Chartered Accountants seek extension for India tax audit deadline

Chartered Accountants in India are seeking an extension for the tax audit report filing deadline for Assessment Year 2026-27. The Maharshi Bharadwaj Chartered Accountants’ Association has formally requested the Union Finance Minister to push the current 30 September 2026 deadline to 31 October 2026.

Professional associations argue that the compliance window has been compressed due to the introduction of a 31 August deadline for non-audit business returns. Additionally, they cite the delayed release of essential e-filing portal utilities and ITR forms—such as ITR-6, which became available in August 2026—as factors that have reduced the effective time available for audit preparation.

Representatives highlight the increased complexity of modern tax-audit reporting, which now requires reconciliation across various platforms including GST records, AIS, and TDS/TCS records. While the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has not yet issued a notification for an extension, practitioners are being advised to plan according to the existing statutory deadlines: 30 September 2026 for tax audit reports and 31 October 2026 for income tax returns.