New ITR Filing Deadlines Announced for FY 2024-25
The last date for filing income tax returns has been officially extended for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26). This is particularly good news for taxpayers as they can now wait longer to file their taxes and avoid penalties.
The previous deadline for filing ITRs, July 31, 2025, has been extended to September 15, 2025. It is for people who do not have their personal income tax audited by the government. It allows individuals who rely on employers and financial institutions for documents to have additional time to complete their forms.
Why the Deadline Was Extended?
Official ITR forms for this year have not been released by the government yet. To ensure taxpayers declare their earnings and reduce taxable income, they need to use these forms. Further, the tools needed to file ITRs online are still being rolled out. Because of this technical setback, ending development later than expected is one of the main reasons.
With the extension, those filing taxes can take their time to provide documents and verify their finances. Before June 15, most of these documents aren’t available, so filing early is difficult and risky.
Key Documents are Usually Available after June 15
Form 16 from employers and Form 16A from banks or institutions are usually available only after mid-June at the earliest. Similarly, the bank and mutual fund sector updates the Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) in the second week of June.
Filing without these documents may cause you to report your income more poorly or miss claiming deductions.
Waiting until mid-June helps you:
- File returns with accurate data
- Match the numbers reported with what you actually make in income.
- Remember to take advantage of all your eligible deductions.
- Get your refund faster if you file everything correctly.
More accurate and complete returns are handled faster and are less likely to cause you to get tax notices.
Experts have advised not to file your tax returns immediately after the portal becomes active. If you file your tax return before having all the required certificates or reports, you could end up with mistakes, which could lead to issues from the Income Tax Department or delayed refunds.
Accordingly, it is best to wait until after June 15 so that all the required information has been uploaded to your income tax account and your financial papers are confirmed.
What to Do Before You File ITR
Get your salary, interest certificates, details of your investments and loan repayment statements organized. Once your employer gives Form 16 and your TDS is entered online, make sure to check your Annual Information Statement for all your income information.
Always apply for the ITR form that matches your earning type. Most salaried people use ITR-1, but ITR-2 or ITR-3 are meant for those with capital gains or business income.
What Should You Do Now?
While the deadline has been extended, it’s important for taxpayers to make the best use of their time:
- Pull together all your financial papers and sort them.
- Regularly check the website for newer changes.
- Wait for the arrival of important papers, including Form 16.
- Go through your Automatic Identification System and Traffic Information System thoroughly.
- Consult an expert in taxes if you are unsure.
Organizing your documents ahead of time will significantly reduce the pressure at the last minute.
Conclusion
Taxpayers have sufficient time to organize their documents and ensure everything is correct, thanks to the ITR filing deadline being extended to September 15, 2025. Ensure you don’t file your tax return before June 15, as most TDS and financial documents will not be available at that time. The purpose of this change by the government is to facilitate compliance and reduce the likelihood of errors in filing.
Spend this extra time reviewing everything, making sure your papers are ready and then filing your return when they are complete. Having a clear plan helps you prevent issues and receive your refund more quickly.
