Thu Sep 11 09:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Headline: ITR Filing Deadline Extended to September 15th; Taxpayers Get Relief Amidst System Glitches**

**New Delhi:** The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26) to **September 15, 2025.** This replaces the original deadline of July 31st, providing taxpayers with additional time to comply with their tax obligations. Taxpayers with accounts requiring an audit must still file by September 30, 2025.

The extension comes after reported delays in the rollout of updated ITR forms and e-filing facilities on the Income Tax Department’s portal. Challenges related to the late reflection of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) data in Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) also contributed to the decision, with taxpayers advocating for an extension to ensure accurate filing.

**Penalties Still Apply for Late Filing Beyond Extended Deadline**

Taxpayers are urged to meet the extended deadline to avoid penalties. Late filing will incur a penalty of ₹5,000 for those with an income exceeding ₹5 lakh, and ₹1,000 for lower income groups, under Section 234F. Belated or revised returns can be filed until December 31, 2025, and updated returns (ITR-U) can be filed until March 31, 2030.

**Potential for Increased Refund Interest**

The extension may also benefit taxpayers due refunds. They may receive up to 33 per cent higher interest under Section 244A, since the interest accrues from April 1st, despite the extended deadline. Taxpayers must remember that this interest is taxable and must be reported in the ITR.

**New Offline Utility Launched for Easier Filing**

To further ease the filing process, the Income Tax Department has introduced an Excel-based offline utility for filing Income Tax Return-1 (Sahaj) and Income Tax Return-4 (Sugam). This tool will enable employees, pensioners, freelancers, and small business owners to prepare their returns, validate them by creating a JSON file, and upload them to the e-filing portal, even without a constant internet connection.

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