The Income Tax Department has extended the due date for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for the assessment year 2025-26 by one more day, after the e-filing portal faced severe technical glitches on the earlier deadline of September 15. Taxpayers who were unable to complete their filing on time due to the disruption have now been given relief until September 16, 2025, without any penalty. The extension was officially confirmed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which acknowledged the unprecedented surge in traffic on the last day and assured that the portal would be stabilized to accommodate the remaining filers.
Technical Glitches and the Reason for Extension
The last date for filing ITRs without any penalty for the current assessment year was earlier set as September 15, 2025. However, on that day, lakhs of taxpayers trying to file their returns faced repeated issues accessing the portal, which either slowed down or failed to respond altogether. According to the Income Tax Department, the disruption was caused by unusually high traffic, as taxpayers rushed to meet the deadline.
The department explained that the sheer load of users simultaneously attempting to access the system created a bottleneck, resulting in multiple error messages, page failures, and unsuccessful filings. For many users, the portal remained inaccessible for extended stretches throughout the day. The problem was compounded by the fact that September 15 also coincided with the deadline for the second quarterly instalment of advance tax for the ongoing fiscal year, further crowding the platform.
In response to the difficulties, the Central Board of Direct Taxes announced on Monday evening that the deadline would be extended by one day to September 16, 2025. In its official statement, the CBDT said: “To facilitate further filings of ITRs, the due date has been extended by one day (16th September 2025).” The department emphasized that the decision was made to ensure taxpayers were not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
Additionally, the e-filing portal was taken into scheduled maintenance mode from 12:00 am to 2:30 am on Tuesday, September 16, to implement changes in the utilities and address some of the glitches reported by users. While this downtime further delayed filings temporarily, the department argued that it was necessary to streamline the system for smooth functioning during the extended deadline window.
Taxpayers had earlier been provided with a series of diagnostic checks and troubleshooting guidelines issued by the department to help them navigate local access-related issues. These included steps to clear cache, update browsers, and check connectivity. However, despite these instructions, a large section of filers reported persisting difficulties and were unable to complete their filings, making the extension both necessary and inevitable.
Rising Number of ITR Filings and Growing Taxpayer Base
The surge in portal traffic was not only a result of last-minute filings but also an indicator of the steadily increasing number of taxpayers filing their returns year after year. By September 15, 2025, more than 7.3 crore ITRs had already been filed, surpassing last year’s figure of 7.28 crore. This demonstrates a consistent upward trajectory in compliance, reflecting both the growing taxpayer base and the government’s sustained efforts to expand the tax net.
For the assessment year 2024-25, the deadline for filing without penalty was July 31, 2024, by which time 7.28 crore returns had been submitted. This number itself had marked a significant jump from the 6.77 crore ITRs filed in assessment year 2023-24. The year-on-year growth highlights a notable trend: not only are more individuals and businesses adhering to tax requirements, but also the digitization of the system is bringing larger sections of the population into formal compliance.
The increasing reliance on the e-filing portal also underscores the centrality of digital infrastructure in the taxation process. With physical filing almost entirely phased out, the portal is now the sole channel for most taxpayers, making its smooth operation critical. While digitization has improved efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, episodes like the September 15 disruption reveal the challenges of managing sudden spikes in traffic on a national scale.
The government has repeatedly emphasized that the portal, managed by Infosys, is designed to handle massive volumes of simultaneous users. Yet glitches have surfaced in earlier years as well, especially during peak filing periods. The most recent disruption has reignited debate on the adequacy of technical preparedness and the need for further investment in infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted service even under extraordinary load.
Despite the hiccups, the record-breaking filing numbers reflect a broader trend of expanding compliance. Several factors have contributed to this growth, including stricter enforcement measures, increased awareness campaigns by the Income Tax Department, and the gradual formalization of the economy post-GST and demonetization. Furthermore, integration of systems such as PAN and Aadhaar has streamlined taxpayer identification, reducing evasion and increasing accountability.
For taxpayers, timely filing remains crucial to avoid penalties, ensure smooth processing of refunds, and maintain a clean compliance record. The extension, though only for one day, has given lakhs of individuals and organizations some breathing room to complete their obligations without incurring fines.
This extension episode, though minor in duration, highlights important themes in India’s taxation ecosystem: the rising participation of taxpayers, the pressure on digital infrastructure during peak demand, and the balancing act of authorities between strict deadlines and pragmatic relief measures. It also signals that as the tax base expands, the government will need to continuously strengthen technological support systems to meet the expectations of millions of digital-first taxpayers.
