Complete FY 2025 Tax Calendar: GST, Income Tax, TDS & ROC Compliance
Managing financial compliance in India requires staying ahead of numerous deadlines, from monthly GST filings to annual income tax returns. Missing a single date can lead to hefty penalties, interest charges, and unnecessary stress for both business owners and salaried professionals. This is where a well-organized guide becomes indispensable. We have created the ultimate, comprehensive FY 2025 income tax calendar to serve as your single source of truth for the entire year. This detailed calendar is specifically designed for small business owners and salaried individuals, helping you track all crucial tax compliance deadlines India. By mapping out every important date for GST, TDS, Income Tax, and even ROC filings, this guide ensures you remain compliant, avoid late fees, and can focus on what truly matters—growing your business or your career.
Understanding Financial Year (FY) 2025 and Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26
Before we dive into the specific dates, it’s essential to understand the timeline this calendar covers. In India’s tax system, two terms are used to define the financial period: the Financial Year (FY) and the Assessment Year (AY). The Financial Year (FY) 2024-25, which is the focus of this guide, runs from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. This is the 12-month period during which you earn your income, conduct business transactions, and make tax-saving investments. The Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26 is the year immediately following the financial year; it begins on April 1, 2025, and ends on March 31, 2026. This is the period when the income earned during FY 2024-25 is “assessed,” and you file your income tax returns for that period. Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting the key tax dates for FY 2025 India, as many deadlines that fall in late 2024 and early 2025 relate to filing the returns for the previous financial year.
The Ultimate FY 2025 Income Tax Calendar: Quarter-by-Quarter Deadlines
To help you stay organized, we’ve broken down all the important compliance dates into a quarter-by-quarter format. Bookmark this page and refer to it throughout the year to ensure you never miss a deadline.
Q1 (April 2024 – June 2024): Kicking Off the Financial Year
The first quarter sets the tone for the rest of the year. It involves wrapping up the previous year’s TDS compliance, paying the first installment of advance tax for the current year, and staying on top of monthly GST obligations.
| Due Date | Compliance Task |
|---|---|
| April 30 | Deposit of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for March 2024. |
| May 15 | Issuance of TDS Certificate (Form 16A for non-salary payments) for Q4 of FY 2023-24. |
| May 31 | Filing of quarterly TDS/TCS returns (Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q) for Q4 of FY 2023-24. |
| June 15 | First installment of Advance Tax for the Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26. |
| Monthly | Filing of GST returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B) for the months of April and May 2024. |
Q2 (July 2024 – September 2024): The ITR Filing Season
The second quarter is arguably the busiest for most taxpayers. It features the primary deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for individuals and non-audited businesses, making it a critical period for compliance.
| Due Date | Compliance Task |
|---|---|
| July 31 | Primary income tax filing deadline in India for individuals & businesses (non-audit cases) for AY 2024-25. |
| August 15 | Issuance of TDS Certificate (Form 16A) for Q1 of FY 2024-25. |
| September 15 | Second installment of Advance Tax for AY 2025-26. |
| September 30 | Due date for filing the tax audit report (for applicable taxpayers) for AY 2024-25. |
| Monthly | Filing of GST returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B) for June, July, and August 2024. |
Q3 (October 2024 – December 2024): Audit and Mid-Year Compliance
The third quarter focuses on deadlines for entities that require a tax audit, such as companies and certain high-turnover businesses. It also includes the third advance tax payment, a key checkpoint for your annual tax liability.
| Due Date | Compliance Task |
|---|---|
| October 31 | Due date for filing ITR for taxpayers requiring an audit (e.g., companies) for AY 2024-25. This is a crucial income tax return date for FY 2025. |
| November 15 | Issuance of TDS Certificate (Form 16A) for Q2 of FY 2024-25. |
| November 30 | Due date for filing ITR for taxpayers involved in specified domestic or international transactions (transfer pricing cases) for AY 2024-25. |
| December 15 | Third installment of Advance Tax for AY 2025-26. |
| Monthly | Filing of GST returns for September, October, and November 2024. |
Q4 (January 2025 – March 2025): Wrapping Up and Tax Planning
The final quarter is all about closing out the financial year strong. It includes the last advance tax payment and, most importantly, the final opportunity to make tax-saving investments to reduce your overall liability for FY 2024-25. This period is especially vital for the salaried individuals tax calendar 2025 as it’s the last chance to optimize tax deductions. You can find detailed instructions in our Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Income Tax Returns for Salaried Individuals in India. The 2025 tax calendar overview for salaried employees highlights March 31st as the non-negotiable deadline for investments.
| Due Date | Compliance Task |
|---|---|
| January 30 | Issuance of quarterly TCS certificates for Q3 of FY 2024-25. |
| February 15 | Issuance of TDS Certificate (Form 16A) for Q3 of FY 2024-25. |
| March 15 | Fourth and final installment of Advance Tax for AY 2025-26. |
| March 31 | Deadline for making tax-saving investments (e.g., ELSS, PPF, NPS, NSC, health insurance premiums) to claim deductions for FY 2024-25. |
| Monthly | Filing of GST returns for December 2024, and January & February 2025. |
A Closer Look at Key Compliances
Understanding the dates is one thing, but knowing the context behind each compliance is what truly empowers you. Here’s a deeper dive into the most important categories.
Income Tax Return (ITR) Filing Deadlines
Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is a mandatory annual process for any individual or entity whose income exceeds the basic exemption limit. It serves as a declaration of your income and taxes paid to the government during a financial year. The due dates for filing vary based on the type of taxpayer. For most individuals, salaried employees, and businesses whose accounts do not require an audit, the deadline is July 31. For companies and other taxpayers who are required to get their accounts audited under the Income Tax Act, the deadline is extended to October 31. Missing these deadlines has serious consequences, including a late filing fee of up to ₹5,000 under Section 234F, interest on any unpaid tax liability, and the inability to carry forward certain business losses to future years. You can file your returns and manage your profile on the official Income Tax India Website.
The TDS Compliance Calendar India
Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) are methods of tax collection designed to collect tax at the very source of income. If you are a business owner making specified payments like salary, rent, professional fees, or commission, you are responsible for deducting tax before making the full payment and depositing it with the government. The TDS compliance calendar India has two primary components. First, the monthly payment of TDS deducted must be deposited by the 7th of the following month (for March, the deadline is April 30). Second, a quarterly return (like Form 26Q or 24Q) must be filed detailing all the deductions made during that quarter. This return is due by the last day of the month following the end of the quarter (e.g., for the April-June quarter, the due date is July 31). Failure to comply can result in interest and penalties.
GST Return Deadlines for Small Businesses
For businesses registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, monthly compliance is a critical operational activity. The two most important returns are GSTR-1, which details all your outward supplies (sales), and GSTR-3B, which is a summary return used for paying your tax liability. For most taxpayers, the due date for GSTR-3B is the 20th of the following month. To ease the compliance burden on smaller businesses (with an annual turnover up to ₹5 crore), the government introduced the QRMP (Quarterly Return Monthly Payment) scheme. Under this scheme, businesses can file their GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B on a quarterly basis while continuing to pay their tax liability monthly. Staying on top of these deadlines is vital, as late filings attract both a fixed late fee and interest on the outstanding tax amount. To master the process, read our guide on How to File GST Returns Online: A Step-by-Step Guide of the GST Filing Process & Procedure. All GST-related activities can be managed through the official GST Portal.
Annual ROC Compliance for Companies
If your small business is structured as a Private Limited Company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), you have additional annual compliance responsibilities with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Understanding What are the ROC Compliance for Private Limited Company? is crucial for maintaining your company’s active status and avoiding significant penalties. These filings are separate from your income tax obligations and are crucial for maintaining your company’s active status and avoiding significant penalties. The two most important annual ROC filings for a company are Form AOC-4, which contains the company’s financial statements (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Account), and Form MGT-7, which is the Annual Return containing details about the company’s directors and shareholders. Both forms must be filed after the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which must be held by September 30. Form AOC-4 is due within 30 days of the AGM, and Form MGT-7 is due within 60 days of the AGM.
Conclusion
Staying compliant with India’s financial regulations is a year-long commitment, but with proper planning and organization, it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. This comprehensive FY 2025 income tax calendar India provides the clarity you need to stay ahead. By tracking the key deadlines for ITR filing, GST returns, TDS payments, and ROC submissions, you can ensure your financial house is always in order. Remember the key dates: July 31 for most ITR filings, the 20th of each month for GST, and the quarterly rhythm for advance tax and TDS returns.
Feeling overwhelmed by these deadlines? Don’t risk penalties. TaxRobo’s team of experts can manage your complete tax and ROC compliance seamlessly. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us handle the complexities for you! Bookmark this FY 2025 income tax calendar to stay on track all year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the penalties for missing the ITR filing deadline in India?
Missing the ITR filing deadline can result in several financial consequences. First, a mandatory late filing fee is levied under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act. This fee is ₹5,000 if your total income exceeds ₹5 lakh. For taxpayers with an income of less than ₹5 lakh, the penalty is ₹1,000. Additionally, if you have any tax liability due, you will be charged interest at 1% per month (or part of a month) on the outstanding amount under Section 234A. Furthermore, a significant disadvantage of late filing is that you lose the ability to carry forward certain losses (e.g., business loss or capital loss) to be set off against income in future years.
2. What is the last date for salaried employees to file their income tax return for FY 2024-25?
For the income earned during the Financial Year 2024-25 (which runs from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025), the relevant Assessment Year is 2025-26. The due date for salaried employees to file their income tax return is July 31, 2025. This deadline applies to all individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) whose accounts are not required to be audited. This is a key date in the salaried individuals tax calendar 2025, and it is advisable to file well before the deadline to avoid last-minute server issues.
3. Who needs to pay Advance Tax?
Advance Tax is a system of paying your income tax liability in installments throughout the financial year instead of as a lump sum at the end. Any individual, whether salaried or a business owner, whose estimated total tax liability for the financial year is ₹10,000 or more is required to pay advance tax. The tax is paid in four installments on or before June 15 (15%), September 15 (45%), December 15 (75%), and March 15 (100% of the total tax liability). Salaried individuals generally do not have to worry about this, as their employer deducts tax at source (TDS), but if you have other significant income sources like capital gains, rental income, or interest, you may need to pay advance tax. For a complete overview, see our guide on Advance Tax Payment: Due Dates, Calculator, Applicability.
4. As a new small business, which are the most critical monthly deadlines I should not miss?
For a new small business, establishing a routine for monthly compliance is paramount to avoiding a backlog of penalties. The two most critical monthly deadlines are GST return filings and TDS payments. For GST, you must file your GSTR-1 (by the 11th) and GSTR-3B (by the 20th) of the following month. Missing these can attract late fees and interest and may impact your GST compliance rating. The second critical deadline is the deposit of any TDS you have deducted. This must be paid to the government by the 7th of the next month. Delays in TDS payment attract mandatory interest, and significant delays can lead to stricter penalties. These two compliances form the backbone of a business’s monthly financial discipline.
