ITR Filing: Due Date vs. Last Date Explained

When filing your taxes, there are two important dates: the due date and the last date.

The due date is the day your taxes are supposed to be submitted without any extra fees.

The last date is a later time, but if you file after the due date, you may have to pay a fine.

For the 2025-26 tax year, the original deadline was July 31, 2025, but it was later extended to September 15, 2025.

If you miss the due date but file before the last date, your filing is considered late, and you might not be able to use any losses to lower your taxes later.

If your income is over ₹ 5 lakh and you file after the deadline, you could be charged a late fee of ₹ 5,000; under ₹ 5 lakh, the penalty is ₹ 1,000.