Income Tax Department Deadline Extensions – Should I Wait or File My ITR Now?

I'm based in Singapore and usually file my return a week or two before the deadline.

Some years, the government has extended due dates because of specific circumstances, such as technical issues or administrative reasons. However, those decisions are made officially and shouldn't be assumed every year.

This year, I kept checking the Income Tax Department's announcements instead of following WhatsApp messages or news headlines. That helped me avoid confusion. Recent reports also noted that no deadline extension had been officially announced before the standard due date for non-audit taxpayers.

My advice is to file as soon as your information is complete.

Last year I waited because everyone expected an extension, but I realized there's no guarantee that one will happen. If you still need one or two documents, try obtaining them quickly rather than assuming you'll get extra time.

If an extension is officially notified later, that's simply additional time available. But planning around rumours can sometimes create unnecessary problems, especially if refunds or other financial processes depend on your ITR being filed.

I made that mistake a couple of years ago.

There were rumours all over social media that the filing deadline would be extended, so I waited until the last day. Unfortunately, no extension was announced, and I had to file later as a belated return.

Since then, I don't rely on unofficial posts anymore. If an extension is announced, it's great, but I always prepare my return based on the currently notified due date. It saves a lot of unnecessary stress.