Many taxpayers are worried as important income tax return (ITR) utilities like ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6 and ITR-7 for the current Assessment Year 2025-26 are still not ready. While the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has already pushed the filing deadline from July 31 to September 15, experts now believe taxpayers may need even more time if these forms don’t come soon.
CBDT EXTENDED DUE DATE EARLIER
In May, the CBDT announced the first extension to give taxpayers more time. In its press note, it said, “In view of the extensive changes introduced in the notified Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and considering the time required for system readiness and rollout of ITR utilities for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has decided to extend the due date for filing returns.”
It further added, “To ensure a smooth and convenient filing experience for taxpayers, the due date for filing ITRs, originally 31st July 2025, is extended to 15th September 2025.”
The board also highlighted that the new ITRs for AY 2025-26 have seen major structural and content changes to make compliance easier, boost transparency, and help people file accurate returns.
PENDING UTILITIES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS
Adding to the problem, updated return utilities for the previous years, AY 2021-22 and AY 2022-23, which need to include updates from the Finance Act 2025, are yet to be made available.
AUDIT-RELATED FORMS STILL AWAITED
It’s not just the regular forms. Audit-related forms like 3CA/3CB-3CD, which are needed for tax audit cases, have not been released either. Without these, tax professionals cannot complete audit filings in time.
TAX EXPERTS SEEK MORE TIME
Because of all these pending forms, tax experts are urging the government to grant another extension. They warn that without enough time, taxpayers could make mistakes or fail to file at all. Many have suggested that the deadline for non-audit cases should be pushed to September 30, 2025, and for audit cases to November 30, 2025.
According to Abhishek Kumar, Sebi RIA and Founder at SahajMoney, “With over 100 days passed since the filing season began and critical ITR utilities still missing, another deadline extension appears inevitable. The government must acknowledge that taxpayers ready to file shouldn’t suffer due to system failures beyond their control.”
NO OFFICIAL WORD YET
So far, the Income Tax Department has not given any update on another extension. But with deadlines approaching and forms still missing, taxpayers and professionals are left waiting and hoping for a clear announcement soon.
For now, it’s all about waiting. Until these forms are released, filing ITRs on time will remain a tough task for many.
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