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Deadline Alert: If you are a procrastinator who is convincing yourself that today will be the day you finish all pending deadlines before it’s too late,
then this alert is for you. Even if you are someone who genuinely is missing out on some of the major financial deadlines that could affect your pocket in the future, here is an alert for you. December 2025 is not just another month; it is the final month of the year 2025. As the final chapter of 2025 is soon to close, 3 key financial deadlines are approaching fast. Today is December 26, so you have only 5 days left to meet the deadline. Failure to do so in time could result in fines, penalties, and regret. Here’s a quick look at major deadlines approaching to avoid any last-minute hassle.
1. Aadhaar-PAN linking deadline
If you obtained Aadhaar on or before October 1, 2024, you must link it with your PAN by December 31, 2025. Failing to meet this deadline will make your PAN inoperative, affecting banking transactions, income tax return filing, investments, and other financial services. To avoid disruptions, ensure your PAN-Aadhaar linkage is completed on time.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a new set of rules, effective from November 1, 2025, aimed at making the Aadhaar update process easier. One of the key changes is that linking your Aadhaar card with your PAN card has now been made mandatory.
All PAN holders must complete this linking by December 31, 2025. If the linking is not done by the deadline, the PAN card will become inactive starting January 1, 2026, according to the guidelines issued by the UIDAI and the Income Tax Department.
2. ITR filing deadline for tax audit cases
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the income tax return filing deadline for tax audit cases from October 31, 2025, to December 10, 2025. This extension provides much-needed relief to taxpayers whose returns involve mandatory audits and require additional financial disclosures and updates. Note the date and file the income tax return before the deadline ends. Tomorrow is the last date, so hurry now.
3. Belated and revised ITR Filing: Final deadline approaching
December 31, 2025, is the last date for taxpayers to file a belated or revised income tax return for FY 2024-25. A belated return can be filed if you missed the original deadline, but it comes with a late filing fee of up to Rs 5,000 (Rs 1,000 for individuals with income below Rs 5 lakh) plus interest on any unpaid tax.
A revised return, used to correct errors or omissions in an already filed ITR, can also be submitted until December 31.
After this cutoff, both options lapse. Taxpayers will then only have the choice of filing an Updated Return (ITR-U), which, while allowing correction of missed income or discrepancies, carries a far heavier penalty, an additional 25% to 50% of the tax and interest payable, depending on how late it is filed.
