Income Tax Return Deadline Extended, But This One Key Deadline Hasn't Changed – Find Out Why

New Delhi: The government has extended the deadline to file Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25. Earlier, the last date was 31 July 2025. Now, it has been extended to 15 September 2025. This change was officially announced on 27 May 2025.

Tax Payment Date Still the Same

Even though the ITR filing deadline is now 15 September, the deadline to pay any tax due is still 31 July 2025. This means if you owe any extra tax, you must pay it by 31 July.

If you pay tax after 31 July, you will have to pay interest and late fees. This will apply even if you file the return before 15 September.

Example to Understand Better

- Suppose your tax due is Rs 10,000.

- You file your ITR on 10 September.

- But you pay the tax on 1 August.

In this case, you will have to pay interest from 1 August to the date of payment, as the tax was not paid by 31 July.

Reasons for Extension

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the ITR deadline for the following four reasons:

Changes in ITR Forms

- Major updates were made, especially for capital gains reporting.

- Tax rules differ depending on whether property was sold before or after 23 July 2024.

Technical Updates on IT Portal

CBDT needs time to update the e-filing system as per new changes.

- Delay in TDS Data

- Q4 TDS returns for FY 2024–25 are due by 31 May 2025.

- It takes time for Form 16 and 26AS to show complete data.

Help for Taxpayers and CAs

- Extra time helps Chartered Accountants manage high volume.

- It also helps taxpayers avoid last-minute errors.

Don’t Wait Till the Last Day

- It is better to file early to avoid portal slowdowns or errors.

- CBDT is also working on a system to auto-calculate interest to ensure fair refunds.

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