ITR, Passport and Aadhaar: July updates

• Taxpayers must file ITR by 31 July 2026 to avoid penalties.
• Passport fees rise from 1 July, with adult booklets costing Rs 2,500.
• UIDAI waives email update fees via the app until 31 December 2026.

As July begins, a series of important updates to financial and administrative rules will affect millions of Indians. From tax filing deadlines to the cost of a new passport, it’s crucial to stay informed. Here’s a breakdown of what changes.

The Annual ITR Filing Deadline Looms

July is a critical month for taxpayers, with the most significant deadline falling on July 31, 2026. This is the last day for salaried individuals, pensioners, and those with income from other sources like capital gains or house property to file their Income Tax Return (ITR) for the Financial Year 2025-26. These taxpayers typically use forms ITR-1 or ITR-2. Missing this deadline has direct financial consequences. A late filing fee of up to ₹5,000 may be levied for those with a total income exceeding ₹5 lakh. For those with income below that threshold, the penalty is ₹1,000. Beyond the penalty, late filers lose the ability to carry forward certain losses, such as capital losses, to offset against income in future years. While a belated return can be filed until December 31, 2026, doing so comes with these financial drawbacks. It's important to note that taxpayers with business income not subject to an audit have a slightly later deadline of August 31, 2026. However, for the vast majority of individual taxpayers, the July 31 date is the one to mark in red on the calendar.

Passport Fees Increase Substantially

If you plan to apply for a new passport or renew your existing one, be prepared to pay more from July 1, 2026. The Ministry of External Affairs has implemented the first major revision of passport fees in over a decade, and the increase is significant across the board. The fee for a standard 36-page fresh or re-issued passport for an adult has been increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500. For those who prefer a jumbo booklet with 60 pages, the cost has risen from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. The Tatkal service, which expedites the process, also sees a steep hike. A 36-page Tatkal passport will now cost ₹5,000, up from ₹3,500. Similar increases apply to replacing a lost or damaged passport and for passports for minors. For example, a minor's 36-page passport now costs ₹1,750 instead of ₹1,000. This fee revision impacts all applications submitted from July 1 onwards, both in India and at embassies abroad. Anyone needing passport services in the near future should account for these new, higher charges.

Aadhaar: A New Free Service Begins

While there was concern about a deadline for free Aadhaar document updates, the government has provided significant relief. The deadline to update your Proof of Identity (PoI) and Proof of Address (PoA) documents online for free via the myAadhaar portal has been extended by a full year to June 14, 2027. UIDAI encourages residents to update their documents every 10 years to ensure their data is current. However, July does bring a new, helpful change. Starting July 1, 2026, UIDAI is waiving the fee for updating the email address linked to your Aadhaar. This service will be free of cost until December 31, 2026, but it must be done through the official Aadhaar mobile application. Normally, any demographic update like an email address change at an Aadhaar centre would cost ₹75. This six-month window offers a convenient, no-cost opportunity to ensure your email ID is correctly linked to your Aadhaar, which is essential for receiving official communications and authenticating online services.