Income Tax Return Filing Deadline 2025: Will It Be Extended Beyond 15 September?

—

by

Himanshu
in ,

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) on time is crucial to avoid penalties and ensure compliance. In 2025, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had already extended the due date once — from 31 July 2025 to 15 September 2025 for non-audit taxpayers.

As the new deadline approaches, many taxpayers and professionals are wondering: Will there be another extension?

This article explains the current status, official statements, and what you should do to stay safe.

1. Current Deadline Status

CategoryOriginal DeadlineExtended DeadlineFurther Extension?
Non-Audit Taxpayers (ITR-1 to ITR-4)31 July 202515 September 2025No official announcement yet
Audit Cases (ITR-5, ITR-6, ITR-7)31 October 2025UnchangedNot applicable

The official CBDT circular (Circular No. 06/2025) confirmed the new date of 15 September 2025 for non-audit cases.

2. Official Statements

  • Press Information Bureau (PIB), 7 September 2025: Reiterated that the due date is 15 September 2025. No mention of further extension.
  • CBDT Circular 06/2025: Formally extended the original July deadline to 15 September.
  • Finance Ministry: Encouraged taxpayers to file returns early and not wait for the last date, suggesting that further extension is unlikely.

3. Why People Are Expecting an Extension

Professional bodies like CA associations and trade groups have requested a further extension because of:

  • Delayed release of ITR utilities and forms
  • Technical glitches on the e-filing portal (slow uploads, AIS errors)
  • Increased compliance workload due to GST and other regulatory changes

However, these are only requests — not decisions.

4. What Experts Say

Most tax experts believe the chances of another extension are slim because:

  • The government already gave one extension.
  • It wants to streamline compliance timelines.
  • Repeated extensions hurt tax collection schedules.

5. What You Should Do as a Taxpayer

ActionWhy It Helps
Treat 15 September as the final dateAvoid penalties and late fees
Prepare all documents early (AIS, 26AS, TDS, bank records)Prevent delays caused by portal issues
Use reliable tax filing softwareFile faster and securely
If audit-requiredPlan for 31 October, but start documentation early

6. Key Takeaways

  • As of now, no official extension beyond 15 September 2025 has been announced for non-audit cases.
  • Pressure from professional bodies exists, but without a CBDT notification it remains speculation.
  • The safest approach is to file before 15 September 2025.

Conclusion

While everyone hopes for more time, it’s best not to gamble on an extension. The CBDT has already extended the deadline once, and official communications clearly point to 15 September 2025 as the final due date for non-audit returns.

Plan ahead, gather your documents, and file your ITR in time to avoid stress and penalties.