Income Tax Filing 2025-26: Taxpayers have begun to worry that they should start filing their income tax returns for the fiscal year 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27), as the July 31 deadline is approaching.
However, this isn’t the case this time.
Many taxpayers aren’t aware that the income tax department has introduced a new filing schedule for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, going away from earlier practice of keeping a single deadline for most taxpayers.
For income earned during Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, the last date to file an Income Tax Return (ITR) will now depend on the type of taxpayer and the ITR form being used.
Different deadlines for different taxpayers
Under the revised system announced in Budget 2026, salaried employees, pensioners and individuals filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 must submit their returns by July 31, 2026.
Meanwhile, taxpayers filing ITR-3 or ITR-4, including freelancers, consultants, professionals, proprietors, partners and those opting for presumptive taxation, have been given an additional month. Their deadline is now August 31, 2026, provided they are not liable for a tax audit.
Businesses requiring a tax audit and transfer pricing cases will continue to follow the existing timelines.
| Category of Taxpayer | Applicable ITR Form | Due Date (AY 2026-27) |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried individuals, pensioners and investors | ITR-1, ITR-2 | 31 July 2026 |
| Business/professional taxpayers (not liable for tax audit) | ITR-3, ITR-4 | 31 August 2026 |
| Tax audit cases | Applicable audit ITRs | 31 October 2026 |
| Transfer pricing cases | Applicable ITRs | 30 November 2026 |
| Tax audit report filing | — | 30 September 2026 |
| Belated ITR filing | Applicable ITR | 31 December 2026 |
| Revised ITR filing | Applicable ITR | 31 March 2027 |
More time to correct mistakes
Another major change is the extension of the revised return window. Taxpayers can now revise their ITR until March 31, 2027, instead of the earlier deadline of December 31. This gives individuals extra time to fix reporting errors, update deductions or resolve mismatches in documents such as Form 26AS or the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
However, belated returns can only be filed until December 31, 2026. Late filing may attract a fee of up to Rs 5,000 under Section 234F, along with applicable interest on unpaid tax. Taxpayers should also remember that filing after the due date can restrict certain tax benefits, including the option to choose the old tax regime and the carry forward of specific losses.
