ITR Return 2025: What is the last date for filing income tax return, 31 July or 15 September? There is confusion in the minds of people as to when income tax return can be filed without penalty.
The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 i.e. assessment year 2025-26 from 31 July 2025 to 15 September 2025. This relief is for those taxpayers whose account does not come under the purview of audit, such as employed people, pensioners and NRIs etc. With this announcement, a big question is arising in the minds of the people that can now self-assessment tax also be deposited till 15 September without any penalty?
What is self assessment tax?
Self-Assessment Tax is the amount that remains due after paying TDS, TCS and Advance Tax. It is usually paid at the time of filing ITR and if not paid on time, it attracts interest at the rate of 1% per month under section 234A.
Will interest under 234A not be charged till September 15?
Now 15 September 2025 will be considered as the due date, so if you file ITR by that date. Also pay self-assessment tax, then you will not have to pay interest under section 234A. According to an old Supreme Court decision and CBDT circular, when the deadline for filing ITR is extended, that new date is considered as the due date and interest is not charged under section 234A. That is, as long as ITR and self-assessment tax are deposited by September 15, interest will not be charged. In previous cases, CBDT had taken a different stand a few times, but there is no such clarification in the 2025 circular, so it would be correct to assume that interest will not be charged.
Penalty on advance tax will continue
However, no relief has been given on the penalty related to advance tax. If you do not pay the advance tax on time in the financial year 2024-25, then you will have to pay interest at the rate of 1% monthly under sections 234B and 234C. 234B is applicable when the amount of advance tax is deposited less or not deposited at all.
What if tax is paid after 15th September?
If you filed ITR after September 15, 2025 and paid self-assessment tax after that, then you will have to pay interest under section 234A.
What is the last date to file ITR?
The last date for filing ITR and self-assessment tax will now be 15 September 2025. There will be no penalty under section 234A if the tax is deposited before this. But interest will have to be paid under 234B and 234C for not paying the advance tax.