The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has made a formal request to the Indian Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking an extension for the deadline to file tax audit reports related to the Financial Year 2024–25 (Assessment Year 2025–26). The Central India Regional Council (CIRC) of the ICAI has proposed a new deadline of 31 December 2025, citing significant complexities and challenges that taxpayers and professionals face in meeting the current requirements.
At present, the deadline for submitting tax audit reports is set for 30 September, while the due date for filing income tax returns (ITRs) has been extended to 15 September. Despite this extension, the CIRC believes it does not adequately address the ongoing challenges. The staggered release of ITR forms has provided some relief; however, consistent technical issues with the income tax e-filing portal have impeded timely submissions.
The period from July to October is particularly demanding for taxpayers, who are also required to manage several obligations, including goods and services tax filings and compliance with company law requirements. This overlap complicates the timely completion of tax audits, which has prompted the ICAI to seek further leniency.
In its correspondence, the CIRC detailed the operational challenges encountered by both professionals and taxpayers, stressing the importance of accurate data compilation and the extensive nature of tax audits. The proposed extension aims to create a more manageable timeframe for compliance with regulatory obligations.
The letter, signed by CIRC Chairman Ankur Kumar Gupta and CIRC Secretary Jayendra Kumar Tiwary, expresses hope for a positive response from the finance minister. Should the extension be granted, it could alleviate the pressures of tax administration and enhance compliance across the country, aligning with the ICAI’s role in overseeing the chartered accountancy (CA) profession.
In a separate development, the ICAI has announced the postponement of the CA examinations scheduled for 9–10 September in Kathmandu due to ongoing protests in Nepal, following the government’s recent ban on several social media platforms.
