Know When to File ITR: Income Thresholds and Requirements Explained

The deadline for filing income tax return (ITR) is September 15, 2025. If your income exceeds the basic exemption limit or you have engaged in specified transactions, you must file an ITR. The exemption limit is Rs 3 lakh for the new tax regime and Rs 2.5 lakh for the old regime. If your salary income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh, you may not need to file an ITR.

The deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2026-27 (financial year 2024-25) is September 15, 2025. However, the tax filing process has faced several challenges this year, prompting requests for an extension from various quarters.

Initial Extension and Reasons

In May 2025, the central government extended the ITR filing deadline from July 31 to September 15, 2025, for individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and others whose accounts do not need auditing. This extension was necessitated by several practical challenges, including delayed releases of ITR forms, late availability of utilities on the portal, and issues related to TDS reconciliation and Form 26AS/TIS mismatches [1].

Current Challenges and Requests for Further Extension

With just 17 days left for the last date to file tax returns, chartered accountants are urging the Income Tax Department to extend the deadline further. The Chandigarh Chartered Taxation Association (CCATAX) has reportedly requested an additional extension, citing technical glitches, data mismatches between AIS and Form 26AS, server crashes, session timeouts, and other issues [1].

Impact of Challenges

As of August 28, 2025, over 3.90 crore income tax returns (ITRs) were filed and more than 3.72 crore tax returns were verified. However, there are still more than 5 crore taxpayers expected to file their income tax returns in FY 2025-26. This indicates a significant volume of returns yet to be filed, which is compounded by systemic challenges [1].

Government Response

While there is growing pressure from professional bodies, industry associations, and tax practitioners to extend the deadline further, as of today, there is no official indication from the government or CBDT that the deadline will be extended beyond September 15 [1]. The likelihood of an extension will depend on how the next 10-15 days unfold, with the government closely monitoring filing patterns and portal stability [1].

Conclusion

The income tax return filing deadline for AY 2026-27 is September 15, 2025. Despite initial extensions and current challenges, the government's decision to extend the deadline further remains uncertain. The final decision will depend on the progress made in the next 10-15 days and the government's assessment of the filing process's capacity and technical efficiency [1].

References:

[1] https://www.financialexpress.com/money/income-tax-return-deadline-ay-2025-26-latest-update-due-date-extension-to-depend-on-how-next-10-15-days-unfold-3961387/