Finally, after 121 days into the new financial year, the Income Tax Department has enabled online filing with pre-filled data for taxpayers using the form ITR-3.
Excel utility of ITR Form 3 for AY 2025-26 was released on July 11, after 100 days had passed since the start of the ITR filing season.
Now that both online and offline utilities have been released by the tax department for ITR-3, taxpayers with business income, income from share trading (such as futures and options), or those who even have investments in unlisted shares can now file their income tax returns online on the e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department.
Who is eligible to file ITR-3
Individuals and Hindu Undivided Family (HUFs) are eligible to file ITR-3 if income is earned from business or profession. ITR-3 filing is applicable when there is income from business or profession (both tax audit and non-tax audit cases presumptive taxation is not opted). Apart from these earnings, taxpayers with salary income, house property rental income, short or long-term capital gains, income from dividends, lottery and other sources; income (interest and remuneration) as a partner in a firm, are also eligible to file ITR-3.
ITR deadline extension possibility
The Income Tax Department in May-end extended the deadline to file income tax return to September 15 from July 31, giving taxpayers under the non-audit category additional 46 days to comply with tax return filing obligation. However, so far the government has facilitated ITR filing for only those taxpayers who are eligible to file ITR-1, 2, 3 and 4. Even forms and utilities for taxpayers eligible to file these ITRs have seen significant delays in rolling out.
Furthermore, there are utilities still pending for Forms 5, 6 and 7. With just 46 days left to meet the current deadline of 15 September 2025, taxpayers are hoping that they might see another extension in the ITR filing deadline. Tax experts also believe that there may be possibilities of extending the deadline.
ITR filing delay: This year everything got delayed from the beginning
This time the tax return filing season started late since the government delayed the roll out of forms first and then utilities. The government released ITR forms by the end of May, in which many structural changes were made. After this, Excel based utility release was delayed.
Filing your tax return this year? Head to our detailed ITR Guide for everything you need to know.