ITR Filing Deadline Extended: CBDT Pushes Last Date to September 16, Portal to Remain Under Maintenance

Taxpayers have received some much-needed relief as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced a one-day extension for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2025–26. In an official post on platform X (formerly Twitter), the department confirmed that the new deadline to file ITR is now 16 September 2025, instead of the earlier extended date of 15 September 2025.

Original Deadlines and Extensions

The initial deadline for filing ITR for the financial year 2025–26 was 31 July 2025. However, due to technical issues and heavy portal traffic, the government had previously extended the date to 15 September 2025. With this latest decision, taxpayers now get an additional day to complete their filings.

CBDT stated that the extension aims to accommodate the rising number of filings and to resolve complaints about slow processing, server timeouts, and login errors reported by taxpayers and chartered accountants across the country.

Portal Maintenance on 16 September

Along with the extension, the Income Tax Department has scheduled a brief maintenance window on the e-filing portal. The portal will remain in maintenance mode from 12:00 AM to 2:30 AM on 16 September 2025 to implement necessary updates and utility changes. Taxpayers are advised to plan their filings accordingly to avoid any last-minute delays.

Record-Breaking ITR Filings

According to CBDT, as of Monday evening, over 7.3 crore ITRs had already been filed—surpassing last year’s record of 7.28 crore returns. The department expressed gratitude to taxpayers and professionals for their timely compliance and highlighted the efforts of the 24×7 helpline desk, which continues to assist users with filing, tax payments, and portal-related issues.

Key Points for Taxpayers

• New Deadline: The final date to file ITR for AY 2025–26 is now 16 September 2025.

• Portal Maintenance: E-filing portal will be unavailable from 12:00 AM to 2:30 AM on 16 September for updates.

• Support Services: A dedicated helpdesk remains operational round-the-clock to resolve filing and payment queries.

• Browser Guide: The department has also shared a troubleshooting guide to help users address browser-related access problems.

What Taxpayers Should Do

Those who have yet to file their returns should avoid waiting until the last minute, as the portal may continue to experience high traffic. Timely filing ensures that taxpayers avoid penalties, receive quicker refunds, and remain compliant with income tax regulations.

With this extension, the government has offered a final opportunity for individuals and businesses to complete their ITR submissions smoothly and on time.