Miss the September 15 ITR deadline? Here’s what it could cost you | Fusion - WeRIndia

The due date for filing non-audit Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25 is September 15, 2025.

Though many taxpayers are hoping for an extension, the government has made no official announcement yet.

Tax experts strongly advise filing well before the deadline to avoid unnecessary penalties, interest, and scrutiny.

This extended deadline is for non-audit taxpayers, typically:

• Salaried individuals
• Pensioners
• Freelancers and consultants (not subject to audit)
• NRIs with taxable income in India
• Individuals with rental income or capital gains
• Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs)
• Professionals or businesses not requiring a tax audit

Normally, the ITR deadline is July 31, but due to delays in releasing ITR forms this year, the government extended the due date to September 15 for these categories.

If your accounts need an audit, your ITR filing deadline is October 31, and the audit report must be submitted by September 30.

For those involved in international or specified domestic transactions, the deadline is November 30, 2025.

Filing your ITR after September 15 can lead to several financial and procedural setbacks:

• Late Fee (Section 234F):

• ₹5,000 if filed after September 15 but before December 31
• ₹1,000 for income below ₹5 lakh

• Interest on Tax Due:

1% per month on outstanding tax under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C

• Loss of Carry Forward:

Losses from business, capital gains, or house property can’t be carried forward

• Delayed Refunds:

Expect longer wait times if you’re due a tax refund

• Higher Scrutiny Risk:

Non-filing or late filing increases the chances of notices from the tax department

Filing early comes with clear advantages:

• Avoid last-minute glitches, as the portal slows down near the deadline
• Get quicker refunds
• Spot errors early and fix them on time
• Peace of mind, no deadline stress

Don’t wait for an extension that may never come. File your ITR before September 15 to avoid penalties, interest, and compliance hassles.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 27, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1294393