India Extends 2026-27 Income Tax Return Deadline to August 31 for Business Filers

The July 31, 2026 deadline for filing income‑tax returns (ITR) for Assessment Year 2026‑27 applied to individual taxpayers, salaried employees, pensioners, Hindu Undivided Families and other non‑audit filers. More than 5.9 crore returns were filed by that date, after which the deadline closed for this group.

For taxpayers with business or professional income whose accounts are not subject to a tax audit, the government has set a new deadline of August 31, 2026. This includes eligible small businesses and professionals using presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE, who file ITR‑3 or ITR‑4. Taxpayers whose accounts require an audit must file by October 31, 2026, while those under transfer‑pricing rules have until November 30, 2026.

The Income Tax Department also allows revised (re‑filed) returns under Section 139(5) for taxpayers who discover errors after filing a return before the original deadline. Late filing may attract a penalty of up to ₹5,000 and interest on unpaid tax. Notices issued after filing must be responded to through the e‑filing portal, with non‑response potentially leading to penalties of ₹10,000 and best‑judgment assessments.