Will Over 1 Crore Tax Filings Be Submitted on the Last Day of ITR Deadline?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deadline: September 15 for ITR submissions.
- Filings: Expected 1 crore returns on the last day.
- Trends: Consistent growth in ITR filings over the years.
- Support: 24x7 help desk available for taxpayers.
- System Status: CBDT assures a stable portal despite user-end issues.
Mumbai, Sep 15 (NationPress) As the final deadline approaches for income tax return (ITR) submissions on Monday, taxpayers are rushing to fulfill their obligations, with expectations of over 1 crore filings on the last day.
Currently, 6.29 crore returns have already been submitted for the assessment year (AY) 2025–26.
Last year saw a 7.5 per cent annual increase in ITR filings, and if this trend continues, the total could reach 7.8 crore this year. The growth has been consistent — 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 professionals warn that this year's challenges are heightened by the September 15 deadline for the second installment of advance tax, creating a dual challenge for both taxpayers and tax professionals.
Chartered accountants and tax attorneys have indicated that even with a fully functioning portal, the convergence of deadlines will still create pressure for those filing.
Officials from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) have asserted that the system is reliable and have attributed most problems to browser-related issues at the user's side. The portal achieved a remarkable milestone of processing 70 lakh returns in just one day last year.
Additionally, the Income Tax Department on Sunday dismissed rumors that the deadline for tax return filing has been extended to September 30.
To aid taxpayers in filing ITRs, making tax payments, and accessing related services, “our help desk operates on a 24x7 basis, offering support through calls, live chats, WebEx sessions, and Twitter/X,” it noted.
Earlier in May, the IT department announced an extension of the due date for filing ITRs for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26 (income earned in the financial year 2024-25) for individuals, HUFs, and entities exempt from audit, moving the deadline from July 31 to September 15.