by Every year, as tax season approaches, millions of Indians undergo a strange transformation. From responsible, law-abiding citizens, we morph into expert storytellers—spinning tales more dramatic than a daily soap opera. Because let’s admit it: filing taxes on time requires planning, paperwork, and remembering passwords—a nearly impossible trifecta.
So, rather than actually getting it done, we embrace our national pastime: making excuses.
Here’s a laugh-worthy collection of the most common (and oddly relatable) excuses Indians make for not filing their Income Tax Returns (ITR) on time—and why some of them deserve either an award or a sarcastic standing ovation.
1. “I thought the deadline was next month!”
Ah yes, the infamous calendar confusion. Somehow, people believe the Income Tax Department adjusts deadlines like cricket fixtures.
“Yaar, mujhe laga 31st September tak hai!”
Reality Check: For most individuals, the deadline is 31st July, unless specifically extended. Indian weddings may run late—the IT department doesn’t.
2. “My consultant went off the grid!”
Suddenly, everyone’s consultant is either trekking in the Himalayas, stuck in traffic, or mysteriously unreachable due to “server downtime.”
Translation: “Mujhe khud karna tha… par mann nahi tha.”
Reality Check: If your CA is genuinely unavailable, that’s unfortunate. But remember, the income tax portal is user-friendly, and DIY is possible with a bit of patience.
3. “Aadhaar-PAN linking issue, yaar!”
This one’s become our unofficial national excuse. Either the Aadhaar wasn’t linked, or it was—but never updated correctly.
“System ne hi accept hi nahi kiya, maine toh kiya tha!”
Reality Check: You had 12 full months to get this done. Trying it two hours before the deadline doesn’t count as a sincere effort.
4. “I forgot my password… and email… and phone number!”
Welcome to the era of digital amnesia. You remember your Instagram login but not the income tax portal credentials?
Priorities, clearly.
Reality Check: Reset your password well in advance. And remember—your PAN is your user ID, not your cousin’s birthday.
5. “Haven’t received my Form 16 yet.”
This one’s a favorite. People claim they’re “waiting” for Form 16 like it’s a lost courier package.
Employer: “We sent it two months ago.”
You: “Oh… I didn’t check that email.”
Reality Check: Check your spam folder, the HR WhatsApp group, or even that Yahoo account you made in college.
6. “I don’t earn much, so what’s the point?”
This philosophical excuse goes like, “Mere paas paisa hi nahi hai, toh file kyu karun?”
Reality Check:
- Filing helps build your financial record
- It’s needed for loans, visas, and credit cards
- And guess what? You might be eligible for a refund
So yes—there is a point.
7. “The website crashed!”
Another national sport: logging in at 11:59 PM on the last day, getting stuck, and then blaming the portal.
“Maine kiya tha… par website hi nahi chal rahi thi.”
Reality Check: The portal does slow down near the deadline. Maybe skip the memes and log in a few days early next year?
8. “My cat was sick.” (Yes, really.)
Believe it or not, someone actually used this excuse.
Honorable Mentions:
- “My dog ran away with my PAN card.”
- “Wi-Fi stopped working only during ITR filing.”
- “My laptop crashed just at that time.”
Reality Check: This isn’t school. You’re not submitting homework, and the Income Tax Department isn’t your class teacher.
9. “My employer already deducted TDS—isn’t that enough?”
Another widespread myth. Many salaried individuals think TDS means they don’t have to file at all.
Truth: You still need to file, especially if you want a refund or if your tax liability differs.
Reality Check: Blindly trusting HR is like believing a gym membership alone will help you lose weight. Effort is still required.
10. “They always extend the deadline anyway!”
Some people treat the extension like Mumbai monsoons—always expected.
Yes, sometimes the deadline is extended (hello COVID years), but that’s not guaranteed.
Reality Check: If your entire tax strategy depends on government leniency, it may be time to revisit your financial planning approach.
📉 What’s the Real Cost of These Excuses?
While these excuses might get a few laughs, the consequences aren’t funny:
✅ Penalty of up to ₹5,000 (Section 234F)
✅ Interest on pending tax
✅ Delayed refunds
✅ Trouble with loans, visas, or credit applications
✅ Potential legal notices (they’re not festive greetings)
💡 Let’s Flip the Script
We all procrastinate—it’s human. But maybe this year, let’s do the unexpected: file on time.
No blaming the pet. No hunting for passwords last minute. No “last day, last hour” thrill.
Filing early feels like arriving at a wedding buffet before the food gets cold. Satisfying, stress-free, and deeply enjoyable.
🧾 Final Thoughts
We joke about taxes because they stress us out—and laughter helps. But avoiding your responsibilities doesn’t make them disappear. The earlier you accept that tax filing is just a part of adulting (like chai and electricity bills), the smoother your life becomes.
So, go ahead—file first, joke later.
📢 Disclaimer:
This blog is written purely for humor and awareness. The excuses mentioned are based on popular habits and relatable anecdotes.
We strongly recommend that all individuals comply with tax laws and file their returns on time.
For any tax-related guidance, always consult a Licensed/Registered CA or tax advisor.
Excuses may be funny, but penalties are not.
