ITR Filing Deadline Extended to September 15 Amid Major Form Revisions
New Delhi, 28th May 2025: The Income Tax Department has announced an extension of the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for individuals from July 31 to September 15, citing significant updates to tax return forms and backend system upgrades as the reason.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) stated that the ITR forms for Assessment Year 2025–26 (FY 2024–25) have undergone considerable changes in both structure and content. These revisions aim to simplify the filing process, improve transparency, and ensure more precise reporting by taxpayers. However, these modifications have also required the department to upgrade its digital systems and thoroughly test the updated e-filing utilities before rollout.
“The updated forms are designed to make compliance easier and reporting more accurate. But the scale of these changes has made it necessary to allow extra time for system integration and quality checks,” the CBDT noted in an official communication.
Additionally, the department pointed out that Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) credits from statements due by May 31 will start reflecting in early June. Without an extension, taxpayers would have faced a compressed timeline for accurate return filing.
Unlike previous years, where filing deadlines were extended closer to the due date, this time the department has moved proactively by notifying the change well in advance.
Tax professionals welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the revised forms demand more detailed disclosures and data reconciliation.
The new deadline applies to individuals not requiring an audit, a category that constitutes the majority of personal income tax filers in India.
