New Delhi, May 27, 2025: The Income Tax Department has officially released the Excel utilities for ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) forms for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26), allowing taxpayers to start filing their Income Tax Returns (ITR) immediately.

The department made the announcement via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Attention taxpayers! Excel utility for ITR-1 and ITR-4 is now available.”

This release is part of the department’s effort to ensure ease of compliance and early filing for individual taxpayers and small business owners.

Also Read: Choose the Correct ITR Form – Click Here

🧾 Who Can Use ITR-1 Form (Sahaj)?

The ITR-1 form is meant for resident individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh from the following sources:

• Salary or pension

• One house property

• Interest income

• Agricultural income up to ₹5,000

• Long-term capital gains up to ₹1.25 lakh (under Section 112A)

This form cannot be used by individuals who are directors in a company or hold foreign assets.

💼 Who Should File Using ITR-4 Form (Sugam)?

The ITR-4 form is intended for:

• Resident Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and Firms (other than LLPs)

• Having total income less than ₹50 lakh

• Having income from business or profession computed under Presumptive Taxation Scheme (Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE)

It also includes long-term capital gains up to ₹1.25 lakh under Section 112A.

📆 New ITR Filing Deadline: 15 September 2025

In a significant update, the ITR filing deadline has been extended to 15 September 2025, replacing the earlier 31 July deadline.
The delay in releasing utilities this year—due to technical preparation—was the key reason for the extension.

🧰 What Are e-Filing Utilities and Why Do They Matter?

e-Filing utilities are digital tools developed by the Income Tax Department to make the return filing process smoother and more accurate.

There are two main types:

• Online Utility:
  Preferred by salaried individuals; comes with pre-filled data such as income, interest, and TDS details.

• Offline JSON/Excel Utility:
  Used by tax consultants and professionals; allows data entry offline before uploading to the e-filing portal.

These tools are critical for data validation, form generation, and system compatibility.

⚠️ Penalty for Missing the ITR Deadline

Failing to file the ITR by 15 September 2025 may attract penalties:

• ₹1,000 penalty if income is below ₹5 lakh

• ₹5,000 penalty if income is above ₹5 lakh

• 1% monthly interest under Section 234A for unpaid tax

• Losses (business/capital) can’t be carried forward (except house property)

📌 Key Takeaways:

• ITR-1 and ITR-4 utilities are now available.

• Filing deadline extended to 15 September 2025.

• New forms support pre-filled and offline options.

• Avoid penalties by filing on time