ITR filing date extension demand intensifies: why is it termed critical?

The demand for extending income tax filing and audit deadlines is gaining urgency as taxpayers and professionals claim struggle with technical glitches, overlapping compliance requirements, and mounting pressure to meet statutory dates.

Many users have reported persistent failures on the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, from crashes during peak traffic to validation errors and sluggish uploads. 

Screenshots shared online showed taxpayers unable to process basic requests, further fuelling frustration. For professionals already working round the clock, such hurdles have added to delays in filing returns and audit reports.

#Extend_Due_Date_Immediately - Using this hashtag, several people tweeted on social media app ‘X’ requesting the Finance Ministry to extend the due date.

One user wrote, "Kindly extends the dates for public interest of Income tax returns. True, fair and right data can only raise the economic figures and can make reach India on new heights."

While another posted a screenshot of website crash and wrote, "Respected @IncomeTaxIndia #INCOMETAXPORTAL is unable to bear the load."

Professional Bodies Raise Alarm

CIRC of ICAI has urged the Ministry of Finance to push back deadlines.  CIRC has requested a longer extension of the audit filing deadline to 31 December 2025, citing “ground realities” and practical difficulties in meeting timelines.

Overlapping Compliance Burdens

From July to October, the compliance calendar remains crowded with GST filings, corporate annual returns, financial statements, and other regulatory submissions. Tax professionals argue that staggered releases of ITR forms have compressed work schedules, making timely completion nearly impossible. 

While the government previously extended the non-audit ITR deadline from 31st July to 15th September 2025, stakeholders believe that further relief is now essential.

Why Extension Is Critical

Currently, the deadline for filing tax audit reports stands at 30th September 2025, while ITRs for audit cases are due by 31st October 2025. With millions of returns still pending, delays in refunds, and high penalty risks looming, professionals say extensions are not a luxury but a necessity.