Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 14: The Income Tax Department has announced a major milestone, with more than 6 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed for Assessment Year 2025-26 so far. Sharing the update on X (formerly Twitter), the department thanked taxpayers and tax professionals for their cooperation in achieving this significant figure.
“Thank you taxpayers & tax professionals for helping us reach the milestone of 6 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) as of now and still counting,” the Income Tax India account posted.
With the filing deadline just around the corner on September 15, the department is urging taxpayers who have yet to submit their returns to act promptly to avoid last-minute rush and penalties.
To assist taxpayers during the crucial days ahead, the Income Tax Department has kept its helpdesk operational 24x7, providing support through calls, live chats, WebEx sessions, and social media channels.
“Our helpdesk is functioning on a 24x7 basis, offering support through calls, live chats, WebEx sessions & Twitter/X to assist with ITR filing, tax payment, and related services,” the department added.
This year’s filing deadline was extended from July 31 to September 15 for individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and entities not requiring audits. The extension was necessary to accommodate major changes made to the ITR forms and to update the filing systems accordingly.
The steady increase in ITR filings reflects growing tax compliance and a widening tax base in India. For context, a record 7.28 crore returns were filed for AY 2024-25 by July 31, 2024, marking a 7.5% rise from the previous year’s 6.77 crore filings.
In line with technological upgrades, the department rolled out new online filing utilities this year. The ITR-1 and ITR-4 forms for small and medium taxpayers were made available in June, while the ITR-2 form—used by individuals and HUFs with capital gains income but no business income—was activated in July.
Taxpayers are encouraged to complete their filings soon to ensure a smooth experience and avoid penalties.