Taxpayers Alert! ITR Filing For AY 2025-26: Should the September 15 Income Tax Return Deadline Be Extended?

The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline is approaching on September 15, 2025. However, reports are circulating on whether the Income Tax department should extend the due date to a further date, owing to delays in ITR forms, TDS issues and delays in utility rollouts. It will be keenly watched if the government extends the September 15 deadline.

Should the ITR Filing Deadline Be Extended?

CA (Dr) Suresh Surana told IndiaToday.in that taxpayers and professionals are reporting widespread mismatches between AIS/TIS and Form 26AS, particularly in relation to capital gains, mutual fund entries and dividend income, which often results in inflated income figures requiring extensive reconciliation.

Furthermore, the updated return utilities and audit report formats were also delayed, some released as late as July and August. Hence, the September 15 timeline gives reportedly limited room for businesses and professionals who need to compile multiple details while filing ITR.

Also, as per Business Today, the Chandigarh Chartered Taxation Association (CCATAX) and Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry have urged the Income Tax Department to act, citing ongoing glitches on the filing portal, mismatches between Form 26AS and AIS, and delays in TDS documentation. Tax experts warn that portal issues and the complexity of new ITR formats continue to slow progress.

Not just that, data showed that over 3.90 crore ITRs have been filed as of August 28, while more than 3.72 crore are verified and 2.47 crore processed. This is quite lower than 9.1 crore ITRs last year.

How To File ITR-1 (Sahaj) Online?

One of the basic ITR forms available for salaried individuals is ITR-1 Sahaj. ITR-1 can be filed by a resident with a total income of Rs 50 lakh in a financial year. Also, a resident whose income is from salary, one house property, family pension income, agricultural income (up to Rs 5000/-), Long-term capital gain u/s 112A up to Rs . 1.25 lakhs and other sources.

Step 1: Log in to the e-Filing portal using your user ID and password.

Step 2: On your Dashboard, click e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return.

Step 3: Select Assessment Year as 2025-26 and Mode of filling as Online, then click Continue.

Step 4: In case you have already filled the Income Tax Return and it is pending for submission, click Resume Filing. In case you wish to discard the saved return and start preparing the return afresh, Click Start New Filing.

Step 5: Select Status as applicable to you and click Continue to proceed further.

Step 6: Select the ITR form and click Proceed.

Step 7: Once you have selected the ITR applicable to you, note the list of documents needed and click Let's Get Started.

Step 8: Select the checkbox applicable to you regarding reason for filing ITR and click Continue.

Step 9: For AY 2025-26 New Tax Regime is the default Tax Regime. Option "No" will be Auto Selected for the question "If you want to opt out of New Tax Regime". Select "Yes" in the Personal Information Section, if you wish to file your return under Old Tax Regime.

Review your pre-filled data and edit it if necessary. Enter the remaining / additional data (if required). Click Confirm at the end of each section.

Before selecting the tax regime, it needs to be noted that certain deductions and exemptions are not available in the new tax regime. To know more refer to video on Old vs. New tax Regime (Part-1).

Step 10: Enter/ Edit your income and total deductions details in the different sections. After completing and confirming all the sections of the form, click Proceed.

Step 10a: In case there is a tax liability

After clicking on total tax liability, you will be shown a summary of your tax computation based on the details provided by you. If there is tax liability payable based on the computation, you will get the Pay Now and Pay Later options at the bottom of the page.

Step 10a(i) : If you click on "Pay Now" you will be redirected to e-pay Tax service. Click Continue.

Step 10a(ii): After successful payment through e-Filing portal a success message is displayed. Click Back to Return Filing to complete filing of ITR.

Step 10b: In case there is no tax liability (No Demand / No Refund) or if you are eligible for a Refund

Click Preview Return. If there is no tax liability payable, or if there is a refund based on tax computation, you will be taken to the Preview and Submit Your Return page.

Step 11: On the Preview and Submit Your Return page, select the declaration checkbox and click Proceed to Validation

Step 12: Once internal validations is successful then click on Preview

Step 13: Click on Preview of Return and proceed to validation

Step 14: Once return is successfully validated with Upload level validation then click on Proceed to Verification

Step 15: On the Complete your Verification page, select your preferred option and click Continue.

It is mandatory to verify your return, and e-Verification (recommended option - e-Verify Now) is the easiest way to verify your ITR - it is quick, paperless, and safer than sending a signed physical ITR-V to CPC by speed post.

Step 16: On the e-Verify page, select the option through which you want to e-Verify the return and click Continue.