Extended ITR Filing Deadline for 2025: Crucial Dates, Potential Penalties, and Steps for Submission
Apologies for any confusion, but the bullet points provided do not mention technical glitches or high traffic on the e-filing portal as reasons for the extension of the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline.
However, it is worth noting that the extension was primarily due to major changes and updates in the ITR forms and the related e-filing systems. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) granted this extension to ensure taxpayers had sufficient time to adapt to these significant new forms and modifications, which aimed to simplify compliance and enhance transparency in tax reporting.
Key reasons include:
- Extensive structural and content changes in notified ITR forms — such as ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7 — to make tax filing easier and reporting more transparent for taxpayers[1][3].
- System readiness and rollout delays for the new ITR utilities (both online and offline versions), which required more time for proper implementation and testing before taxpayers could file returns smoothly[3][5].
- Delays in e-filing system availability, especially impacting NRIs and other taxpayers who depend on online utilities, further justifying the extended deadline[2][5].
- The extension was also a measure to prevent last-minute rush and reduce errors, allowing taxpayers to file accurate returns without penalties[1][3].
Even with this extension, taxpayers who miss the September 15 deadline can still file belated returns until December 31, 2025, but with applicable late fees and interest under relevant income tax provisions[1].
In summary, the extension was driven by the need to accommodate significant ITR form revisions, system enhancements, and associated readiness delays, ensuring a smoother and more transparent filing process for all taxpayers[1][3][5].
- The extension of the ITR filing deadline was primarily due to major changes and updates in the ITR forms and the related e-filing systems, which is a part of personal-finance management.
- To simplify compliance and enhance transparency in tax reporting, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the deadline and granted more time for taxpayers to adapt to the significant new forms and modifications in their personal-finance matters.
