ITR Filing 2025: Big relief to taxpayers, know what is the last date to file Income Tax return this year?

Income Tax Return 2025: Every year, during the tax filing season, the most common question in people's minds is what is the last date to file an Income Tax Return (ITR) this year? Even though the new financial year starts on April 1 and the Income Tax Department issues the ITR form in the beginning, most people get very little time to file their returns due to the delay in updating the TDS information and preparing the online filing utility. Something similar happened this time too, but the relief is that the government has extended the deadline for filing ITR.
Last date to file ITR
If you are preparing to file an Income Tax Return (ITR), then this news is important for you. The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for filing ITR for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) from July 31 to September 15, 2025. The government has taken this decision keeping in mind the major changes in the new form and the time taken to prepare the system. This decision will give taxpayers more time to file returns.
Why was the deadline extended?
This year some major changes have been made in the ITR form. To implement these changes, the department is taking time to prepare the system, create the utility of the new form, and test it. Therefore, the government has decided to give more time to the taxpayers so that they can fill the return comfortably. CBDT said that these changes have been made to make the filing process easy and transparent for taxpayers. This will also maintain the accuracy of the return.
ITR forms and utilities were received late this time
This year ITR forms came a little late. Forms 1 and 4 were notified on 30 April. After this, online and offline utilities were also prepared gradually. This is the reason why people were getting less time to file ITR.
It also takes time to update TDS and get Form 16
Before filing ITR, taxpayers need complete information about TDS, which is visible in Form 26AS. But the TDS data of the last quarter of the year is updated only by 31 May. After this, it takes another 10–15 days for salary class taxpayers to get Form 16 from their employer. That is, Form 16 is received only on or after 15 June. Therefore, only time till the end of July is left to file ITR.
What is new in the ITR form?
This year an important change has been made in the ITR-1 form. Now you can also show Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) through this form, but there is a condition that it should not exceed Rs 1.25 lakh, and you should not have any set-off or carry forward loss.
Earlier there was no option to report LTCG in ITR-1. Now this change is helpful for those taxpayers who have made long-term gains by selling listed shares or equity mutual funds. If you have a profit or short-term capital gains from selling a house property, then you cannot use the ITR-1 form.
Why is it important to file on time?
Every year people have this question in their mind what is the last date for filing an ITR? In reality, due to the process of new forms coming, TDS update, and getting Form 16, taxpayers get only 30–45 days. Now that the deadline has been extended, taxpayers have got a better chance to file on time.
If you are also going to file ITR this time, then prepare your documents without delay and complete the filing before 15 September. This extended deadline is a relief for taxpayers, but do not make the mistake of postponing it at the last moment.
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