ITR Filing 2025: After 100-Day Delay, Excel Utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 Finally Released—Will Filing Speed Up Now?

The Income Tax Department has finally made the Excel utilities for ITR Forms 2 and 3 available for the financial year 2024–25 (Assessment Year 2025–26). This comes more than 100 days after the tax return filing season began, causing delays for crores of taxpayers who couldn’t prepare and submit their returns properly.

What Was the Problem?

The tax filing process officially started in late May 2025. However, at that time, only the utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 were available for download. While ITR-1 and ITR-4 serve many salaried taxpayers and small businesses under presumptive income, the more detailed ITR-2 and ITR-3 were still pending.

ITR-2 is typically filed by individuals:

• who earn income from salary,
• own more than one house property, or
• have capital gains, such as from selling shares or real estate.

ITR-3 is used by individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who earn income from:

• a business or profession,
• which can include share trading or foreign assets.

Because these forms cover a wide range of taxpayers, the delay affected not just business owners but also many salaried individuals with investments.

Why Is This Delay Important?

Since the Excel utility was delayed for over 3 months, taxpayers have lost valuable time to gather documents, calculate their taxes, and file returns in an organised manner. Many taxpayers, chartered accountants, and tax professionals have raised concerns that the late release could result in:

• Last-minute rush,
• Errors in filing, and
• Delays in processing refunds.

Deadline for Filing Returns

The last date to file tax returns for taxpayers whose accounts don’t require an audit is 15th September 2025. If there is no extension granted by the government, taxpayers will have to finish their tax preparation quickly to meet this deadline.

At the same time, the Excel utilities for other forms—ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7—are still pending. These forms are critical for:

• Partnerships,
• Companies, and
• Trusts.

Tax professionals are watching closely to see when these remaining utilities will be released.

What Should Taxpayers Do Now?

Now that the utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 are finally available, taxpayers who need to use these forms should immediately start updating their financial details and prepare their returns without delay.

It is important to collect:

• Salary statements,
• Capital gains statements,
• Details of house property income,
• Business or professional income records, and
• Information about any foreign assets or other disclosures.

Also Read: ITR Filing FY 2025–26: How Much Money Can You Gift to a Family Member Tax-Free in India?

What’s Next?

The Income Tax Department is expected to release the Excel utilities for ITR-5, 6, and 7 soon. This will allow companies, firms, and trusts to start their filings. Taxpayers and professionals are advised to keep checking the official Income Tax e-filing website regularly for updates.

Conclusion

The release of the ITR-2 and ITR-3 utilities, though delayed, is a relief for many taxpayers who were stuck waiting to file their returns. However, with limited time left before the September 15 deadline, taxpayers must act fast, prepare accurate returns, and avoid the last-minute rush. Keeping all necessary documents ready and consulting tax professionals where needed can help ensure the process is smooth and error-free.

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