GCCI Urges Further Extension of ITR and Tax Audit Deadlines for AY 2025-26 Amid Delay in Utility Releases

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is requesting the Income Tax Department to extend the income tax return (ITR) due date for the assessment year 2025-26 (financial year 2024-25), which is currently set for September 15, 2025, for individuals and non-audit cases, and October 31, 2025, for audit cases. As of this financial year, taxpayers have been provided with ITR filing utilities and ITR forms late. Also, demanding an extension for the income tax audit deadline (same tax period), which is presently set for September 30, 2025.

Although the department has already extended the date for filing the ITR for non-audit cases to September 15, 2025, from July 31, 2025, this extension does not seem very useful, and this is why GCCI is requesting an extension.

Recently, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) wrote a letter dated August 11, 2025, where it reported, “We are writing this letter to bring to your attention several practical difficulties being faced by taxpayers, chartered accountants, and other stakeholders in the timely filing of the Income Tax Returns and Tax Audit Reports for the FY 2024–25 (AY 2025-26). We humbly request that you good self to consider the genuine challenges and grant an appropriate extension of the due dates for filing of ITR and the Tax Audit Report.”

According to the writing of GCCI in the letter, the department is releasing the ITR utilities and other ITR forms late this financial year. Usually, all the ITR forms and utilities are made available in the month of April every financial year; however, for the financial year 2024-25, the department has made a delay of almost three months, which is a huge gap. They began releasing in July 2025; however, some of the forms are yet to be released, and it is the first week of August. Also, filing returns on time mostly depends on how soon the final and working versions of the ITR, tax portal, and Tax Audit Form utilities are made available promptly. This delay in uploading ITR forms and utilities at the Income Tax Portal has directly caused a delay in filing returns.

As we all know, our country, India, has issues related to internet connectivity in far-to-reach areas and large cities. Hence, an extension in the ITR due date will provide taxpayers with some extra time to file their return and will reduce their burden and a major reason for stress. This will also decrease the chances of mistakes and mismatches in income tax returns, will ultimately reduce the time of the Income Tax Department to process and return, and will also decrease litigations.