In this guide · 9 sections
Missing an income tax deadline costs money — a late fee, interest, and sometimes the loss of tax benefits. Here is every due date you need for FY 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27), the year that ended on 31 March 2026.
New law: the Income-tax Act, 2025 replaces the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026. Returns for FY 2025-26 are still filed under the old Act. From the next year, the new Act uses a single "tax year" in place of "previous year" and "assessment year".
ITR due dates for FY 2025-26
| Taxpayer | Due date |
|---|---|
| Individuals and HUFs not needing audit (salaried, pensioners, small business, freelancers) | 31 July 2026 |
| Businesses and professionals needing a tax audit | 31 October 2026 |
| Companies | 31 October 2026 |
| Partners of firms that need an audit | 31 October 2026 |
| Taxpayers with international or specified domestic transactions (transfer pricing) | 30 November 2026 |
The government sometimes extends these dates. Don't plan on an extension — file early.
Tax audit and other reports
| Report | Due date |
|---|---|
| Tax audit report (Form 3CA/3CB-3CD) | 30 September 2026 |
| Transfer pricing report (Form 3CEB) | 31 October 2026 |
A tax audit is generally needed if business turnover exceeds ₹1 crore — or ₹10 crore if cash receipts and payments are each within 5% — or professional receipts exceed ₹50 lakh.
Missed the date? Your options
| Option | Deadline | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Belated return | 31 December 2026 | Late fee up to ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh) |
| Revised return | 31 December 2026 | No fee — for correcting a filed return |
| Updated return (ITR-U) | Within 4 years from the end of the assessment year | Additional tax of 25%–70% of the tax and interest, depending on delay |
A belated return also means you cannot carry forward most business and capital losses, and interest of 1% per month applies on unpaid tax.
Late fee and interest
- Section 234F late fee: ₹5,000 for filing after the due date, reduced to ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh.
- Section 234A interest: 1% per month on unpaid tax from the due date until filing.
- Sections 234B and 234C: interest for not paying, or under-paying, advance tax.
Advance tax dates
If your tax for the year, after TDS, is ₹10,000 or more, you must pay advance tax in instalments:
| Due date | Cumulative tax to pay |
|---|---|
| 15 June | 15% |
| 15 September | 45% |
| 15 December | 75% |
| 15 March | 100% |
Taxpayers under presumptive taxation (Sections 44AD and 44ADA) can pay the full amount by 15 March. Salaried people with no other significant income are usually covered by TDS.
Which ITR form do you need?
| Form | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident individuals with salary, one or two house properties and other income up to ₹50 lakh, including limited capital gains under Section 112A |
| ITR-2 | Individuals and HUFs with capital gains, more than two house properties, or foreign income — but no business income |
| ITR-3 | Individuals and HUFs with business or professional income |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Residents using presumptive taxation with income up to ₹50 lakh |
| ITR-5 | Firms, LLPs and associations |
| ITR-6 | Companies |
Old or new tax regime?
The new regime is the default. For FY 2025-26, income up to ₹12 lakh is effectively tax-free for residents because of the Section 87A rebate — ₹12.75 lakh for salaried people after the ₹75,000 standard deduction.
The old regime can still be better if you claim large deductions such as home loan interest, 80C investments, HRA and 80D. Compare both before filing. Salaried people can choose each year; those with business income have limited switches.
A simple filing checklist
- Download your AIS and Form 26AS and check every entry.
- Collect Form 16, interest certificates, capital gains statements and rent or loan details.
- Compare the old and new regimes.
- File the return and e-verify it within 30 days — an unverified return is treated as not filed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to file ITR for FY 2025-26?
31 July 2026 for individuals not needing an audit, and 31 October 2026 for audit cases and companies, unless the government extends it.
Can I file ITR after the due date?
Yes. A belated return can be filed until 31 December 2026 with a late fee. After that, an updated return (ITR-U) is possible with additional tax.
Is filing compulsory if my income is below the taxable limit?
Not always, but it is required in some cases — for example, high-value deposits, large foreign travel spending or high electricity bills — and it helps with refunds, loans and visas.
What changes under the Income-tax Act, 2025?
The new Act applies from 1 April 2026. It simplifies the language and replaces the previous year/assessment year concept with a single tax year. Most rates and rules carry over. FY 2025-26 returns follow the old Act.
