The Income Tax Department has issued a notification cautioning taxpayers against a fake message circulating widely on social media and messaging apps, which falsely claims that the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2024-25 has been extended to September 30, 2025. The department clarified that the official last date for filing ITRs remains September 15, 2025, and urged taxpayers to rely only on updates from official sources such as @IncomeTaxIndia.
The fake notice misleadingly stated that the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had extended the filing deadline, but the department confirmed that such messages are incorrect and should be ignored. Taxpayers are reminded that no extension has been granted, and any filings made after September 15 could attract penalties under Section 234F. For incomes above Rs 5 lakh, a penalty of Rs 5,000 applies, while lower incomes face a Rs 1,000 penalty. Belated or revised returns can still be filed until December 31, 2025, with updated returns (ITR-U) accepted until March 31, 2030, while a 1% per month interest applies on any unpaid tax from the due date.
For those who have yet to file, the department outlined a step-by-step guide to completing the ITR process: log in to the official portal using your PAN, navigate to the ITR filing section, select the correct Assessment Year and filing status, choose the appropriate ITR form, review all details, pay any tax dues, submit the return, and e-verify it within 30 days. The department also offers 24/7 support through phone, live chat, WebEx sessions, and social media channels to assist taxpayers.
As of September 13, 2025, over six crore ITRs have already been filed, reflecting increased compliance. For comparison, in the last assessment year, 7.28 crore returns were filed up to July 31, 2024, up from 6.77 crore the previous year, showing a growth of 7.5%. Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns promptly to avoid penalties and ensure that refunds, if any, are processed efficiently.
