The countdown is on! Today, September 15, 2025, is the final chance to file your income tax return (ITR) for Assessment Year 2025–26 without paying a penalty. If you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time to act—because after midnight, things could get a little costly.
Why today matters
The Income Tax Department has already confirmed that over 6 crore returns have been filed so far, and the numbers are still climbing as lakhs of last-minute filers rush to beat the deadline. The department even dropped a reminder on X (formerly Twitter): “Thank you taxpayers & tax professionals for helping us reach the milestone of 6 crore ITRs as of now and still counting.”
The original deadline was July 31, but thanks to “structural and content revisions” in ITR forms, it was pushed forward by six weeks. This time, though, don’t expect another extension—tonight is the absolute cut-off.
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What happens if you miss it?
Miss today’s deadline, and you could face:
- A penalty of up to ₹5,000
- Interest on tax dues (if any)
- Higher scrutiny from the tax department
Not exactly how you want to start the week.
What you’ll need before filing
Keep these documents handy:
- AIS (Annual Information Statement): tracks your income, TDS, TCS, and more
- Form 16: from your employer, showing your salary and tax deductions
- House rent receipts (if you claim HRA)
- Investment/payment proofs (for deductions like 80C, 80D, etc.)
👉 Pro tip: The forms are annexure-less, so you don’t have to upload anything. Just keep the papers by your side while filing.
Picking the right ITR form
This part confuses a lot of people. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- ITR-1 (SAHAJ): For salaried individuals earning up to ₹50 lakh (no foreign assets, no business income).
- ITR-2: For individuals/HUFs with capital gains, foreign assets, or multiple income sources.
- ITR-3: For business/profession income.
- ITR-4 (SUGAM): For presumptive taxpayers with income up to ₹50 lakh (except LLPs).
Step-by-step: How to file your ITR online
- Head to incometax.gov.in and log in with your PAN.
- Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return.
- Select AY 2025–26 and choose Online mode.
- Pick your taxpayer type (usually Individual).
- Select the right ITR form (check above).
- Fill in your income, deductions, and tax details.
- Review carefully, validate, and hit Submit.
- E-verify using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or by sending a signed ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru within 30 days.
Once it’s verified, you’ll get a Transaction ID and Acknowledgement Number—proof that you’re done and dusted.
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The bottom line
If you’ve been procrastinating, don’t wait till 11:59 PM. The portal usually gets overloaded at the last moment. Filing now saves you stress, late fees, and unwanted tax department letters later.
So grab your laptop, your Form 16, and maybe a cup of chai—and get this ticked off your list today.
