6.29 Cr ITRs filed already (stats updated till 13-Sep-25)
Here’s an article addressing the frustrations faced by taxpayers due to the income tax portal’s technical issues, particularly on the day before the due date.
The Due Date Dilemma: When a ‘Portal Crash’ Makes Compliance Impossible 🤯
It’s a familiar story, but one that continues to frustrate millions of Indian taxpayers: as the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) looms, the official e-filing portal buckles under pressure, transforming a straightforward process into a chaotic scramble. The recent statistics from the Income Tax Department—boasting over 6.29 crore ITRs filed for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26—are impressive, but they tell only half the story. The other half is filled with taxpayer and tax professional testimonials of a system on life support.
For days leading up to the September 15th deadline for non-audit cases, taxpayers have been reporting a barrage of issues. From an inability to even log in and make tax payments to facing “Network Issue” messages while trying to download crucial documents like the Annual Information Statement (AIS), the portal’s performance has been erratic at best. Taxpayers who planned to file on the weekend, thinking they had time, are now left in a state of panic with a single day remaining. The sheer volume of traffic is no doubt a factor, but for a platform that serves millions, persistent crashes and errors are unacceptable.
Why a Glitch-Ridden Portal Demands a Deadline Extension
In the world of tax compliance, a due date isn’t just a calendar entry; it’s a promise of a fair chance to comply. When a critical digital infrastructure fails, that promise is broken. Here’s why the current situation makes the due date untenable:
- Failure of Access: The most fundamental issue is the denial of access. If a taxpayer can’t log in or the payment gateway is non-responsive, it is a de facto impossibility to meet the deadline. A due date assumes the system is operational and allows for filing, which is clearly not the case for many.
- Loss of Carry-Forward Benefits: Missing the due date can be costly. Apart from a late fee of up to ₹5,000, taxpayers can lose the ability to carry forward certain losses, such as capital losses. This is a severe penalty for a failure that isn’t the taxpayer’s fault. * Reconciliation Nightmares: The technical glitches go beyond simple access. Taxpayers and professionals have reported discrepancies and delayed updates in Form 26AS, AIS, and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). Without a stable system to verify and reconcile these details, taxpayers are forced to either file an incomplete return or miss the deadline, both of which can lead to future scrutiny.
Leading tax associations, chartered accountants, and even Members of Parliament have repeatedly requested an extension of the ITR filing deadline, citing the very issues being faced. The government has already extended the deadline once this year from July 31st to September 15th due to a delay in releasing the ITR forms. However, the current situation, coupled with natural calamities and other logistical hurdles, strongly warrants another extension.
The e-filing portal is a great leap forward for digital governance, but its reliability must be a top priority. When the very platform designed for seamless compliance becomes the biggest hurdle, the due date loses its meaning. The Income Tax Department must acknowledge the ground reality and provide a much-needed extension to ensure fair and accurate compliance for all.