India's July 31 2026 Income Tax Return Deadline
The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for Assessment Year 2026‑27 in India is July 31, 2026. The Income Tax Department’s e‑filing portal is equipped to handle up to one crore returns in a single day and recorded nearly 99 lakh daily logins during peak periods. As of July 31, more than 5.5 crore returns had been filed, with over 4.37 crore filed by July 27.
The government has given no indication of extending the July 31 deadline. Taxpayers filing ITR‑3 and ITR‑4 (business or professional income not subject to audit) already have an extended deadline of August 31, 2026; the July 31 date mainly applies to individuals filing ITR‑1 and ITR‑2.
Late filing attracts penalties: Rs 1,000 for taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5,000 for those earning above Rs 5 lakh, plus interest on any unpaid tax at 1 % per month from the deadline until the return is filed. Experts warn that missing the deadline can also forfeit tax‑benefit options such as loss carry‑forward and the choice of the old tax regime.
Entities: Finance Ministry (India) · Finance Ministry of India · Gaurav Makhijani · Income Tax Department (India) · India · Indian taxpayers · e‑filing portal
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Indian government has not announced any extension of the July 31 deadline. (Finance Ministry)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for Assessment Year 2026-27 is July 31, 2026. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Income Tax Department's e‑filing portal can process up to 1 crore returns in a single day. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Over 4.37 crore returns had been filed by July 27, 2026. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 5.5 crore ITRs have been filed for AY 2026‑27 as of July 31, 2026. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The portal recorded nearly 99 lakh daily logins during peak filing periods. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Taxpayers filing ITR‑3 and ITR‑4 have an extended deadline of August 31, 2026. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Late filing fee is Rs 1,000 for taxpayers with income up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5,000 for those earning above Rs 5 lakh. (article)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Interest on unpaid tax accrues at 1 % per month from the deadline until the return is filed. (article)