ITR filing deadline: How much penalty amount you need to pay if you miss September 15 due date?

The deadline to file income tax return (ITR) for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26) for individuals who are not required to get their accounts audited is September 15, 2025. The earlier deadline was July 31, 2025, which was extended by one and a half months. But if you miss the September 15 deadline, your return will be treated as a belated ITR, and you will have to pay a penalty for late filing.

Penalty for late filing of ITR

As per Section 234F of the Income Tax Act, 1961, a late fee of up to Rs 5,000 is charged at the time of filing ITR after the due date. For taxpayers with taxable income up to Rs 5 lakh, the penalty is Rs 1,000. The penalty applies even if no tax is payable at the time of filing ITR.

Who should file ITR?

According to income tax laws, taxpayers who satisfy conditions for mandatory ITR filing as per Seventh proviso of Section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act are as follows:
a) Spent Rs 2 lakh or more (either in single transaction or on aggregate basis) for himself or any other person for travel to a foreign country.
b) Paid Rs 1 lakh or more (either in a single transaction or on aggregate basis) as electricity bill during the financial year.
c) Deposited Rs 1 crore or more in one or more current accounts either in a single transaction or on aggregate basis.
d) Any other prescribed conditions

Penal interest on tax payable

In addition to the penalty, an individual must pay penal interest on the pending tax payable when filing a belated ITR.

These taxpayers do not have to pay penalty for late filing of ITR

Individuals may need to file their ITR to receive an income tax refund. However, if their taxable income doesn’t exceed the basic exemption limit, they will not face any penalties for filing the return after the due date, according to income tax laws. Here taxable incomenot exceeding the basic exemption limit means the gross taxable income before taking any eligible deductions.

Why should you file your income tax return (ITR)?

As per the Income Tax website, “Filing your return is your duty and earns for you the dignity of consciously contributing to the development of the nation. Apart from this, your income tax returns validate your credit worthiness before financial institutions and make it possible for you to access many financial benefits such as bank credits, etc.”