Income tax returns (ITRs) for AY 2025-26 (financial year 2024-25) finally started, with almost a two-month delay, on May 30, 2025. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on May 30 released two Excel-based utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 filers. Usually, the government makes online and offline ITR utilities available in the second or third week of April every year; and prior to this ITR forms get notified.
This year there has been a significant delay in both notifying the ITR forms and updating online & offline utilities to support tax return filing by taxpayers for AY 2025-26. ITR forms were notified in April end by the Income Tax Department.
Considering this delay in notifying forms and releasing utilities to assist tax return filing, the Income Tax Department last week extended the deadline to file the income tax return from July 31 to September 15, 2025. This deadline extension will be applicable for income tax assessees whose accounts are not liable to be audited.
Also read: ITR forms and Excel utilities out, but you still can’t file income tax return online – Know why
How many ITR returns have been filed so far?
According to data available on the Income Tax Department’s website, as many as 54,389 tax returns have been filed for AY 2025-26. Of these, 48,975 ITRs have been verified. So far, not even a single ITR has been processed, as per the portal.
Who can start filing ITR for AY 2025-26?
So far, the tax department has made available only two Excel utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 for corresponding income tax return forms.
Who can file and who cannot ITR-1 (Sahaj) for AY 2025-26?
ITR-1 or Sahaj is meant for resident individuals whose total income includes the following:
* Total income does not exceed Rs 50 lakh
* Income from salary or pension
* Income from one house property (provided there’s no loss carried forward from previous years)
* Income from other sources, excluding: Winnings from lottery, Income from racehorses
* Long-term capital gains up to Rs 1.25 lakh, with no carry-forward or brought-forward capital loss
* Agricultural income up to Rs 5,000
Also read: Income Tax Rules: How to claim pre-construction interest on housing loan in ITR filing AY 2025-26
Who cannot file ITR-1 (Sahaj) for AY 2025-26?
You cannot use ITR-1 if any of the following apply to you:
* If your total income exceeds Rs 50 lakh
* If you have agricultural income exceeding Rs 5,000
* If you have taxable capital gains (other than exempted LTCG up to Rs 1.25 lakh without loss adjustment)
* If you earn income from business or profession
* If you have income from more than one house property
* You are a Director in a company
* You have invested in unlisted equity shares during the financial year
* You own assets or have financial interest outside India, or hold signing authority in a foreign account
* Your residency status is Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR) or Non-Resident (NRI)
* You have foreign income
Also read: ITR Filing: Excel utilities for ITR-1, ITR-4 released; Check if you can use them to file Income Tax Return
Who can file ITR-4 (Sugam) for AY 2025-26?
ITR-4 is applicable to individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and resident partnership firms (excluding LLPs) whose total income includes:
* Total income up to Rs 50 lakh, and
* Income from business or profession under the presumptive taxation scheme, namely:
Section 44AD – for small businesses
Section 44ADA – for professionals (like doctors, lawyers, architects, etc.)
Section 44AE – for those engaged in goods transportation business (owning not more than 10 vehicles)
Additionally, it can include:
* Income from salary or pension
* Income from one house property (excluding cases with brought-forward or carry-forward losses)
* Income from other sources (excluding winnings from lotteries and racehorses)
* Long-term capital gains (LTCG) up to Rs 1.25 lakh, with no carry-forward or brought-forward capital loss
Who cannot file ITR-4 (Sugam) for AY 2025-26?
You cannot use ITR-4 if any of the following conditions apply:
* Your total income exceeds Rs 50 lakh
* You have income from more than one house property
* You own any foreign asset or have a signing authority in any foreign account
* You have income from any foreign source
* You are a Director in a company
