ITR Filing Deadline August 2026: The income tax return filing deadline is not the same for every taxpayer for the assessment year (AY) 2026-27. While salaried individuals and most taxpayers filing ITR-1
or ITR-2 had to file their returns by July 31, 2026, taxpayers with business or professional income who are not required to get their accounts audited have time till August 31.
The income tax department has also reminded non-audit business and professional taxpayers to complete their filing before the due date.
The extension is part of the changes introduced for the 2026 tax-filing cycle. In the Union Budget 2026-27, the government extended the deadline for non-audit business cases and trusts from July 31 (previous years) to August 31 this year onwards to give taxpayers more time to prepare their books and complete the required compliances.
So far, a total of 6.95 crore ITRs have been filed, according to the latest data available on the e-filing portal. Out of these, 5.39 crore returns have been processed.
ITR filing deadline: Who has to file by August 31?
The August 31 deadline primarily applies to taxpayers whose income includes business or professional income and who are not subject to a tax audit. This includes eligible individuals running businesses, freelancers, consultants, professionals, proprietors and other taxpayers whose accounts do not have to be audited under the income tax provisions.
Depending on their income and method of taxation, individuals with business or professional income may generally have to file ITR-3 or ITR-4.
ITR-3 is applicable to individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) having income from business or profession who are not eligible to use ITR-4. ITR-4, also known as Sugam, is available to eligible resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs who meet the prescribed conditions and opt for presumptive taxation under sections such as 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE.
The August 31 deadline also covers eligible firms, LLPs and certain trusts/non-audit entities falling under the relevant return-filing provisions. The Budget 2026 changes specifically extended the due date for non-audit business cases and trusts to August 31.
Who does not have to file by August 31?
Not every individual taxpayer gets the August 31 deadline. Salaried employees, pensioners and other individuals who are required to file ITR-1 or ITR-2 generally had a July 31, 2026, due date. That deadline has already passed for AY 2026-27.
Similarly, taxpayers whose accounts are required to undergo a tax audit get a later deadline. For AY 2026-27, the tax audit report is due by September 30, 2026, while the corresponding ITR filing deadline for audit cases is generally October 31, 2026. Taxpayers covered by transfer-pricing provisions have a later return-filing deadline of November 30.
ITR deadlines for AY 2026-27
Salaried individuals and other taxpayers filing ITR-1/ITR-2: July 31, 2026
- Business/professional taxpayers not subject to audit: August 31, 2026
- Eligible non-audit firms/trusts and other applicable entities: August 31, 2026
- Tax audit report: September 30, 2026
- Taxpayers whose accounts are subject to audit: October 31, 2026
- Transfer-pricing cases: November 30, 2026
Audit vs non-audit: What is the difference?
Under the tax-audit rules, a business generally requires an audit if its total sales, turnover or gross receipts exceed Rs 1 crore. However, the threshold can go up to Rs 10 crore where cash receipts and cash payments do not exceed the prescribed 5% limit.
For professionals, the general tax-audit threshold is Rs 50 lakh in gross receipts. Certain taxpayers who opt out of presumptive taxation or declare income below the prescribed presumptive limits can also become liable for audit.
Therefore, turnover alone is not always enough to determine whether a taxpayer falls under the audit category. The nature of income, cash transactions, presumptive taxation and other applicable conditions also need to be considered.
ITR-3 vs ITR-4: Which form applies?
One of the most important decisions for a taxpayer filing by August 31 is selecting the correct ITR form. ITR-3 is generally used by individuals and HUFs earning income from business or profession who do not qualify for ITR-4.
ITR-4 is meant for eligible taxpayers opting for the presumptive taxation schemes under sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE. The income tax department says ITR-4 can generally be filed by a resident individual, HUF or firm other than an LLP, subject to the prescribed conditions, including the Rs 50 lakh total-income limit.
For example, a freelancer eligible for presumptive taxation under Section 44ADA may be able to use ITR-4. A business owner using Section 44AD may also qualify for ITR-4 if all the conditions are met.
However, taxpayers with income or transactions outside the eligibility conditions may need to use ITR-3 instead.
