New Delhi, India – September 16, 2025 – Today marks the extended deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the Financial Year 2024-25, but for millions of taxpayers, the final hours are turning into a race against technical difficulties rather than a smooth compliance exercise. Reports are flooding social media platforms about the official income tax e-filing portal facing significant slowdowns, login issues, and other glitches.
The situation is causing widespread frustration, especially since the government had already extended the deadline from the original July 31st due date to provide relief to taxpayers. Now, with just hours to go until the midnight deadline, many are questioning if the portal's infrastructure is equipped to handle the last-day rush.
What's Happening on the Portal? The Common Complaints 😫
Chartered Accountants and individual taxpayers alike have been reporting a series of issues since morning, which appear to have intensified as the day progressed. The most common complaints include:
- Extremely Slow Loading Times: Key sections of the portal, including the login page and the ITR form itself, are taking several minutes to load or are timing out completely.
- Login and OTP Delays: Many users are reporting that they are unable to log in, while those who can are facing significant delays in receiving Aadhaar OTPs, which are crucial for login and e-verification.
- AIS/TIS Data Not Loading: The Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), which are essential for verifying pre-filled data, are reportedly failing to load for many users.
- Failed Submission Attempts: Perhaps the most frustrating issue is for those who manage to fill out the entire form but face an error message upon final submission, forcing them to start the process over.
Taxpayers Take to Social Media: #Extend_Due_Date Trends Again
As is common during such events, taxpayers have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns, with the hashtag #Extend_Due_Date_Immediately once again trending in India. Many are tagging the Finance Minister and the Income Tax Department, sharing screenshots of their failed attempts.
"Trying to file for 10 clients since morning. Haven't been able to submit a single return in the last 4 hours. The portal is completely choked. This is a recurring nightmare! @IncomeTaxIndia @nsitharaman #Extend_Due_Date" - A Chartered Accountant on X.
"Stuck on the e-verification step for an hour. The Aadhaar OTP is just not arriving. The deadline is hours away. What are we supposed to do? We need another extension! #ITRDeadline #incometax" - A salaried taxpayer on X.
What Should You Do Now? ✅
While there has been no official announcement of a further extension yet, here are a few steps you can take:
- Keep Trying at Off-Peak Hours: The portal traffic is highest during the day. Try again late at night or very early in the morning when the load on the servers might be lower.
- Use the "Save Draft" Feature: As you fill out your return, click the "Save Draft" button frequently so you don't lose your progress if the page crashes.
- Document Your Attempts: Take screenshots of any error messages or failed login attempts, including the date and time. This can serve as proof that you tried to comply with the deadline in case of any future scrutiny.
- Don't Panic: Remember the basics of filing your return. If you need a refresher, check our Beginner's Guide to ITR Filing and ensure you have chosen the correct tax regime for your financial situation.
Conclusion: A Recurring Challenge for Taxpayers
The last-day rush has once again put the income tax portal's infrastructure under immense strain, causing significant and avoidable stress for diligent taxpayers. While the government's push for digital compliance is commendable, the recurring nature of these technical glitches on deadline days highlights a critical need for a more robust and scalable system.
For now, taxpayers are left with little choice but to keep trying and hope for either a system recovery or a last-minute announcement from the Finance Ministry.
Are you facing issues with the income tax portal today? Share your experience and help others by leaving a comment below.
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