ITR Filing 2025: Will July 31 Deadline Be Extended Amid Delay in Forms?

The new tax year for Assessment Year 2025–26 has started, but many taxpayers are still waiting for updates on the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing process. As of now, the Income Tax Department has not yet announced the ITR forms required to start filing for the financial year 2024–25. Without these forms, taxpayers cannot begin the process.

Why the Delay in ITR Forms?

Last year, the department released seven different ITR forms in the first half of April. This allowed many people to start their tax filing early. However, this year, it appears the department is taking extra time, possibly to introduce some changes in the forms and in the ITR utility software, which is essential for online filing. The delay has left many wondering whether the deadline of July 31 will remain or be extended.

Read More, Which ITR Form Should Senior Citizens Use for FY 2024-25?

Understanding ITR Utility

Every year, the Income Tax Department launches a new version of the ITR Utility. This is a tool that helps taxpayers file their returns online smoothly. Reports suggest that these utilities will be made available in a phased manner throughout this month. Filing for the most commonly used forms like ITR-1 and ITR-2 can only begin once these utilities are available on the official tax portal.

Is Form 16 Mandatory?

If you are a salaried employee, Form 16 is a very useful document, although it is not compulsory for filing your return. Your employer gives you this document, which shows your total salary for the year and how much tax was deducted at source (TDS).

Form 16 simplifies the filing process by clearly showing your income and the tax already paid. But even without it, you can still file your return using other documents such as:

• Salary slips 
• Interest certificates 
• Form 26AS (shows tax deducted and deposited) 
• Annual Information Statement (AIS) 
• Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) 

These documents help you calculate your income and any tax dues.

Can You Get an Income Tax Refund in 7 Days?

There has been talk that the Income Tax Department is aiming to process refunds within 7 days in some cases. While this is encouraging, it comes with conditions. To qualify for a quick refund:

• Your bank account must be pre-validated and linked with your PAN 
• There should be no errors or mismatches in your tax retur.n 
• Your return should not require further manual verificatio.n 

If everything checks out, especially for simple salaried cases, you may get your refund quickly. However, if your tax situation is more complicated or if there are too many returns being processed at the same time, refunds may take longer.

Stay Ready and Stay Informed

With the official release of ITR forms and utilities expected soon, taxpayers should use this time to prepare their documents and stay alert for any updates from the Income Tax Department. Filing early, once it becomes available, can help you avoid last-minute hassles and may lead to a faster refund.

Conclusion

While the Income Tax Department has not yet confirmed an extension of the ITR filing deadline, the delay in releasing forms and utilities has created uncertainty. Taxpayers should use this time to organise necessary documents and monitor official updates. Staying prepared will ensure timely filing and reduce the chances of errors or delays in refunds once the process begins.

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