Summary of this article
As the September 15 deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) gets closer, the pressure is building for those who are yet to complete the process.
While the online system has made e-filing far easier than it used to be, last-minute rush often leads to errors, and these can delay refunds, attract penalties, or worse, bring unwanted notices from the tax department.
The income tax return (ITR) filing deadline countdown has begun. This year, September 15, 2025 is the last date to file your ITR for the assessment year 2025-26, and if you are one of those still holding off till the final stretch, you are not alone.
Every year, many taxpayers rush to complete the process in the last few days. Many taxpayers and chartered accountants have, in fact, asked the Income Tax Department to consider extending the date further due to issues on the income tax portal. However, with no final verdict on whether the ITR deadline will be extended, last-minute filing often brings avoidable errors.
Some of these mistakes can delay refunds, invite notices, or even lead to penalties. Here are five common mistakes that taxpayers should double check before hitting submit.
1. Picking the wrong ITR form
It may sound basic, but it’s surprisingly common. The Income Tax Department prescribes different forms for different categories of taxpayers, salaried individuals, professionals, businesses, and those with capital gains. Choosing ITR-1 when you actually need ITR-2, or the other way round, can get your return flagged as “defective” That means going back and re-filing, wasting precious time and energy.
This year, the department introduced some key changes in the ITR forms, such as updates related to long-term capital gains (LTCG) reporting in ITR 1 and ITR-4 forms
2. Discussing Foreign Assets
The department has strict regulations in place for reporting and disclosing foreign income and assets even if you don’t earn anything from them in the current year.
A bank account abroad, shares purchased on an international platform, or even property overseas must be declared. Leaving them out, whether by oversight or confusion, can lead to complications later if the department cross-checks information.
3. Forgetting To Include Income From All Sources
This one is a classic year after year. Salaried individuals who changed jobs during the financial year usually have more than one Form 16, but they sometimes forget to consolidate income from all employers.
Similarly, interest earned on fixed deposits, capital gains from stocks or property, or freelance payments are often left out. The problem is that most of this information is linked to your Permanent Account Number (PAN). So, the tax department can spot omissions quickly.
4. Not Disclosing Exempt Income
There’s a common misconception that exempt income need not be shown. That’s not true. Items such as gratuity, leave encashment, or commuted pension must first be included in your gross salary before being claimed as exempt under the relevant sections.
If you use such income later for an investment or a big-ticket purchase and haven’t reported it, you may get a notice asking you to explain the source.
5. Copying AIS/TIS Data Without Verifying
The Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) are useful tools by the tax department to cross-check details in your ITR, but they are not flawless.
Banks or financial institutions sometimes report errors, which then show up in your statement. Blindly copying these numbers can create mismatches in your return. It’s always safer to verify each entry against your own bank statements, broker notes, and salary slips before filing.
Don’t Forget The Last Step
Filing income tax return is not complete unless you e-verify it. You have 120 days from filing to do this, through Aadhaar OTP, Nebanking, or even by sending a signed acknowledgement to CPC Bengaluru. This is an important step since skipping it means your ITR becomes invalid.
What To Do If You Made A Mistake While Filing ITR
The tax department allows you to file a rectification request under Section 154 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. It can be filed to fix errors like mismatched credits or missed income.
Rushing to file the ITR at the last moment, as deadline looms, can happen. However, it is important to cross-check these key details and save yourselves from any hassles later.
