The pressure on taxpayers is increasing for filing income tax returns for 2025-26. So far, only 5 crore ITRs have been filed. Last year, 7.28 crore returns were filed by July 31. This means about 3 crore returns are still pending. Filing before the last date has become a big challenge. Many people are also facing problems in submitting their returns on time.
What is the Reason
This delay is happening because the ITR-1 and ITR-2 forms were made available only a month ago. ITR-5 was released just last week. Because of this, taxpayers have not had enough time to file their returns.
Tax experts have asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for relief. They have requested an extension of the last date for ITR filing. But the government has not yet said whether the deadline will be extended or not.
The Date Has Already Been Extended
Earlier, the last date for filing ITR was 31 July 2025. Later, it was extended to 15 September 2025. The government gave extra time because of the delay in updated ITR forms and utilities and to prepare for operational issues.
File ITR as Soon as Possible
You should file your ITR as soon as possible. Only 4 days are left. Under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act 1961, a penalty is charged on those who file ITR late. Filing after the deadline can also delay your tax refund.