Pre-Diwali ITR Audit Report Filing Rush Breaks Income Tax e-Filing Portal: Complaints Raised by CAs on Upload Failure [Read Order]

With the October 31 deadline for the income tax audit report filing under Section 44AB fast approaching, the Income Tax e-filing portal has once again come under strain. Chartered Accountants (CAs) across India have reported widespread technical glitches while attempting to upload Form 3CB-3CD reports on the portal.

Many users are encountering an error message reading “Submission failed! Response form server: submission_failed”, halting their filings mid-process.

The issue surfaced prominently on October 13 and 14, as users took to professional forums and social media to express frustration over repeated upload failures. Screenshots showing the “submission_failed” message have circulated widely among the tax fraternity, underscoring the mounting anxiety as the due date nears.

The error appears to occur during the final submission stage, after all validation checks are passed and the report is digitally signed. Several CAs have stated that the form gets validated and proceeds up to the point of submission, only to be rejected by the server without explanation. The problem is reportedly affecting both firm and individual audit uploads, particularly under Form 3CB-3CD, which applies to businesses not required to audit under other laws.

Professionals claim that despite repeated attempts using different browsers, network settings, and even digital signature tokens, the error persists. Some have suggested that the issue could be due to backend load or a server timeout linked to high concurrent user activity, given the surge in last-minute filings before Diwali.

Tax practitioners have called for immediate intervention by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Infosys, the technology vendor managing the portal. They have urged authorities to either resolve the technical glitches urgently or consider extending the filing deadline to prevent penal consequences for taxpayers and audit firms.

This is not the first time the Income Tax portal has faced disruption during critical filing periods. Since its revamped launch in 2021, users have periodically reported login failures, delayed acknowledgment receipts, and form upload crashes during peak periods, especially around statutory due dates.

With just over two weeks left before the October 31 deadline, the current issue has reignited long-standing concerns about the reliability of the e-filing infrastructure. Unless the system stabilizes soon, professionals warn that taxpayers and auditors may face severe compliance challenges, adding unnecessary stress to an already tight filing calendar.

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