The postponement of the e-filing tools has led some individuals to question whether the deadline for tax returns will be prolonged.
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Income Tax Return Forms(ITR)forms for the financial Year 2025-26
The Income Tax Department has made available all seven Income Tax Return (ITR) forms for the financial year 2025-26, which include the well-known ITR-1 through ITR-7, as well as the ITR-V form. Additionally, a new ITR-U form was introduced on May 19, enabling taxpayers to file or amend their returns for a period of up to 48 months, in accordance with the latest Finance Act.
However, there is a significant limitation — despite the availability of all forms, taxpayers are currently unable to file their returns. The reason for this is that the e-filing tools, referred to as utilities, which facilitate the submission of these forms on the official income tax website, are presently non-functional. Therefore, while the forms can be downloaded, taxpayers must wait a little longer before they can file their taxes online.
The ITR e-filing utility is a resource provided by the Income Tax Department that assists individuals in filing their tax returns electronically. In the previous year, this utility was offered in three formats: Offline (Java or JSON), Online, and Excel. Typically, tax professionals utilize the JSON and Excel formats, while ordinary taxpayers can employ the online utility to file their returns independently. This tool allows you to submit your tax return prior to the deadline, which is set for July 31, 2025.
Online Utility For ITR
The online utility is equipped with certain financial details pre-filled for your convenience. You have the option to review this information, make any necessary adjustments, and subsequently submit your return. In the last year, approximately 43.82% of all tax returns were submitted online before the deadline. If you opt for the offline or Excel format, you must download it from the Income Tax Department’s website, complete it on your computer, and then upload it back to the online tax filing portal to finalize your return. Given that these utilities are currently inoperative, taxpayers can take this time to verify that they have completed the correct forms.
What is causing the delay in the ITR e-filing utilities?
The Income Tax Department has not provided any official explanation for the delay. Nevertheless, it may be attributed to the various modifications that have been implemented in the ITR forms this year.
Will the delay in utilities result in an extension of the ITR filing deadline?
The postponement in the release of the e-filing tools has led some individuals to speculate whether the deadline for tax return submissions will be extended. However, this is improbable as most individuals typically file their returns in June and July, and the Income Tax Department still has ample time before June to make the necessary preparations. Furthermore, the processing of tax returns has significantly accelerated in recent years.
The final date for filing Income Tax Returns for those exempt from an audit is July 31, 2025. Taxpayers who are not required to have their accounts audited must submit their returns by this date to avoid incurring penalties.