In a move to ease compliance pressures, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has granted additional time for companies and audited taxpayers to submit their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year 2025-26. The new cutoff is December 10, 2025, extending beyond the standard October 31 deadline under the Income Tax Act.
This adjustment, announced by the Income Tax Department, also pushes the submission window for audit reports to November 10, 2025, up from the previous October 31 limit. The extension addresses disruptions caused by floods and other natural disasters in various parts of the country, which have hampered routine business activities and tax-related preparations.
The decision follows earlier concessions in the ITR process. On September 25, the department had already prolonged the audit report filing period by a month to October 31. Now, this further relaxation responds directly to appeals from trade organizations and accounting professionals, who highlighted the widespread impact of adverse weather events on operational timelines.
Under normal provisions of the Income Tax Act, entities like companies, partnership firms, and proprietorships requiring account audits must adhere to the October 31 ITR deadline. In contrast, non-audited individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) face a July 31 cutoff, which was separately deferred to September 16, 2025. By that extended date, over 7.54 crore ITRs had been processed, including self-assessment tax payments from 1.28 crore filers.
The CBDT’s statement underscores the body’s commitment to accommodating genuine hardships while upholding fiscal responsibilities. This series of deadline shifts reflects ongoing efforts to balance regulatory demands with real-world obstacles, ensuring broader accessibility to the tax filing system.
As the fiscal year progresses, these measures are expected to prevent penalties for affected parties and encourage timely compliance without undue strain. Tax experts note that while the extensions provide breathing room, proactive documentation remains essential to avoid future complications.