Why CAs want ITR filing due date extension for tax audit and returns

ITR filing 2025: With just a few days remaining, all eyes are on whether the government will extend the September 15 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and Tax Audit Reports (TAR).

As the filing season reaches its peak, several chartered accountants and tax professionals have made a sincere, unified appeal to the Income Tax Department to extend the due dates to allow for more accurate, error-free compliance.

Overwhelming workloads, tight deadlines, delayed utilities, system lags, and conflicting compliance requirements are all problems faced by chartered accountants (CAs).

The need for extending the ITR and tax audit deadline is based on sheer workload pressure. More than 7.5 crore returns were submitted last year, out of which almost 25–30 lakh had audit reports requiring detailed reconciliations, said Siddharth Maurya, Founder & Managing Director, Vibhavangal Anukulakara Pvt. Ltd.

CA Parmar and Maurya believe that a deadline extension would not just give relief to professionals but also allow taxpayers to submit accurate data, minimising future litigation and enhancing the overall efficiency of tax administration.

ITR due date extension 2025

For AY 2025-26, the deadline for individuals not subject to audit has already been extended to September 15, 2025. The earlier deadline was July 31.

Despite growing calls from tax professionals and industry bodies, it seems very unlikely that the September 15 deadline will see any further extension, and the department continues to encourage taxpayers to file without delay.