As the September 15, 2025, deadline for Income Tax Return (ITR) filing approaches, calls for an extension are growing louder, with bodies in Karnataka and Surat adding their voices to the appeal. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) and the Chartered Accountants Association, Surat (CAAS) have formally requested the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to extend the ITR filing deadlines for various categories of returns for the Assessment Year 2025–2026.

These organizations cite a multitude of issues that have hampered taxpayers' and professionals' ability to meet the current deadline. These include technical glitches on the ITR portal, frequent changes to ITR forms, and delays in the release of essential utilities.

The FKCCI, founded in 1916, highlighted the difficulties arising from extensive changes to ITR forms, which have led to system malfunctions and compromised the ability to comply with the existing timelines. FKCCI President M.G. Balakrishna conveyed these concerns in a letter to the CBDT, emphasizing that technical glitches have significantly delayed return preparation and compliance. To alleviate hardship and potential litigation, the FKCCI has proposed revised deadlines: October 31, 2025, for non-audit cases; December 31, 2025, for audit cases; November 30, 2025, for tax audit reports; and March 31, 2026, for revised and belated returns.

Echoing these concerns, CAAS has also urged the government to extend the ITR filing deadlines, citing similar technical and compliance-related challenges. CAAS has been particularly critical of the late release of utilities, such as ITR-5, ITR-6 and ITR-7, which were released between August 8 and August 21, 2025. The association also pointed out that tax audit utilities were released on August 14, 2025, leaving auditors with barely 40 days to complete their work.

Furthermore, CAAS has argued against the notion of simply requesting an "extension," instead demanding "time compensation" for the delays caused by systemic failures. CAAS President Hardik Kakadiya stated that tax portals dominate the taxation processes and the delays in form releases, often accompanied by bugs, cripple the users' ability to file. The association also raised concerns about floods affecting multiple states, causing power outages, stranded staff, and inoperable offices.

In addition to the technical and logistical challenges, CAAS also highlighted the upcoming festive season, noting that Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali and other major festivals fall between September 22 and October 27, 2025. They argue that it is unfair to expect taxpayers and professionals to engage in statutory compliance during these times of cultural celebration and family bonding.

The Tax Bar Association in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, has also appealed to the CBDT for a deadline extension, citing delayed utility releases, technical issues on the ITR portal, and additional compliance requirements. Similarly, the Chandigarh Chartered Accountants Taxation Association (CCATAX) and The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) have voiced similar concerns.

The CBDT had previously extended the original deadline of July 31, 2025, to September 15, 2025, for non-audit taxpayers. However, with just days remaining, many stakeholders believe that another extension is necessary to ensure accurate compliance and avoid unnecessary hardship for taxpayers and professionals. The I-T Department has yet to respond to the demand for deadline relief.