The Ministry of Finance has once again extended the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for AY 2025–26. Originally set for July 31, 2025, the deadline was first pushed to September 15, and now to September 16, 2025, due to persistent technical glitches, high traffic, and server timeouts on the e-filing portal.
Key Announcements by the Income Tax Department
The Income Tax Department confirmed the extension on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying that the e-filing portal will undergo maintenance from 12:00 AM to 2:30 AM on September 16 to implement necessary changes. This move aims to ease difficulties faced by taxpayers and chartered accountants struggling to access the portal and file returns smoothly.
Who Needs to File ITR-2?
Many taxpayers use the simpler ITR-1 form, but individuals with more complex financial profiles need to file ITR-2. This includes those with:
- Multiple house properties
- Capital gains income
- Foreign income or assets
- Agricultural income exceeding Rs 5,000
- Investments in unlisted equity shares
- Director positions in companies
- Clubbing provisions or foreign account authority
In short, ITR-2 is mandatory for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who do not have business or professional income but fall into any of the above categories.
Updates to ITR-2 for AY 2025–26
The Income Tax Department has introduced several updates in line with the Finance Act, 2024, including:
- Separate reporting for capital gains before and after July 23, 2024.
- Allowance for capital loss on share buybacks if related dividend income is reported.
- Raised asset & liability reporting threshold to Rs 1 crore.
- Enhanced reporting for deductions and TDS schedules.
Filing Process: Online or Partly Offline
Taxpayers can file ITR-2 entirely online at incometax.gov.in or use the JSON utility for partial offline filing. Pre-filled information such as salary income, capital gains, and TDS details simplifies the process, but taxpayers must verify and update specific schedules like foreign assets, exempt income, and carry-forward losses.
