Tax Season Kicks Off! ITR-1 and ITR-4 Excel Utilities Now Available for ITR Filing 2025

Good news for many taxpayers! The Income Tax Department has started the process for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26). This means you can now begin preparing your returns using the newly released Excel-based utilities.

Early Bird Gets the Form: ITR-1 and ITR-4 Utilities Released

The income tax department has made the Excel utilities for ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) available for download. You can find these in the "Downloads" section of the e-filing portal of the income tax department. This is a crucial first step, allowing eligible taxpayers to start filling in their details even before the online filing portal is fully active.

Who Can Use These Utilities for ITR Filing 2025?

It's important to know which ITR form applies to you:

• ITR-1 (Sahaj): This form is for residents whose total income is up to Rs. 50 lakh. This income can come from various sources like salaries, a single house property, other income sources (like interest), long-term capital gains under section 112A up to Rs. 1.25 lakh, and even agricultural income up to Rs. 5,000.
• ITR-4 (Sugam): This form is designed for residents (individuals, Hindu Undivided Families or HUFs, and firms other than LLPs) with a total income of up to Rs. 50 lakh. This primarily includes income from business and profession under specific sections (44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE) and long-term capital gains under section 112A up to Rs. 1.25 lakh.

Important Dates and Deadlines for ITR Filing 2025

While the Excel utilities are out, remember that the online ITR filing hasn't fully commenced yet. However, there's a pleasant surprise regarding the deadline! The Income Tax Department, recognising a delay in issuing the ITR forms, has extended the due date for filing your income tax return for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26). Originally July 31, 2025, the new deadline is now September 15, 2025. This gives taxpayers more time to gather their documents and accurately file their returns.  

What's Next? 

With the Excel utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 now live, you can start inputting your financial data. Keep an eye on the e-filing portal for the official announcement regarding the commencement of online ITR filing. Even if you're not filing using these specific forms, this early release is a good sign that the tax season is officially underway.

Read more on: ITR Filing FY 2024-25: A Complete Guide to Using the Offline Utility

Conclusion 

The release of the Excel-based ITR-1 and ITR-4 utilities marks the beginning of the income tax filing season for Financial Year 2024-25. With an extended deadline of September 15, 2025, taxpayers have ample time to ensure a smooth and accurate filing process. Start preparing your documents now to avoid any last-minute rush!
 
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