The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has granted a significant extension in the due dates for filing income tax returns and tax audit reports for the Assessment Year 2025-26, providing relief to taxpayers facing audit requirements.[1][2][3]
Latest Extended Due Dates
For entities whose accounts are subject to mandatory audit under the Income Tax Act:
- The new due date for furnishing the Income Tax Return (ITR) is now December 10, 2025, extended from the previous deadline of October 31, 2025.[4][2][3][1]
- The due date for submitting the tax audit report has been extended to November 10, 2025.[2][3][5][1]
Reason Behind the Extension
This extension follows a series of High Court rulings from Gujarat, Punjab & Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh directing that the gap between the tax audit report due date and the ITR filing should be at least one month. Various stakeholders and professional bodies highlighted difficulties due to disruptions like floods and other natural calamities, which affected timely completion of audits. As a result, the CBDT acted upon judicial directions and taxpayer representations to provide additional time for compliance.[6][7][1]
Applicability of the Extension
- The extended timeline applies to companies, firms, and individuals whose accounts are required to be audited under clause (a) of Explanation 2 to sub-section (1) of Section 139 of the Income Tax Act.[3][2]
- Non-audit taxpayers continue to follow the previously notified return dates, such as September 16, 2025, for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26).[8][9]
Key Official Notifications
- CBDT issued official press releases and circulars detailing the revised deadlines for both tax audit reports and return filing.[10][2]
- Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the latest circulars and notifications available on the Income Tax Department’s portal for detailed information and updates.[11][8]
Impact and Compliance
- The extensions aim to ensure smoother processes for professionals and taxpayers, mitigate compliance challenges, and maintain the integrity of the tax reporting process in light of unforeseen difficulties.[12][6]
- Tax professionals now have additional time to finalize audits and returns, reducing the usual rush as deadlines approach.
Summary Table
Compliance Old Due Date Extended Due Date Tax Audit Report (AY 2025-26) October 31, 2025 November 10, 2025 Income Tax Return (Audit cases, AY 2025-26) October 31, 2025 December 10, 2025 Income Tax Return (Non-audit cases, AY 2025-26) September 15-16, 2025 September 16, 2025


