Today is the last date to file the Income Tax Return (ITR). If you have not filed the return yet, then hurry up, because after this, you may have to face heavy fines and other losses. Know what the losses are and how to fix the problems of the portal.
How many people have filed ITR so far
According to the Income Tax Department’s portal eportal.incometax.gov.in, out of 13,43,46,245 registered users, 6,69,00,223 people have filed their ITR till September 14. Out of these, 6,03,98,408 returns have been verified, and returns of 4,00,82,620 people have also been processed. However, many taxpayers have complained on social media that the portal is running slowly, due to which they are facing difficulties in filing returns.
Disadvantages of missing the deadline
If you are unable to file your ITR by today, September 15, you may suffer the following losses. If your income is less than ₹5 lakh, a penalty of ₹1,000 will be imposed. If your income is more than ₹5 lakh, a penalty of ₹5,000 will be imposed. Apart from the penalty, you will also have to pay interest on the tax payable. You will lose several important tax benefits, such as the option to switch to the old tax regime, loss carry forward benefits, and certain deductions such as HRA, EPF, and LTA under Section 80C.
How to deal with portal problems
If you are facing any problem on the portal while filing ITR, the Income Tax Department has given some suggestions:
Clear your browser cache.
Use newer versions of Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Use a LAN internet connection.
If the portal is running slowly, try early morning or late evening when there is less load on the server.
If the problem persists, you can contact the helpdesk available 24/7.
What to do next
If you are unable to file the return even today, you can file a ‘belated return’ till December 31, 2025. But you will have to pay a penalty and interest. Keep in mind, it is mandatory to do electronic verification (e-verification) within 30 days after filing the return; otherwise, your return will be considered invalid.