ITR Filing for AY 2025-26 Begins; Over 54,000 Returns Filed Within First 3 Days
ITR filing for AY 2025–26 begins with a strong start as over 54,000 returns are filed within the first three days, following a delayed rollout and extended deadline
The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season for the Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26 officially commenced on May 30, 2025, after a delay from the usual April 1 start. Within the first three days, over 54,000 income tax returns were filed, reflecting strong initial engagement from taxpayers. The delay in commencement was due to significant updates in the ITR forms and required backend...
The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season for the Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26 officially commenced on May 30, 2025, after a delay from the usual April 1 start. Within the first three days, over 54,000 income tax returns were filed, reflecting strong initial engagement from taxpayers.
The delay in commencement was due to significant updates in the ITR forms and required backend system enhancements by the Income Tax Department. On May 30, the department released the Excel-based utilities for ITR-1 (SAHAJ) and ITR-4 (SUGAM), enabling eligible taxpayers primarily salaried individuals and small businesses, to begin the filing process.
As per sources, over 54,000 ITRs were filed in just the first three days. A post by Times Now on June 2 confirmed the surge, attributing the early rush to taxpayer readiness and increased awareness. Experts believe this proactive filing trend is partially driven by the extended deadline, which gives taxpayers more time to file accurately and without penalties.
Get Tax-Season Ready with Confidence! Master ITR Filing – ITR-1 to ITR-7 - Click Here
Deadline Extension to September 15, 2025
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the ITR filing deadline for non-audit cases from July 31 to September 15, 2025, as announced in a press release on May 27, 2025. The extension was granted to accommodate:
- Major changes in the ITR forms,
- Ongoing technical updates,
- Timely reflection of TDS credits and other taxpayer information.
This extension means that taxpayers filing by September 15 will not incur late fees under Section 234F or interest under Section 234A. However, any filings post this date will attract penalties, though belated returns can still be filed until December 31, 2025.
Financial advisors suggest that taxpayers wait until the second week of June to file their returns, as TDS credits and other income details may take time to fully reflect in Form 26AS and AIS (Annual Information Statement).
Early filing without reconciliation may lead to mismatches or notices. Taxpayers are urged to download Form 26AS and AIS, cross-verify income, TDS, and other data, and resolve discrepancies before filing.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates
