As the September 15, 2025, deadline for Income Tax Return (ITR) filing approaches, the question on everyone's mind is whether the government will extend it. The Income Tax Department has extended the due date for non-audit taxpayers, including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and other entities not subject to audit, to September 15, 2025. This extension was granted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from the previous deadline of July 31.

The September 15 deadline applies to taxpayers whose accounts are not subject to audit. This primarily includes individuals and HUFs with income from salary, pension, rent, capital gains, or other sources. It also applies to small businesses and professionals under the presumptive taxation scheme (Sections 44AD, 44ADA, 44AE). For businesses and professionals requiring an audit, the ITR deadline is October 31, 2025. For companies with transfer pricing reports, the due date extends to November 30, 2025.

Several factors contribute to the demands for extending the ITR filing deadline. Tax professionals and even some Members of Parliament (MPs) have requested extensions, citing various challenges. These challenges include the delayed release of ITR forms, technical glitches on the Income Tax portal, and natural calamities in some regions. Some experts suggest extending the deadline to at least September 30, 2025, for non-audit cases and December 15, 2025, for audit cases. They also propose extending the Tax Audit Report due date to November 30, 2025.

As of September 12, 2025, over 5.95 crore ITRs have been filed, with over 5.51 crore ITRs verified and nearly 3.78 crore returns processed by the I-T department. While the Income Tax Department has not officially announced another extension, taxpayers are advised to file their returns as soon as possible to avoid penalties and interest charges.

Filing returns after September 15 will attract a penalty of ₹5,000 if income exceeds ₹5 lakh, and ₹1,000 for lower incomes under Section 234F. Interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C also applies on delayed payments. Belated or revised returns can still be filed until December 31, 2025, while updated returns (ITR-U) can be submitted up to March 31, 2030.

The Income Tax Department has been actively providing updates and clarifications to assist taxpayers. The department has enabled the application for condonation of delay under section 12A in filing of Form 10A at the e-filing portal. The department must complete processing and issue any intimation or refund within 9 months of the end of the financial year in which the return is filed. For ITRs of FY 2024–25, this means final processing should be done by December 31, 2025.