Missed the Tax Deadline? Here's What Happens.

• ITR filing mandatory if income exceeds Rs 2.5L/3L (old/new regime) or refund claimed.
• ITR due date extended to Sept 15, 2025 from original July 31, 2025.
• Late filing fee: Rs 5000 (Rs 1000 if income under Rs 5L) as per section 234F.

Income tax return filing due date: Filing an income tax return is mandatory if you have a refund claim in the return or have a total income of more than

Rs 2.5 lakh under the old tax regime. This limit is increased to Rs 3 lakh under the new tax regime. Therefore, it’s better to file early or within the said time period to avoid errors and to have time to fix any issues, as delaying ITR filing or filing ITR at the last moment in a hurry may lead to mistakes. However, if you miss the deadline, what can happen? Let’s find out.

What is income tax return?

ITR filing is the process through which a taxpayer must record their total income earned during the fiscal year. The Income Tax Return (ITR) form is used for filing details about your income and the applicable tax to the Income Tax Department of India. Taxpayers must file income tax returns before the due date.

Simply put, ITR stands for 'Income Tax Return'. It is a prescribed form through which the particulars of income earned by a person in a financial year and taxes paid on such income are communicated to the Income-tax Department. It also allows carry-forward of losses and claim refunds from the income tax department.

What is due date for income tax return filing?

The income tax return filing due date, originally on 31st July, 2025, has been extended to 15th September, 2025.

What happens if you miss ITR deadline?

As per section 234F, late filing fees of Rs 5000 shall be payable if the return is filed after the due date specified under section 139(1). However amount of late filing fees to be paid shall be Rs 1000, if the total income of the person does not exceed Rs 5 lakh.