Overview

• Over six crore returns have been filed for AY 2025-26, and the last date without late fee for non-audit taxpayers remains September 15.
• Professional bodies including KSCAA, ICAI’s Central India Regional Council and ATBA have urged more time, with ATBA proposing October 15, but no extension has been announced.
• Users and practitioners reported problems with AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, OTPs and TRACES access as traffic surged on the e-filing system.
• The Income Tax Department says its checks show the portal is working and advises clearing browser cache or trying an alternate browser, with helpdesk support operating round the clock.
• Those who miss the date can file a belated return until December 31 with a Section 234F fee (up to ₹5,000, or ₹1,000 if income is ≤ ₹5 lakh), interest under Section 234A and limits on carrying forward certain losses; the widely cited ₹12 lakh rebate applies from FY 2025-26, not to this year’s filings.