ITR 2 and ITR 3 Forms Delay Where Are the Utilities for AY 2025-26?
It’s been over 90 days since the new financial year began, but ITR 2 and ITR 3 forms for Assessment Year 2025-26 are still not available.
Who Needs ITR 2 and ITR 3?
| ITR Form | Applicable For |
|---|---|
| ITR 2 | Individuals and HUFs not having income from business or profession |
| ITR 3 | Individuals and HUFs having income from business or profession (proprietorship, freelancing, etc.) |
These two forms cover a wide chunk of India’s upper middle-class salaried professionals, investors in stocks and mutual funds, freelancers, consultants, and small business owners.
What Has Been Released So Far?
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had notified the ITR forms via Notification Nos. 40 to 42/2025 dated 29 April 2025. Here’s the current status:
| ITR Form | Notification | Utility Availability |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 | 40/2025 | Available (April) |
| ITR-4 | 41/2025 | Available (April) |
| ITR-2 | 42/2025 | Not Yet Available |
| ITR-3 | 42/2025 | Not Yet Available |
| ITR-5 | 42/2025 | Partially released |
Despite the legal notification, the ITD e-filing portal (https://www.incometax.gov.in) has yet to release the Java/Excel utility or online filing functionality for ITR-2 and ITR-3.
What’s the Impact of the Delay?
1. Tax Professionals Under Pressure
- Daily queries from clients.
- Unable to start computation for clients with capital gains, foreign assets, or business income.
2. Loss of Planning Time
- Investors and freelancers can’t assess tax liability or refund timelines.
3. Last-Minute Rush Likely
- Deadline for filing (extended to 15 September 2025 via CBDT Circular No. 06/2025) may still not be enough if utilities are released late July or August.
A Clear Timeline Is Needed
We appeal to the Income Tax Department and the Ministry of Finance to issue a clear release date for ITR-2 and ITR-3 utilities.
This will ensure smoother compliance and uphold the goals of “Ease of Doing Business” and Digital India.
Expert View: Why the Delay May Hurt Compliance Quality
According to leading tax professionals, delays in form availability force rushed filings, which lead to:
- Data mismatches with AIS/TIS or Form 26AS
- Errors in capital gains reporting (especially for equity/crypto)
- Missed disclosures for foreign income or assets under Schedule FA
These increase the risk of notices, defective returns, and unnecessary litigation — all of which defeat the purpose of automation.
How Efiletax Can Help
Even with delayed forms, you can:
- Upload documents now for advance tax planning
- Stay updated via our WhatsApp Channel or Tax Blog
We’ll notify you the moment ITR-2 and ITR-3 utilities go live.
FAQ – ITR 2 and ITR 3 Forms Delay
Q1. Can I file ITR 2 or ITR 3 now?
No. As of July 2, 2025, the utilities are not yet available for download or online filing.
Q2. Is the due date extended for AY 2025-26?
Yes. The due date for non-audit taxpayers is now 15 September 2025, as per CBDT Circular 06/2025.
Q3. Can I prepare draft ITR offline?
You can prepare details in Excel or consult a tax expert, but the final submission must wait until utilities are released.
Summary
Taxpayers and professionals await clarity from the Income Tax Department on the utility release timeline.
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