What changed
2026-08-28 04:05 UTC → 2026-08-29 06:48 UTC ·
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The 2026 filing season peaked during the week of 8–14 July, with the e-Filing portal processing more than 47 million returns. Following As the August 31 July deadline for individual taxpayers, salaried employees, non-audit taxpayers approaches, specific details regarding late filings and pensioners—at which point more than 5.9 crore returns had been filed—the government confirmed an extension for penalties have become clear. This deadline applies to individuals with business and or professional filers income, such as freelancers, consultants, and self-employed professionals, as well as those utilizing presumptive taxation schemes whose accounts are do not subject to require a mandatory audit. This extension sets Taxpayers requiring a new deadline of 31 August 2026 for ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5, and ITR-7 returns under presumptive taxation schemes (Sections 44AD, 44ADA, 44AE). Audited entities must still tax audit generally have until October 31, 2026, to file by 31 October, and transfer-pricing cases returns, with the Tax Audit Report due by 30 November. As September 30, 2026. For those who miss the August deadline approaches, the Income Tax Department has issued reminders to non-audit category taxpayers, including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) 31 cutoff, a belated return can be filed until December 31, 2026. However, late-filing fees under Section 234F may apply: typically ₹5,000 for individuals with proprietary business income, firms, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), cooperative societies, income exceeding ₹5 lakh, and charitable trusts. By 20 August 2026, total filings ₹1,000 for the assessment year exceeded 65 million, including over 20 million filings under ITR-3 and ITR-4. To assist with the approaching deadline, the Income Tax Department announced those below that e-filing support services would be available 24 hours threshold. Missing the deadline does not preclude a day taxpayer from 24 to 31 August. The department continues to warn of potential technical issues, last-minute congestion, and late fees. Regarding compliance, chartered accountant Rajendra Sharma highlighted concerns that AI-assisted ITR filings may trigger tax notices. The department maintains that responding to post-filing notices via claiming an eligible refund, provided the portal return is mandatory to avoid penalties of up to ₹10,000 and best-judgment assessments. By late August, the Department issued further reminders for non-audit taxpayers—including freelancers, consultants, and small business owners—to meet the August 31 deadline. Taxpayers must select between ITR-3 for complex requirements or foreign assets, filed and ITR-4 for simplified presumptive taxation. Experts advise reconciling filings with verified within the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, and GST records to prevent tax demand notices. permitted period.