Income tax returns (ITRs) for AY 2025-26 (financial year 2024-25) finally started, with almost a two-month delay, on May 30, 2025. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on May 30 released two Excel-based utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 filers. Usually, the government makes online and offline ITR utilities available in the second or third week of April every year; and prior to this ITR forms get notified.
This year there has been a significant delay in both notifying the ITR forms and updating online & offline utilities to support tax return filing by taxpayers for AY 2025-26. ITR forms were notified in April end by the Income Tax Department.
Considering this delay in notifying forms and releasing utilities to assist tax return filing, the Income Tax Department last week extended the deadline to file the income tax return from July 31 to September 15, 2025. This deadline extension will be applicable for income tax assessees whose accounts are not liable to be audited.
Also read: ITR forms and Excel utilities out, but you still can’t file income tax return online – Know why
How many ITR returns have been filed so far?
According to data available on the Income Tax Department’s website, as many as 54,389 tax returns have been filed for AY 2025-26. Of these, 48,975 ITRs have been verified. So far, not even a single ITR has been processed, as per the portal.
Who can start filing ITR for AY 2025-26?
So far, the tax department has made available only two Excel utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 for corresponding income tax return forms.
Who can file and who cannot ITR-1 (Sahaj) for AY 2025-26?
ITR-1 or Sahaj is meant for resident individuals whose total income includes the following:
* Total income does not exceed Rs 50 lakh
* Income from salary or pension
* Income from one house property (provided there’s no loss carried forward from previous years)
* Income from other sources, excluding: Winnings from lottery, Income from racehorses
* Long-term capital gains up to Rs 1.25 lakh, with no carry-forward or brought-forward capital loss
* Agricultural income up to Rs 5,000
Also read: Income Tax Rules: How to claim pre-construction interest on housing loan in ITR filing AY 2025-26
Who cannot file ITR-1 (Sahaj) for AY 2025-26? » Read More
