ITR Filing in Jeopardy Due to Delay in Utility Update
Income Tax Return (ITR) filing is in jeopardy this week, as the Income Tax portal utility has yet to reflect the extended due date for AY 2025–26. Despite CBDT Circular No. 06/2025 extending the ITR filing deadline to 15 September 2025, the utility still flags returns as “late filed,” creating confusion for taxpayers, CAs, and tax professionals.
This has raised concerns about the auto-imposition of a ₹5,000 late filing fee under Section 234F, even for timely submissions. Let’s break this down.
What’s the Issue with the ITR Utility?
The ITR utility (both online and offline) currently doesn’t reflect the latest due date extension. This means:
- Returns filed after 31 July 2025 are flagged as “belated.”
- The system calculates a 234F late fee (₹5,000 or ₹1,000) automatically.
- Returns filed now may carry incorrect filing status and penalty.
What the CBDT Circular Actually Says
CBDT Circular No. 06/2025 dated 27.05.2025 clearly states:
“The due date for furnishing the return of income under Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, for AY 2025-26 is extended from 31st July 2025 to 15th September 2025.”
✅ This Extension Applies to:
- Individuals not requiring audit
- Salaried taxpayers
- Small business owners under presumptive schemes
Read the circular on incometaxindia.gov.in
Section 234F Late Fee: Why ₹5,000 May Still Be Charged
Under Section 234F:
Because the utility is outdated, taxpayers filing between 1 August and 15 September 2025 are being wrongly tagged as “late filers.” This triggers the auto-levy of ₹5,000, despite being within the extended due date.
Expert View: What Tax Professionals Are Saying
“Clients are panicking. We have to keep explaining that the filing is technically not late. But if the portal shows a ₹5,000 penalty, it’s hard to justify. Until the utility is fixed, either we delay filing or keep a record of this anomaly for future rectification.” — CA Pradeep K, Chennai
Many practitioners have written to the Income Tax Department through e-Grievances and the feedback section requesting a quick fix.
What You Should Do Right Now
Here’s what taxpayers and consultants can do in the interim:
- ✅ Wait for the utility update — avoid filing if possible until the due date is corrected.
- Raise a grievance if already filed and a late fee is charged.
- Retain a copy of CBDT Circular 06/2025 as evidence.
- Avoid last-minute rush in September — monitor the utility daily.
- Use trusted platforms like Efiletax that update ITR utilities faster and help navigate such anomalies.
ITR Filing in Jeopardy: Summary Snippet (Google Ready)
The ITR utility on the income tax portal still shows 31 July as the due date for AY 2025–26, despite CBDT extending it to 15 September 2025. This mismatch may wrongly trigger a ₹5,000 late fee under Section 234F. Taxpayers should wait or raise grievances until the utility is updated.
FAQs
- Is the ITR due date really extended to 15 September 2025?
Yes, as per CBDT Circular No. 06/2025, the last date to file ITR for non-audit cases has been extended to 15.09.2025. - Can I ignore the ₹5,000 penalty showing in the portal?
No. If the utility charges it, you’ll have to pay unless corrected later. Best to wait for the update. - How to file a grievance?
Login to the Income Tax portal → Help → Submit Grievance → Select ‘Filing related’ issue → Mention Circular 06/2025.
