The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced that over 7.3 crore income tax returns (ITRs) were filed till September 15, 2025, surpassing last year's record of 7.28 crore. To provide relief to taxpayers facing technical issues, the Income Tax Department extended the filing deadline for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26 by one day, till September 16.
Deadline Extended Amid High Traffic on Portal
The last date to file ITRs without penalty for income earned in FY 2024-25 was originally set for September 15. However, the deadline was extended as the e-filing portal experienced heavy traffic and technical glitches on the final day, coinciding with the due date for payment of the second quarterly advance tax installment.
CBDT confirmed the extension on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
"A record over 7.3 crore ITRs were filed till September 15, surpassing last year's 7.28 crore. To facilitate further filings, the due date has been extended by one day (16th September 2025)."
Browser Issue Guidelines for Taxpayers
Acknowledging user complaints, the Income Tax Department issued guidelines to resolve browser-related access problems, advising taxpayers to clear cache or switch browsers. It noted that such steps usually resolve local access difficulties.
Despite this, several Taxpayers and Chartered Accountants reported continued issues in logging in, paying advance tax and downloading the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
Mixed Experiences with E-Filing Portal
While many taxpayers managed to complete filings, a significant number took to social media to highlight persistent glitches. Some complained of failed logins and difficulties in making payments.
Responding to these concerns, the department clarified that the e-filing portal was working fine and suggested clearing browser cache or using alternative browsers. It also requested users facing issues to share details including PAN, mobile number and IP address with its grievance support teams.
On September 14, the department had similarly addressed concerns regarding AIS/TIS downloads, assuring that the facility was functional and asking users to report persisting issues via email.
Background on Extension
Earlier in May, the government had already extended the ITR filing deadline for AY 2025-26 (non-audit cases) from July 31 to September 15, giving taxpayers additional time. The latest one-day extension further eases pressure on taxpayers affected by last-minute technical disruptions.
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