TV
The government has extended the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26, even as less than 40% of the verified returns have been processed so far.
Filing Timeline and Current Status
The Income Tax Department began accepting ITR filings on May 29, 2025, following the delayed release of Excel utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4, almost two months later than usual. Since then, 3.29 crore returns have been filed, with 3.19 crore verified. However, only about 1.13 crore verified returns, less than 40%, have been processed till now.
To provide relief to taxpayers, the finance ministry announced on May 27 that individuals whose accounts are not subject to audit now have until September 15 to file their returns, extending the original deadline of July 31 by 46 days.
Why the Delay?
The notified ITR forms for AY 2025-26 feature significant structural and content revisions, aimed at simplifying compliance, improving transparency, and enabling accurate reporting. These changes required additional time for system development, integration, and testing of the ITR utilities.
The extension also came after stakeholders raised concerns about the delayed availability of utilities, ensuring taxpayers had adequate time for accurate compliance.
Status of ITR Utilities
As of now, the utilities for all seven ITR forms have not been released. While Excel and online versions for ITR-1 to ITR-6 are available, the ITR-7 utility, used by entities such as trusts, political parties, and institutions, is still pending release. The Excel utility for ITR-6 was rolled out just last week.
Understanding ITR Utilities
ITR utilities are structured digital tools that facilitate online and offline filing of income tax returns. They provide schema validation, support integration with third-party platforms, and ensure accurate data submission. Typically, the e-filing process rolls out in phases, starting with simpler forms like ITR-1 and ITR-4, followed by more complex ones.
