ITR filing last date: Will Income Tax Department extend July 31 deadline for FY 25-26? Here's what experts say

On Saturday, many taxpayers faced technical issues while filing their income tax return (ITR) forms 1 and 2 ahead of the July 31 deadline. With more people rushing to file their ITR as the deadline nears, and a significant increase in the number of tax filers expected, the portal might experience additional glitches, resulting in delays or failures in submission.

When taxpayers faced similar technical glitches last year, the Income Tax (I-T) Department extended the ITR filing deadline not once but twice, from July 31 to September 15 and then to September 16. Is it possible for them to do the same this year by pushing back the July 31 ITR filing deadline?

Who needs to file ITR by July 31, 2026


The July 31 deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) applies to salaried individuals, pensioners, students and others who don’t need to undergo a tax audit . This year, the tax filing process for a lot of taxpayers is smoother compared to earlier years thanks to the Income Tax Department (I-T) working to fix technical glitches. Plus, they released the tax forms for AY 2026-2027 a lot earlier than last year (AY 2025-2026), which helps spread out the load on the ITR e-filing system over a longer period.

Also, the deadline for filing ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms, which are generally submitted by those with business or professional income or those opting for presumptive taxation schemes, is August 31, 2026, as announced in Budget 2026. Still, many ITR filers are still reporting glitches they are facing on the ITR portal.

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Chartered accountant (CA), Abhishek Soni, CEO & co-founder, Tax2win, told ET Wealth Online that as of now, the deadline extension seems unlikely, but he doesn’t rule out extending it if glitches continue.

“As of now, it seems unlikely. The Income Tax Department has said that the e-filing portal is working smoothly, and it has taken steps to fix technical issues before the deadline,” says Soni.



Soni says if major portal glitches continue and prevent many taxpayers from filing their returns, the government may still consider an extension.

“Until then, it is better to file your ITR before July 31 instead of waiting for a possible extension,” advises Soni to ITR filers.

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Archit Gupta, founder & CEO, ClearTax, also rules out the ITR deadline extension.

"An extension this year seems unlikely. The tax forms were simplified last year and released early this season. Plus, for genuinely complex cases, the deadline is already August 31, leaving July 31 mainly for simpler returns. The Annual Information Statement is also much more robust now, giving taxpayers a very clear view of their data," says the ClearTax founder.

CA Avinash Kumar Rao, partner at Mohindra & Associates, however, has other views. Rao told ET Wealth Online that the government should either resolve technical glitches or give a deadline extension of about a week.

“Persistent technical issues on the portal, particularly in fetching Form 26AS, AIS, website functioning and certain validation-related data, coupled with processing delays on the TRACES portal, have adversely impacted the ability of taxpayers. The government should either ensure that these technical issues are resolved immediately or, if such glitches continue during the final days, consider granting a short extension of about a week,” demands Rao.

Manas Chugh, head, regulatory services, Osgan Consultants, told ET Wealth Online taxpayers have reported minor technical glitches this year but that do not justify extending the July 31 deadline.

“In the absence of any widespread or sustained disruption, the chances of an extension remain remote. Salaried taxpayers should not wait for a possible extension and must proceed on the clear assumption that July 31 is the final deadline,” suggests Chugh.

Has separate deadline of ITR Forms 3 and 4 reduced burdens on the ITR portal?

Chugh says the separate August 31 deadline for ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms has helped distribute the filing load more evenly and reduce the customary last-minute pressure on the portal.

“This staggered approach is a key reason the portal has functioned relatively smoothly this year,” says Chugh.

Rao too seconds Chugh saying the staggering of due dates has significantly reduced the filing load on the portal during July.

“Considering these factors, a blanket extension of the July 31, 2026, due date appears unlikely,” opines Rao.

Which taxpayers have August 31 as the deadline to file ITR?

Shaily Gupta, partner, Khaitan & Co, says the government has given a new deadline of August 31 to taxpayers engaged in business or profession not requiring audit [i.e., non-audit business cases], (b) partners of non-audit firms [Partners of non-audit business cases]; and (c) certain trusts, to August 31.

Gupta says the additional month is intended to provide taxpayers with adequate time to finalise their books of account and complete the return filing process.