In a major relief for taxpayers and tax professionals, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Thursday extended the deadline for filing of audit reports for the financial year 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) by a month to October 31, 2025.
This comes on the heels of two High Courts in the country – the Karnataka High Court and the Rajasthan High Court – asking the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to extend the deadline for filing Tax Audit Reports (TAR) under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on September 24, 2025.
Issuing a statement, the CBDT said, “…keeping in view the representation of the tax practitioners and their submissions before the Hon’ble Courts, the ‘specified date’ for furnishing of the report of audit under any provision of the Income-tax Act, 1961, for the previous year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26), in the case of assessees referred to in clause (a) of Explanation 2 to sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act is extended from 30th September, 2025 to 31st October, 2025.”
Tax professionals were complaining of severe difficulties due to technical issues and delays in key utilities on the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal. The portal has allegedly been plagued with issues like login failures, slow portal performance, and difficulties accessing important documents such as the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
What does CBDT say on portal glitches?
In response to tax professionals’ complaints regarding issues on the e-filing portal, the CBDT said “…e-filing portal has been operating smoothly and without any technical glitches and the tax audit reports are being uploaded successfully. The system is stable and fully functional, enabling submission of various statutory forms and reports.”
Over 4 lakh tax audit reports uploaded so far, says CBDT
At the close of 24th September, 4,02,000 TARs were uploaded with over 60,000 TARs uploaded on 24th September, 2025, the statement said. Furthermore, more than 7.57 crore ITRs have been filed till 23rd September, 2025, it added.
The board, the statement said, has received representations from various professional associations, including chartered accountant bodies, highlighting certain difficulties being faced by taxpayers and practitioners in timely completion of audit report.
“The reasons cited in these representations include disruptions caused by floods and natural calamities in certain parts of the country, which have impeded normal business and professional activity. This matter has also come up before High Courts” it said.