Mumbai: With the extended deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) ending on Monday, more than 1 crore filings are expected on the final day, according to officials. So far, 6.29 crore returns have been filed for the assessment year (AY) 2025-26.

Last year, ITR filings grew 7.5% year-on-year. If the same trend continues, the total could reach 7.8 crore this year. The growth has been steady: 6.77 crore returns were filed in AY 2023-24, 5.82 crore in AY 2022-23 and 5.77 crore in AY 2021-22.

Tax experts say this year’s deadline is particularly challenging, with the September 15 due date for the second instalment of advance tax coinciding with the ITR deadline. Chartered accountants and tax lawyers noted that even with a stable portal, clustering of key dates adds pressure on both filers and professionals.

Officials at the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the system is functioning smoothly and attributed most issues to browser glitches at the user’s end. The portal processed a record 70 lakh returns in a single day last year.

Meanwhile, the Income Tax Department on Sunday denied reports claiming the filing deadline had been extended to September 30. It said its 24x7 help desk is assisting taxpayers with filing, tax payment and related services through calls, live chats, WebEx sessions and Twitter/X.

The department had earlier extended the deadline for AY 2025-26 (for income earned in FY 2024-25) from July 31 to September 15 for individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and entities not required to have accounts audited.

 

IANS