The Income Tax Department has released all seven Income Tax Return (ITR) forms for the financial year 2025-26, including the well-known ITR-1 to ITR-7 and the ITR-V form. There’s also a brand-new ITR-U form which was launched on May 19 that allows taxpayers to file or correct their returns for up to 48 months, as per the latest Finance Act.
But here’s the catch — even though all the forms are available, taxpayers still can’t file their returns yet. Why? Because the e-filing tools, called utilities, that help submit these forms on the official income tax website aren’t working at the moment. So, while you can download the forms, you’ll have to wait a bit longer before you can actually file your taxes online.
What are ITR e-filing utilities?
The ITR e-filing utility is a tool provided by the Income Tax Department that helps people file their tax returns online. Last year, this tool was available in three different forms: Offline (Java or JSON), Online, and Excel.
Usually, tax professionals use the JSON and Excel tools, while regular taxpayers can use the online utility to file their returns themselves. You can use this tool to submit your tax return before the deadline, which is July 31, 2025.
The online utility comes with some financial information already filled in for you. You can check this information, make changes if needed, and then submit your return. Last year, around 43.82% of all tax returns were filed online before the deadline.
If you choose the offline or Excel tool, you need to download it from the Income Tax Department’s website, fill it out on your computer, and then upload it back to the online tax filing website to submit your return. Now since these utilities are not working at the moment, taxpayers can meanwhile check if they have filled the right forms.
Why is there a delay in ITR e-filing utilities?
The Income tax Department has given no official reason for the delay. However, it could be due to the various changes that have been introduced in the ITR forms this year.
Will the delay in utilities extend ITR filing deadline?
The delay in releasing the e-filing tools has caused some people to wonder if the tax return deadline will be extended. But this is unlikely because most people usually file their returns in June and July, and the Income Tax Department still has plenty of time before June to prepare. Also, tax return processing has become much faster in recent years.
The last date to file Income Tax Returns for those who don’t need an audit is July 31, 2025. Taxpayers who don’t have to get their accounts audited must file their returns by this date to avoid penalties.
