
Income tax returns filing due date extended: step-by-step guide to file ITR
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date for filing ITR for the year 2025-26 to September 15 due to the changes in the forms. The reason for this change was stated as technical reasons, including the necessary system development needed.
Also read: ITR filing extension: CBDT announces new deadline for AY 2025-26

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News18
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Expected 25 Bps Repo Rate Cut, RBI Gave 50: Modi 3.0 Echoes ‘Man Ki Baat' Of Middle Class
Last Updated: As the Modi government 3.0 completes one year in office, the middle class stands -- the most influential vote bank -- stands strong and with better benefits Fiscal experts had predicted that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, a third in a series of cuts. But the RBI inspired optimism by cutting it by 50 basis points. The move demonstrates confidence in India's growth story. As RBI chief Shaktikanta Das had pointed out that despite global turmoil and uncertainty, India seems to be surging ahead. There has been a fall in food inflation on items such as pulses and cereals. Furthermore, infrastructure development, increased exports, and cuts in imports have given the economy an upswing. This has also given the RBI confidence that economic growth is amenable to a repo rate cut. Clearly, the cut brings cheer to the middle class as it means a cut in interest rates on their home loans and more disposable income. This means the middle class would have more cash in hand and would want to spend more, bringing hope to the consumer sector. Not only this, a cut in home loan interest rates would encourage prospective homebuyers and boost the real estate sector. As the Modi government 3.0 completes one year in office, the middle class stands strong and with better benefits. There have been some positive indications for the middle class, such as the zero tax for income up to Rs 7.5 lakh. ITR filings have increased from 3.79 crore to 9.79 crore in 11 years, which shows pay slabs have increased, bringing more people under the income tax bracket. Inflation has averaged 5% between 2015-16 and 2024-25, which is down by 8%. Government sources say that with easier income tax compliance and simplification, the middle class not only has more disposable, but also engages in more transparent transactions. Overall, it reflects not just growth in the middle class but, politically speaking, shows that the government is confident. The middle class is the most influential vote bank, and most political parties, especially the Congress, are wooing it. The government hopes that with the repo rate cut and resultant positive sentiment, this middle class will be impressed by the Modi 3.0 policies. First Published: June 06, 2025, 13:31 IST


India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Middle-class Indians found themselves at heart of nation's progress in these 11 years: Centre
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Modi government at the Centre, just days away from turning 11, said people's hopes, needs and aspirations have not just been heard, but also acted upon with purpose, as it highlighted several initiatives taken up by the government. In a report released by the Press Information Bureau Research Unit on Thursday, the government said that, from tax relief leaving more money in people's hands to pension schemes that promise security in old age, the last eleven years have seen a steady and sincere effort to make life easier, fairer, and more dignified for Indians. 'The government has cut through red tape, simplified rules and made everyday systems work better. Be it filing taxes, buying a home, commuting to work or affording medicines, things have become simpler and more accessible. These are not scattered changes but a pattern of reforms that speak to the real concerns of ordinary citizens. What stands out is the consistency,' the report's preamble read. Over the past eleven years, the government said it has gone beyond token measures to make a real difference in the lives of the middle class. From lowering income tax rates to simplifying returns, every move, it said, has been aligned with the core idea of letting citizens keep more of what they earn. 'The approach has been clear. Listen to citizens, simplify the system and deliver on promises,' the report card said. The most recent tax reforms, especially those in the Union Budget 2025-26, are a clear sign that the Government has placed its trust in the middle class as a pillar of national growth. It said the effort has been constant and focused, whether raising the income threshold for zero tax, introducing a simplified tax regime, or making return filing easier than ever. A major change was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26: individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually will now pay no income tax, except on special incomes like capital gains. With the standard deduction of Rs 75,000, even those earning Rs 12.75 lakh will pay no tax. These enhanced tax exemptions led to the government giving up nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in revenue. The government has once again lauded itself for making income tax return filings simple. According to the government, the simplification in ITR filing is reflected in the rise of individual ITR filings, which increased from 3.91 crore in 2013-14 to 9.19 crore in 2024-25, a 135 per cent rise. On the inflation management front, the government boasted that the price rise remained under control under the current administration. 'Things began to change from 2014. Over the next eleven years, inflation came under firm control. From 2015-16 to 2024-25, the average rate fell to just 5 per cent. The difference is visible not only in the numbers but in daily life. Stable prices gave families breathing room,' the report read. The report touched upon reform-oriented initiatives such as Unified Pension Scheme, Smart Cities Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), expansion in metro network, UDAN scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadhi scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, among others. (ANI)


Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
ITR filing FY 2024-25: Taxpayers take note! These 7 changes in new ITR forms excel utilities are important
The income tax department has introduced new validation rules in the Excel-based ITR-1 and ITR-4 forms for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26), requiring more detailed disclosures at the time of filing — particularly from salaried taxpayers claiming deductions under the old tax regime. According to an ET report, experts say this shift to pre-validation aims to curb false claims and ensure quicker, more transparent return processing. Here are 7 key changes in excel utilities forms: 1. HRA claim now needs full salary and rent details Taxpayers claiming House Rent Allowance (HRA) exemption must now disclose their place of work, actual rent paid, actual HRA received, and salary break-up (basic salary and dearness allowance). They also need to indicate whether they live in a metro or non-metro city, as the exemption is based on 50% or 40% of the basic salary depending on location. These details are now mandatory in the ITR-1 form. 2. Section 80C deduction requires policy number or ID To claim deductions under Section 80C — which allows up to Rs 1.5 lakh on investments like PPF, tax-saving FDs, and life insurance — taxpayers must now provide the policy number or a valid document identification number. This move replaces earlier practice where only the deduction amount was reported, bringing more traceability and verification into the system. 3. Section 80D needs insurer's name and policy number For deductions on medical or health insurance premiums under Section 80D, taxpayers are now required to enter the name of the insurance company and the policy or document number in the return. This prevents unsupported claims and aligns deduction filings with insurance records. 4. Section 80E asks for full education loan details To claim interest deduction on education loans under Section 80E, taxpayers must provide detailed loan information. This includes the lender's name, bank name, account number, date of sanction, total sanctioned amount, outstanding amount as on 31 March, and the interest paid. These fields are mandatory, and omission may prevent return submission. 5. Section 80EE / 80EEA home loan claims need lender info Deductions claimed for interest on home loans under Sections 80EE or 80EEA must now be supported with lender details, account numbers, sanction dates, loan amount, and outstanding balance. This ensures that housing-related deductions are verified against actual bank data and limits the scope for overlapping claims, such as HRA and home loan in the same city. 6. Section 80EEB for loans needs sanction details Taxpayers claiming interest on loans for electric vehicles under Section 80EEB must disclose lender name, bank name, account number, loan sanction date, total loan amount, and remaining balance as on 31 March. The requirement mirrors the home and education loan fields and standardises loan-related disclosures across deduction categories. 7. Section 80DDB needs disease name for medical claims For deductions under Section 80DDB — meant for treatment of specified diseases — the name of the disease being treated is now a compulsory field in the ITR form. This change is aimed at ensuring that medical deduction claims are specific and aligned with medical certification norms. Chartered Accountant Abhishek Soni, co-founder of Tax2Win, said the changes mark a move from post-filing scrutiny to real-time validation. 'Previously, only deduction amounts were filled in. Now the ITR utility captures data upfront, which brings transparency,' he said. Gopal Bohra, Direct Tax Partner at N. A. Shah Associates LLP, explained that 276 validation rules are now active for ITR-1 and 347 for ITR-4. 'If a required field is missing — such as a policy number or loan sanction date — the return won't upload. The system will flag an error and halt the process,' he said. Ashish Niraj, Partner at A S N & Company, added that these fields are being introduced to stop deduction misuse. 'Some taxpayers claimed HRA and home loan deductions for the same city. Now, fields like 'place of work' and lender details make cross-verification easier,' he said. 'Only those with full, accurate documentation will be able to complete the filing.' Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now