BCAS Urges Finance Minister to Extend ITR and Audit Due Dates for AY 2025-26
BCAS Urges Finance Minister to Extend ITR and Audit Due Dates for AY 2025-26
The Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) recently wrote a representation dated September 01, 2025, to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), requesting an extension of the due dates for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and Audit Reports for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26.
In the representation, the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) appreciated the Central Board of Direct Taxes’ (CBDT) earlier extension of the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing due date (via Circular No. 06/2025, dated May 27, 2025) for non-audit cases from 31st July 2025 to 15th September 2025. However, it emphasised that taxpayers and professionals under audit requirements are still facing key difficulties in filing ITR and require more time to comply with the due dates.
Below are the key concerns highlighted by the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) in the representation to the finance minister:
1. Delay in Release of ITR Utilities
This financial year, 2024-25, the ITR forms and audit utilities were made available much later than usual. For instance, ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7, used by firms, companies, and trusts, were released only in August 2025. Normally, taxpayers get 6-7 months to prepare after the assessment year begins, but this year, audit cases have been left with only 2-3 months.
2. Shortened Time for Audit Work
Audit taxpayers generally require more time to finalise financial statements, complete statutory audits, reconcile data across GST, TDS, and other systems, and prepare disclosures. However, the utilities have been introduced late this year; hence, taxpayers and professionals are left with a limited time of just weeks instead of months, making them distressed.
3. Technical Issues on the Portal
These days, many taxpayers have reported glitches in the Income Tax Portal during the peak periods of ITR filing. Frequent schema changes, validation errors, slow speed, and sudden rejections have added to the burden of taxpayers.
4. Overlap with Other Compliances
Between the months of July and October, taxpayers and professionals are required to submit their GST returns, MCA filings, company audits, and registrations for charitable trusts. This financial year, 2024-25, the deadlines of these filings overlap with income tax deadlines, which is creating heavy workload pressure.
5. Reduced Working Days
Between the months of August and November, several Indian festivals and public holidays take place, which further reduce the effective working days available, leaving professionals with less time to complete tasks.
6. Risk of Errors and Penalties
When taxpayers are given a limited time to file their ITRs, it leads to mistakes and errors that ultimately attract penalties, lead to notices, and result in litigation, etc.
Extension Proposed by BCAS
The following key income tax deadlines have been proposed by BCAS in its representation to the finance minister:
- Non-audit taxpayers: No further change (already extended to 15th September 2025)
- Tax Audit Reports and other forms (Firms, Companies, Trusts): Extend from 30th September 2025 to 30th November 2025.
- ITR filing for audit cases: Extended from 31st October 2025 to 31st December 2025
- Assessees with Transfer Pricing reports (Form 3CEB): Extend from 30th November 2025 to 31st January 2026.
Conclusion
BCAS has thanked CBDT for the earlier extension and urged them to grant further relaxations. According to society, this step will ensure stress-free and accurate compliance, reduce disputes, and strengthen trust between taxpayers and the administration.
For complete information, refer to the BCAS’s Official Representation to the Finance Minister and the CBDT.