ITR Deadlines: Do You Know Yours?

July 21, 2025: Taxpayers all over India are busy getting their returns ready right now because it’s the time of year when people file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs). It’s important for people to know that the last date for ITR submission is not the same for everyone. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has pushed out the general deadline for many taxpayers, while some groups have alternative due dates.

Here are the ITR deadlines for different people and businesses for the Financial Year 2024–25 (Assessment Year 2025–26):

Deadlines for Filing ITR for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26)
People, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and Other Taxpayers Who Don’t Need an Audit:
The new deadline for these groups to file their ITRs is September 15, 2025. The CBDT pushed out this date from July 31, 2025, since the notified ITR forms had major revisions and the system needed more time to get ready.

Businesses, sole proprietorships, and taxpayers whose accounts need to be checked:
If you need to have your taxes audited, the final day to file your ITR is October 31, 2025. Companies, sole proprietorships, and business partners must turn in their audit report by September 30, 2025.

Taxpayers with International Transactions: If a taxpayer has done business with people in other countries and has to file a report under Section 92E of the Income Tax Act, they have until November 30, 2025, to do so. They also have to turn in their audit report by October 31, 2025.

Last Date to File a Late ITR: For all types of taxpayers, the last day to file an ITR (Income Tax Return) late for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) is December 31, 2025.

Last Date to File Revised ITR: You can file a revised ITR to fix an error you made in your initial ITR. The last day to file a new ITR for the fiscal year 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) is also December 31, 2025.

What Happens if You Miss the ITR Deadline
If you don’t file your ITR before the deadline, you could face a number of penalties and consequences:

Section 234F: If you file your ITR after the deadline, you will have to pay a late filing charge.

If your total income is more than ₹5 lakh, you would have to pay ₹5,000.

₹1,000, if you make less than ₹5 lakh.

Section 234A: If you owe taxes and file your ITR after the deadline, you will have to pay interest at a rate of 1% per month or part of a month on the amount you owe. This interest is figured out from the due date to the date the form was actually filed.

Loss of Carry Forward Benefits: You might not be able to carry forward some losses (like losses from capital gains or company losses) to future assessment years to offset future income.

Less Deductions and Exemptions: If you file your ITR late, you might not be able to get some deductions and exemptions.

Prosecution: The Income Tax Department can start prosecution proceedings in very serious cases of willful default or major tax evasion. This could lead to jail time.

Refunds that are late: If you are due a tax refund, filing a late ITR will slow down the processing of your refund.

Having these papers on hand will make the ITR filing procedure more easier and assist make sure that your tax return is correct.