Taxpayers Struggle with ITR Portal Glitches as Deadline Looms

Today, September 16, 2025, marks the final day for non-audit cases to file income tax returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25. Many taxpayers are experiencing significant difficulties completing their filings due to persistent technical issues on the income tax e-filing portal. As the deadline approaches, users report problems such as the portal failing to load, crashing intermittently, and errors during form uploads, leading to widespread frustration.

Taxpayer Frustration Grows

Numerous individuals have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns and seek assistance from the Income Tax Department. One user lamented, “ITR deadline extended, but the portal still needs its own extension… Sometimes it lets you log in, sometimes it crashes. Guess patience is the new tax this season!” Another taxpayer reported exhausting all recommended troubleshooting steps, stating, “I have deleted temporary files, cleared browser cache & cookies, tried multiple browsers, disabled extensions, and switched networks, but… the portal is dead.”

The technical difficulties have sparked questions about whether the ITR deadline will be extended again. Many users assert that the recent one-day extension announced by the Finance Ministry did little to alleviate their issues. A concerned taxpayer remarked, “Just want to inform you extension of 1 day is not helping as portal is in the same state like yesterday since morning.”

The Finance Ministry tweeted late on September 15, 2025, confirming the extension and noting that the e-filing portal would undergo maintenance from 00:00 to 02:30 on September 16. Despite this, some users continued to experience problems, with one individual expressing disbelief at the short extension, stating, “If an extension was to be given, at least give 3–4 days and that too timely — this is just a big joke.”

Guidance from the Income Tax Department

As of now, the Income Tax Department has not issued any further notifications regarding an extension of the deadline. Taxpayers are urged to complete their filings by today to avoid penalties and other repercussions. The department had previously assured users that the e-filing portal was functioning correctly and advised clearing browser caches or trying different browsers to resolve access issues.

For those facing ongoing difficulties, the Income Tax Department has requested users send their details, including their PAN and mobile number, to the email address [email protected]. Additionally, the department has indicated that its help desk operates 24/7 to assist taxpayers with ITR filing, tax payments, and related services. Support options include phone assistance, live chat, WebEx sessions, and outreach via Twitter/X.

With the deadline now upon them and technical issues still affecting access, many taxpayers are left waiting anxiously as they attempt to navigate this challenging process.