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If you've seen a widespread rumor that the Income Tax Return (ITR) due date has been moved to September 30, be careful, it's not true. The official deadline is still Monday, September 15, as confirmed by the Income Tax Department. This incorrect information, spreading widely on WhatsApp and social media, claims that the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has pushed the filing deadline for Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26 to September 30. To clarify, the Finance Ministry announced that there has been no official order or notice issued extending the date beyond September 15. The department posted the false press release online with a prominent red "FAKE" label to warn taxpayers.

In a statement, the department said, "There is false information being shared that says the ITR filing deadline (which was originally July 31, 2025, and moved to September 15, 2025) has now been changed to September 30, 2025. The ITR filing deadline remains September 15, 2025. Taxpayers should only trust the updates from the official @IncomeTaxIndia sources." The September 15 deadline applies to taxpayers who do not undergo a tax audit. This includes mainly employees, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and small businesses using ITR forms 1-4.

How To File ITR?

You can complete this process online through the official income tax website.
Use your PAN as your User ID and log into the Income Tax e-filing website with your password.
Go to the "File Income Tax Return" area.
Select the Assessment Year (AY 2025-26).
Choose your filing type (individual, HUF, etc.).
Select the correct ITR form (ITR-1 to ITR-4 for non-audit cases).
Enter your income information and check the pre-filled data like salary, TDS, and bank interest.
Review all information and confirm it.
Pay any taxes you still owe.
Submit your return online.
E-verify within 30 days using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or other available methods.

With the deadline approaching quickly, there is a lot of traffic on the e-filing portal.