ITR Deadline July 31: 5 Checks Before You File

July 31 is the last day to file ITR for most salaried taxpayers. Missing it means penalties, delayed refunds, and interest charges. Here's what to check before you hit submit today.

Here's what happened: July 31, 2025 is the last date to file ITR-1 and ITR-2 for Assessment Year 2026-27 without penalty.. Over 5 crore returns have already been filed — but millions of salaried taxpayers still need to act today.. ITR-3 and ITR-4 filers (business owners, freelancers) have until August 31, but salaried employees must file by tonight..

What you should do: Download your Form 26AS and AIS from the income tax portal (incometax.gov.in) and verify all TDS credits match your salary slips before filing.. Choose your tax regime carefully — compare old vs new regime using the tax calculator on the portal; you cannot switch after filing.. File even if you owe zero tax — a nil return protects your refund eligibility and avoids notices for non-filing from the tax department..

Pro tip: If you miss today's deadline, you can still file a belated return by December 31, 2025 — but you'll pay ₹5,000 late fee (₹1,000 if income is below ₹5 lakh) plus interest on any tax due.

For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.