Income Tax Department Launches Excel Utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 for AY 2025-26
The Income Tax Department has officially launched the Excel utilities for Income Tax Return (ITR) forms ITR-2 and ITR-3 for the assessment year (AY) 2025-26. Taxpayers can now download these updated forms to file their returns for the financial year (FY) 2024-25, directly from the department’s official website at incometax.gov.in.
Who Should Use These Forms?
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ITR-2 is designed for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) whose income includes salary, income from more than one house property, capital gains, or income from other sources, but excludes business or professional income.
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ITR-3 is intended for individuals and HUFs who have business or professional income. This category includes freelancers, doctors, consultants, and partners in firms.
The government has extended the deadline to file Income Tax Returns to September 15, 2025, giving taxpayers additional time. However, many prefer to file early to avoid last-minute issues or system slowdowns.
Key Updates Reflect Tax Regime Overhaul
This year’s update to the ITR forms and utilities comes amid a significant overhaul of the capital gains tax regime for FY 2024-25. Experts highlight that the changes in tax regulations have necessitated major updates in the ITR forms, utilities, and backend systems to ensure accurate filing.
Anita Basrur, Partner at Sudit K. Parekh & Co. LLP, explained, “While the ITR forms had been notified in advance, the extensive changes required corresponding updates in the filing utilities and online systems. This caused some delays in the development, integration, and testing process.”
Sandeep Sehgal, Partner – Tax at AKM Global, further emphasized that taxpayers with capital gains or business income heavily rely on ITR-2 and ITR-3. “The revamp of the capital gains tax rules demanded extensive enhancements in these forms and related utilities,” he added.
Online Filing Utility Pending
Currently, only the offline Excel utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 are live. According to Sonu Iyer, Partner and National Leader, People Advisory Services at EY India, the online filing option for these forms has not yet been launched. “Many individual taxpayers find the online filing utility more convenient and user-friendly, so it is hoped that the online system will be available soon,” he noted.
How to Access the Utilities
Taxpayers can download the latest Excel utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 for AY 2025-26 from the Income Tax Department’s official website:
The department also announced the availability of these utilities via its official Twitter handle:
Excel Utilities of ITR-2 and ITR-3 for AY 2025-26 are now live and available for filing.
Visit: https://t.co/1vnMusEbbF
— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) July 11, 2025
Reminder for Taxpayers
With the deadline extended to September 15, 2025, taxpayers are encouraged to prepare their documents and file their returns in a timely manner to avoid last-minute issues. Early filing can also help resolve any discrepancies through rectification requests or communication with tax authorities.
For more updates on tax filing processes and expert insights, visit Smart Money Mindset and stay informed about the latest changes affecting your financial decisions.
First published on July 11, 2025.