New Delhi : With the September 15 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) fast approaching, the Income Tax Department has urged taxpayers not to wait until the last minute. Over 4.56 crore individuals have already filed their ITRs, with submissions accelerating as the due date nears.
Senior officials emphasized that early filing helps avoid last-minute inconvenience, late fees, and interest penalties. The process has been simplified for individuals, allowing easy submission via the official portal at incometax.gov.in. Taxpayers can log in using PAN or Aadhaar, navigate to e-File → Income Tax Return → File Income Tax Return, select Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26, choose the applicable form, review pre-filled details, add missing income or deductions, and submit under either the old or new tax regime.
For FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26), the applicable forms for non-audit taxpayers include :
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ITR-1 (Sahaj): For salaried individuals earning income from salary, wages, allowances, perquisites, or pension.
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ITR-2: For individuals or Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) with income from salary, pension, house property, capital gains, or other sources, without business or professional income.
Filing after the due date attracts a late fee of up to Rs 5,000 (Rs 1,000 for incomes under Rs 5 lakh) and 1% interest per month on any pending tax.
ITR filings have shown robust growth over the years, reflecting rising compliance. Data from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) reveals that 7.28 crore returns were filed up to July 31, 2025, for AY 2024–25, marking a 7.5% increase from 6.77 crore in AY 2023–24. Overall, filings have increased over 25% between AY 2022–23 and AY 2024–25, signaling widening tax base and awareness.
Taxpayers are advised to complete their submissions well ahead of September 15 to avoid last-minute rushes and ensure accurate filing.
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