ITR Filing AY 2025-26: The Income Tax Department sets a deadline for filing tax returns (ITRs) every year by following a set process. After assessing the systemic preparedness, the tax department this year gave additional time to taxpayers to file their returns. Technical issues, changes to forms, and delayed audit reports delayed the ITR filing process, and the deadline had to be extended twice. The deadline for taxpayers in the non-audit category ended on September 16, 2025.
ITR filing due date AY 2025-26 over
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the due date for tax audit report filing for AY 2025-26 from 30th September to 31st October 2025. The tax department, however, has not extended the ITR filing deadline for taxpayers to whom the tax audit is applicable, which is the same as the tax audit report due date.
As a taxpayer, have you ever wondered what happens if you miss even the belated ITR filing deadline? And what if you don’t file your Income Tax Return (ITR) at all this year — despite your income being above the exemption limit, making it mandatory for you to file one?
Let’s understand this in detail. So, who is responsible for filing the ITR?
Any individual in India whose income exceeds the taxable limit under the Income Tax Act is required to file an ITR for each financial year.
For FY 2024-25, if your annual income exceeds —
Rs 2.5 lakh (normal taxpayers),
Rs 3 lakh (senior citizens over 60 years of age), or
Rs 5 lakh (senior citizens over 80 years of age).
Also, even if your income is below the taxable limit, you may still be required to file an ITR if you have bank deposits exceeding Rs 1 crore, spent more than Rs 2 lakh on foreign travel, or spent more than Rs 1 lakh on electricity bills.
Two Types of ITR filers: Non-audit and audit category
Taxpayers filing ITR are broadly divided into two categories:
Non-Audit Category: These include salaried individuals, pensioners, small businesses, freelancers, or those who are not required to have their accounts audited.
The last date for filing ITR for these individuals this year was September 16, 2025.
Audit Category: These include businessmen or professionals whose turnover or gross receipts exceed the prescribed limit (Rs 1 crore or Rs 50 lakh for professionals).
These taxpayers are required to submit an audit report of their accounts.
This year, the deadline for filing tax audit reports has been extended to October 31, 2025 (after a one-month extension).
The ITR filing deadline for these audited taxpayers has not yet been extended.
What options are left for non-audit taxpayers?
If you fall into the non-audit category and haven’t filed your ITR by September 16th, you still have the opportunity to file a belated ITR. You can file a belated ITR until December 31, 2025.
However, there are some disadvantages and penalties involved —
Late Fee: Under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act, if your income exceeds Rs 5 lakh, you will have to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000.
If your income is less than Rs 5 lakh, the penalty will be up to Rs 1,000.
Interest: If you have tax dues, you may have to pay interest at the rate of 1% per month under Section 234A.
What if you don’t file a belated ITR?
Here comes the real twist in the story — if you don’t file your ITR at all this year.
In such a situation: Your income data will remain with the tax department:
The department can estimate your income from your bank transactions, TDS, AIS, and SIS reports. If a mismatch is found, a notice may be sent. You will lose the right to file an ITR. You cannot even file a belated ITR after December 31, 2025.
However, in some exceptional cases, you can seek permission to file a delayed ITR through a Condonation Request, but this will depend entirely on departmental approval.
Threat of penalties and investigation: If the department discovers your undeclared income, you could face penalties ranging from 100% to 300%. In serious cases, prosecution action is also possible.
Impact on loans and visas: Not filing your ITR impacts your financial record credibility. The ITR is considered a reliable document in bank loans, visa applications, or investment processes.
Long-term consequences of not filing the ITR
The ITR is not just a formal tax document; it is your financial identity.
In the future, if you take out a home or business loan from a bank, take out an education loan for your child’s education, or apply for a visa to travel abroad, a copy of your ITR will be requested. If you haven’t filed it, your financial credibility could be negatively impacted.
Summing up…
If you missed your ITR this year, there’s no need to panic—but don’t delay. You still have until December 2025 to file your belated return. If you miss it, your next chance will depend solely on the department’s mercy.
Therefore, the cost of not filing your ITR is not just a penalty, but it can also lead to many difficulties in the future. After all, filing your ITR on time is not only your tax responsibility but also a sign of financial discipline.