ITR AY 2025-26: Early tax filers affected as ITR-2, ITR-3 utilities remain unavailable for current tax filing season

 

ITR AY 2025-26: Early tax filers affected as ITR-2, ITR-3 utilities remain unavailable for current tax filing season

Notification of the Income Tax Department releasing the utilities of ITR-2 and ITR-3 forms has caused a lot of trouble to taxpayers this filing time. This deferment implies that salaried professionals, High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) and freelances who otherwise accommodate themselves through these types will have to wait to submit their returns.

Since the deadline to submit is on September 15, 2025, this delay makes scheduling of submission harder to those who prefer to submit earlier and beat the last-minute problems. The delay has brought about issues about compliance and possibility of increase stress levels towards the deadline. It is also expected that the taxpayers should be patient and carry out their vigil to ensure that this period is used well.

The person or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), who do not receive income in business or profession, but in salary, capital gain, having multiple house property or receiving income abroad, is categorized under ITR-2. It also fits in case of clubbing of the earnings of a spouse or minor child provided they come under these categories.

ITR-3 on the other hand is appropriate to the individuals and HUFs involved in business or profession like legal, medical or accountancy professions and obtains actual business profits as an income. These forms have been part of making taxpayers report their income correctly and pay taxes as required. It is important to know the difference between both forms to file and be compliant.

The lag in publishing such forms presents a problem to those concerned, because filling in the wrong form may result in processing delay, as well as disrupters tax authority notices. This scenario brings in the significance of taking the right form so that the filing process becomes smooth. As people rush to meet their tax submission deadline, it is crucial that they remain up to date and keep checking up on any developments lest they are caught unawares. Taxpayers are more under siege than ever, because they are faced with complexities of the tax system, without the common set of tools with which to operate it.

The Excel utility can be used to file ITR-1 and ITR-4 through the I-T Department, which was revealed on the official handle of the department on X (Twitter) (formerly Twitter) on May 30 on Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26.

“Attention taxpayers! The post read, the ITR-1 and ITR-4 excel utility of AY 2025-26 is enabled and has been made available to taxpayers.

As of now, ITR 1 to 5 are notified by I-T Department to file returns of the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25 (AY 2025-26). ITR-1(Sahaj)(ITR-4(Sugam)) were notified on 29 th April and ITR-3 on 30 th April. ITR-5 and ITR-2 have been then introduced on May 1 and May 3 respectively.

The I-T department announced extension in filing ITR to May 27. AY 2025-26, an extension is made to the original due date of July 31, 2025, and the new due date is changed to September 15, 2025.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a statement gave out an explanation on the extension and said this was prompted by the major restructuring that the ITR forms have undergone and the time it would take to adjust such systems and corresponding filing utilities.