Last date to file ITR for non-audit cases

• September 30: Deadline for submitting Tax Audit Reports

• September (various dates): Registrar of Companies (ROC) filings for companies

This means professionals need to handle overlapping deadlines, increasing the overall compliance burden.

Will the Deadline Be Extended Again?

In May 2025, the CBDT extended the original ITR deadline from July 31 to September 15, acknowledging the challenges faced by taxpayers. However, experts argue that because the forms were released so late, even September 15 may not be enough.

Chartered Accountant Pratibha Goyal recently noted on social media that the government should consider pushing the deadline further to avoid last-minute chaos. Similarly, other tax professionals have highlighted that delayed release of forms has disrupted the entire filing cycle.

Should Taxpayers Wait?

Despite speculation about a possible extension, experts strongly advise against waiting. Sujit Bangar, founder of Taxbuddy.com, warns that delaying until the last minute can create additional problems:

• Increased traffic slows down the tax portal

• Higher chances of technical errors

• Verification failures and delayed acknowledgements

He recommends filing as early as possible to avoid unnecessary stress and ensure error-free submission.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If the deadline is not extended and taxpayers miss the September 15, 2025 cut-off, they may face penalties under the Income Tax Act. For most cases, a late fee of up to ₹5,000 can be imposed. Additionally, late filing may impact:

• The ability to carry forward certain losses

• Eligibility for timely refunds

• Overall compliance record

Bottom Line

The countdown to September 15 has begun, and uncertainty remains about whether the deadline will be extended. While many professionals believe an extension is justified due to the delayed release of forms, the CBDT has not made any fresh announcements yet.

Until there is an official notification, taxpayers are advised to file their returns at the earliest to avoid penalties, last-minute technical glitches, and compliance stress.