100 days into ITR filing season, but utilities still missing — will govt extend the Sept 15 deadline again?

Even after 100 days since the start of the ITR filing season for AY 2025-26, the Income Tax Department has released utilities for only ITR-1 and ITR-4. With the September 15 deadline approaching and utilities for key forms like ITR-2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 still pending, taxpayers and tax professionals have started voicing their concerns and are expecting the government to extend the deadline further.

The new Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season started from April 1, 2025. But this year, unusual delays have been seen in releasing ITR forms and utilities from the very beginning by the Income Tax Department.

As of July 9, around 1.09 crore income tax returns have been filed. These returns for AY 2025-26 have been filed by those filers who are eligible to file their returns using ITR forms 1 and 4.

The rest of the forms — used by a wide range of taxpayers such as professionals, companies, partnership firms and trusts — are still not available.

Know which ITR forms are for whom?

ITR-1 (Sahaj): This form is for those with salary up to Rs 50 lakh, one house property and other ordinary income.

ITR-2: For salaried or pensioners who earn income from more than one property, capital gains or foreign assets.

ITR-3: For professionals and business people who have regular business income or income from partnership firms.

ITR-4 (Sugam): This form is for small traders, freelancers and those who adopt presumptive taxation scheme.

ITR-5: For LLPs, firms, AOPs and BOIs.

ITR-6: For companies that do not take exemption under section 11 (charitable/religious purposes).

ITR-7: Trusts, political parties, colleges or institutions that file returns under sections 139(4A) to 139(4D).

Demands from the government intensify on social media

Taxpayers and CAs are constantly appealing to the government on social media to release the utility of the remaining ITR forms as soon as possible. Many users have also demanded the government to extend the current deadline of September 15.

Govt extended the ITR filing deadline till September 15

It is worth noting that this year the government has already extended the ITR filing deadline, which is usually till July 31, to September 15, 2025. It was announced at the end of May.

However, now when even after 100 days, the utility of the necessary forms is not available for many taxpayers, the possibility of extension of the deadline once again seems strong.

Will the ITR filing deadline be extended again?

Every year, between April and July, common taxpayers get about 120 days. But this time the ITR forms were notified only by the end of April or the beginning of May and now even in July most of the utilities have not come.

Given this situation, tax experts believe that the government should consider extending the deadline further, so that taxpayers get enough time and resources to file returns.

Summing up…

The delay in the ITR filing process is not only causing difficulties to taxpayers but it also raises questions on the credibility of the tax system. If the government does not issue utilities soon, then further extension of the deadline may be almost inevitable.