regarding the tax audit due date extension as of the current date:
Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur Bench) Interim Order:
- The High Court has issued an interim order in a matter related to the extension of the tax audit due date.
- The court’s directive is based on “technical glitches and pendency of a large number of returns.”
- It has instructed the respondents (presumably the Income Tax Department/CBDT) to issue a notification extending the due date for filing tax audit reports.
- The court has specified that the extension should be for 30 days.
- It also directed that the facility to file audit reports must be made “fully operational.
- The next date for the hearing is set for October 27.
Wider Context and Related Developments:
- Several other professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS), have also been requesting extensions for tax audit and ITR deadlines. They have cited similar issues like technical glitches on the e-filing portal, data mismatches, and the late release of ITR forms.
- The due date for filing the tax audit report for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) remains September 30, 2025, as per the latest available official announcements. The due date for filing the corresponding ITR is October 31, 2025.
- The CBDT has previously extended the ITR filing due date for non-audit cases to September 16, 2025, but a general extension for tax audit cases has not been announced as of today.
- A number of writ petitions have been filed in various High Courts across India, including Rajasthan, Delhi, and Punjab & Haryana, seeking extensions for due dates. The Rajasthan High Court’s interim order is a significant development in this ongoing legal and administrative process.
- The current situation highlights the widespread issues faced by taxpayers and professionals, with many entities encountering penalties for delays caused by portal failures.