Srinagar, July 15: In a move aimed at providing relief and greater convenience to taxpayers, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR). As per the announcement, taxpayers who file their ITR and pay any outstanding self-assessment tax by the new deadline will not be liable to pay interest under Section 234A of the Income Tax Act.
The extension covers a broad range of taxpayers, including salaried individuals, self-employed persons, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), Associations of Persons (AOPs) and Bodies of Individuals (BOIs) whose accounts do not require an audit. For these categories, the ITR filing deadline has now been extended to September 15, 2025.
Other important deadlines remain unchanged:
- Businesses requiring audit: October 31, 2025
- Businesses requiring transfer pricing reports (involving international or specified domestic transactions): November 30, 2025
- Belated or revised returns: December 31, 2025
Why was the deadline extended?
The CBDT clarified that this year’s introduction of the new tax regime in ITR forms required additional time to be integrated into both the offline and online ITR filing systems. To ensure taxpayers have adequate time to understand and comply with the changes, the deadline was pushed forward.
What if you miss the deadline?
Even if you miss the new due date, you can still file an updated return under Section 139(8A) of the Income Tax Act. The time window for filing such returns has recently been extended to 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year (previously 24 months). However, filing an updated return may attract additional tax of 60% to 70% on the due amount, depending on when it is filed.
Penalties and Interest
If you delay filing beyond the due date, interest under Section 234A applies at 1% per month or part thereof on unpaid tax until the return is filed. Therefore, taxpayers are advised to complete and file their returns as early as possible to avoid penalties and additional charges.
The revised timeline aims to help taxpayers ensure compliance, avoid last-minute rush, and file accurate returns in line with the new tax structure.
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