Taxpayers will soon be able to file their returns for FY25 via the official Income Tax Department website. The various ITR forms are likely to become available for e-filing in the next few days — with refunds typically arriving within 20 days of submission. Trends from previous years indicate that the last date to file ITR will be July 31.

When can you file Income Tax Returns?

The Income Tax Department will open its online portal in the coming days for those looking to file their returns for assessment year 2025-26. An official announcement has not been made but notices from previous years suggests that the online ITR forms are typically notified during the month of April. The Central Board of Direct Taxes shares the relevant ITR forms during the first few months of each financial year — formally opening the filing window.

The last date to file ITR for FY24 without late fees was July 31 last year. Taxpayers were also allowed to file a belated return (with penalties) till December 31. Assessment year 2025-26 is expected to follow a similar pattern with an initial deadline at the end of July 2025.

When can you expect Income Tax refunds?

The I-T Department has streamlined the refund process extensively in recent years with most people now receiving the surplus amount within 7 to 20 days. This is however subject to there being no discrepancies or mismatched details in the filed returns. Taxpayers must also ensure that they ensure prompt verification of return via Aadhaar OTP or other alternatives. Their bank accounts should also be pre-validated and linked to their PAN card details.

Taxpayers are encouraged to gather and keep all relevant documents ready ahead of time in order to ensure a speedy refund process. This includes PAN and Aadhaar card as well as Form 16 from your employers. Other documents such as salary slips, interest certificates, capital gains statements, rental income details, and any other proof of income might be necessary while filing out the online form.