New Delhi: In a significant relief for taxpayers, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced an extension of the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26. The deadline, originally set for July 31, 2025, has now been pushed to September 15, 2025. A formal notification regarding this extension is expected shortly.
The decision comes in response to extensive structural and content revisions introduced in the notified ITRs for AY 2025-26. These changes, aimed at simplifying compliance, enhancing transparency, and enabling accurate reporting, have necessitated additional time for the Income Tax Department to prepare its systems, develop, integrate, and test the corresponding ITR utilities.
Furthermore, the CBDT acknowledged that credits arising from Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) statements, which are due for filing by May 31, 2025, are only expected to reflect in taxpayers’ accounts from early June. This would have significantly limited the effective window for taxpayers to file their returns in the absence of an extension.
The extended deadline is anticipated to address concerns raised by various stakeholders and provide ample time for taxpayers to comply with the revised requirements, thereby ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the return filing process. Taxpayers are advised to utilize this additional time to ensure accurate and timely submission of their ITRs.