The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday directed India’s direct tax authority to extend the deadline for filing tax audit reports and related income tax returns for the 2025–26 assessment year by a month.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) must now push the due date from Sept 30 to Oct 31, the court said in an interim order, offering relief to taxpayers and professionals who had sought more time.
The order technically applies only in Rajasthan unless challenged before the Supreme Court, but tax experts say it could prompt CBDT to issue a nationwide extension.
The tax department is yet to issue any statement or notification regarding the extension.
On Monday, the Bhilwara Tax Bar Association had filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking an extension, while multiple tax bodies, chambers of commerce and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) had urged the Finance Ministry for more time.
The ICAI had also formally requested a two-month extension on Sept 19, citing the need for adequate time between non-audit return filing and tax audit submissions.
Tax professionals had also mounted a campaign on social media platform X, increasing pressure on the government to act. Chartered accountants hailed the order by Rajasthan HC today as a win for taxpayers and compliance professionals.
Source: CNBC TV18
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