ITR filing deadline extended to September 15, 2025, check details

India Today

23-06-2025

The income tax return (ITR) filing season for the assessment year 2025-26 has begun. However, many taxpayers are struggling. The ITR-1 and ITR-4 utilities have been made available by the Income Tax Department, but the key ITR-2 and ITR-3 offline utilities are still missing. So this gap is particularly alarming for individuals who will have other complicated sources of income that cannot be captured in simpler forms, such as those who have capital gains, multiple properties, or business income.advertisementThe last date for those taxpayers to file their ITR is September 15, 2025, and they are patiently waiting for the utilities to be released so they won't be late in filing.WHICH ONE TO FILE: ITR-2 or ITR-3?Individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) must select ITR-2 or ITR-3, depending on the sources of income. ITR-2 is for taxpayers with capital gains, more than one house, property, foreign assets or foreign income, or agricultural income above Rs 5,000. Those using ITR-2 also do not wish to claim business or professional income. It includes taxpayers with salary, capital gains, rent, lottery winnings, income from a foreign asset, etc.
In contrast, if you are an individual or HUF with business or professional income, or is a partner in a partnership, you should use an ITR-3. ITR-3 encompasses all items of income in ITR-2, plus income derived from any business or professional activities.In short, if you have a complex income (such as capital gains or foreign income) but no business or professional income, use ITR-2. If you have business or professional income or are a partner in a firm, use ITR-3. If your income situation is less complicated, for example, only a salary, one house property, and you have a total income of below Rs 50 lakh, you may use ITR-1 or ITR-4.HOW TO FILE YOUR ITR ONLINE: STEP-BY-STEPIf you want to file your Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26), follow the step-by-step guide below:Log in to the Income Tax PortalVisit the official Income Tax website at https://www.incometax.gov.in and log in using your user ID, which is your PAN number.Go to the 'e-File' SectionOnce logged in, click on the 'e-File' tab, then select 'Income Tax Returns' followed by 'File Income Tax Return'.Choose the Correct Assessment YearSince you are filing for FY 2024-25, select 'Assessment Year 2025-26'.Select Your Filing StatusChoose your filing category based on your situation—Individual, HUF (Hindu Undivided Family), or Others.Choose the Correct ITR FormPick the appropriate ITR form based on your sources of income.For example, use ITR-1 if you have only a salary and one house property. Use ITR-2 if you have capital gains or foreign income, but no business income. Use ITR-3 if you have income from a business or profession.Select the Reason for Filing ITRYou will be asked why you are filing your ITR. Common reasons include:Your total income exceeds the basic exemption limit.You are required to file under specific tax rules.You want to claim a refund or carry forward lossesVerify and Submit the DetailsMost of your personal information, such as PAN, Aadhaar, name, date of birth, and bank details will be pre-filled. Check everything carefully.Fill in your income details, exemptions, deductions (under sections like 80C, 80D, etc.), and ensure that tax liability is correctly calculated.If any tax is payable, make the payment online through the tax payment system.E-Verify Your ITRThe final and crucial step is to verify your return. It is mandatory to complete e-verification within 30 days of filing, or else your return will be treated as not filed.You can verify your ITR through the following methods:Aadhaar OTPE-Verification Code (EVC)Net bankingOr by sending a signed physical copy of ITR-V to the Central Processing Centre (CPC), BengaluruOnce verified, you will receive an acknowledgement from the Income Tax Department. Make sure to keep this for your records.The offline utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 are not available at this time, but taxpayers can file via the online portal. Be sure to select the form, gather all the documents, and file the taxes ahead of the final deadline to avoid penalties.