ITR filing deadline extended, yet only 4.35 crore returns in. Will 3 crore more file in just 12 days?

Even as the Income Tax Department extended the ITR filing deadline for AY 2025-26 (FY 2024-25) to September 15, 2025, it seems taxpayers are slow to file their returns this year.

Data shows that at least 3 crore taxpayers are yet to file their return for FY 2024-25 while just 12 days are left before the end of the extended due date.

Please note that September 15 is the last date to file ITR without penalty for taxpayers who do not need an audit. Missing this deadline would result in a fine for filing belated ITRs. Moreover, the Income Tax Department is not expected to further extend the due date this year.

As of September 2, 2025, over 4.35 crore taxpayers have filed their income tax returns, while more than 4.12 crore filers have verified their ITRs. However, the Income Tax Department has processed only around 2.92 crore returns.

The due date to file ITR last year (for FY 2023-24) was July 31. Data on the Income Tax Department shows that by July 31, 2024, around 7.41 crore returns were filed, while 6.17 crore returns were e-verified by taxpayers.

If we assume that the number of ITR filers will match last year's figures, then at least 3.06 crore taxpayers are expected to file their returns over the next 12 days. However, this number should ideally be higher as the number of taxpayers has consistently grown over the last few years.

Avoid the last-minute rush. If you haven't filed your returns, you must do it as soon as possible.

While 12 more days are left before the deadline, you should not wait till the last minute. Moreover, you should also not wait for a further extension in the ITR due date (In previous articles, we have explained why a further due date extension is very unlikely to happen in the current year).

More on ITR due date extension

• Is Income Tax Return due date extension possible? What experts say before ITR filing deadline
• Waiting for another ITR due date extension? Here's what to expect and do now
• After ITR filing last date extension, all utilities are available now, but deadlines differ: Explained
• ITR filing due date extension history: How many times ITR deadline has been extended in 5-10 years

Filing ITR much before the due date will help you avoid the last-minute rush and multiple issues that may come up on the e-filing portal due to heavy load.