Tax Audit Deadline/ Key Dates, Applicability & Compliance Guide for FY 2024-25:
Among the most crucial compliance deadlines in the Income Tax Calendar 2025, the Tax Audit deadline holds special importance for businesses, professionals, and partnership firms. Key Dates for FY 2024-25
- Tax Audit Report Submission Deadline: 30th September 2025
- Income Tax Return Filing Deadline (for audit cases): 31st October 2025
Timely completion of the tax audit is essential, as Income tax return in audit cases cannot be filed unless the audit report is submitted and accepted on the Income Tax Portal.
What is a Tax Audit?
A Tax Audit is a review of accounts conducted by a Chartered Accountant (CA) to ensure that an assessee has complied with the provisions of the Income Tax Act in reporting income, claiming deductions, and maintaining books of account.
Tax Audit is mandated u/s 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Types of Tax Audits
- Correspondence Audit – Done through letters/emails seeking clarification or documents.
- Office Audit – The assessee is required to visit the tax office with relevant documents.
- Field Audit – A tax officer visits the assessee’s premises or accountant’s office.
Tax Audit Due Date for FY 2024–25
| Particulars | Due Date |
| Submission of Tax Audit Report | 30th September 2025 |
| Filing INCOME TAX RETURN for Audit Cases | 31st October 2025 |
Forms Used in Tax Audit
- Form 3CA: For taxpayers who are already required to get their accounts audited under other laws (e.g., Companies Act).
- Form 3CB: For taxpayers not required to get their accounts audited under any other law.
- Form 3CD: Statement of particulars to be furnished with either of the above.
Who is Required to Get a Tax Audit Done?
Tax Audit for Businesses – U/s 44AB(a)/(e)
| Condition | Applicability |
| Turnover > ₹1 crore | Tax Audit is mandatory |
| Turnover > ₹10 crore (from AY 2021-22) | Only if 95% or more business transactions are digital |
| Opted for Presumptive Taxation (44AD) | No audit if turnover ≤ ₹2 crore and profit ≥ 8% (6% digital) |
| Declared profit < 8%/6% under 44AD | Tax audit mandatory even if turnover < ₹2 crore |
Tax Audit for Professionals – U/s 44AB(b)
| Condition | Applicability |
| Gross receipts > ₹50 lakh | Tax Audit is mandatory |
| Presumptive Scheme (44ADA) with profit ≥ 50% | No audit if receipts ≤ ₹75 lakh (digital) or ₹50 lakh |
| Declared profit < 50% under 44ADA | Tax Audit required |
If a taxpayer’s business or profession meets the criteria u/s 44AB, tax audit compliance is mandatory. With the deadlines of September 30 and October 31, 2025 approaching for FY 2024-25, it’s advisable to initiate audit procedures early, maintain proper records, and coordinate closely with your chartered accountant.
Taxpayers should avoid the last-minute rush during the busy September–October period. Helps in early detection of discrepancies or errors in books. Ensures sufficient time for correction, client verification, and uploading of reports.
Tax Audit Requirement for Partnership Firm- Even with 2% net profit, since turnover is under INR 1 crore and presumptive scheme was never opted.
- Section 44AB (Tax Audit Limit): A tax audit is mandatory if turnover exceeds ₹1 crore (raised to ₹10 crores if cash receipts and payments do not exceed 5%). Since Partnership Firm’s turnover is below ₹1 crore, Section 44AB by itself does not apply.
- Section 44AD (Presumptive Taxation): Eligible assessees (individuals, HUFs, partnership firms other than LLPs) with turnover ≤ ₹2 crores can declare income at 8% (6% for digital receipts). If such assessee declares lower income and total income exceeds the basic exemption limit, audit becomes mandatory. However, this rule applies only if the assessee is eligible and has opted for presumptive taxation in the first place.
- Turnover: Below ₹1 crore. Net profit: 2%. then Firm has never opted for Section 44AD in earlier years. Hence, the clause for compulsory audit under Section 44AD(5) does not trigger.No tax audit is required for your firm in this case, even with 2% net profit, since turnover is under ₹1 crore and presumptive scheme was never opted.
Consequences of Missing Tax Audit Deadline
- Penalty u/s 271B: ₹1,50,000 or 0.5% of total sales/turnover/gross receipts, whichever is lower.
- Loss of business deductions and delay in filing income tax returns.
- Ineligibility for carry forward of losses if the income tax return is not filed by the due date.
Rajput Jain & AssociatesRajput Jain & Associates is a Chartered Accountants firm, with it's headquarter situated at New Delhi (the capital of India). The firm has been set up by a group of young, enthusiastic, highly skilled and motivated professionals who have taken experience from top consulting firms and are extensively experienced in their chosen fields has providing a wide array of Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Assurance and Business advisory services to various clients and their stakeholders.
Rajput jain & Associates, a professional firm, offers its clients a full range of services, To serve better and to bring bucket of services under one roof, the firm has merged with it various Chartered Accountancy firms pioneer in diversified fields.
We have associates all over India in big cities. All our offices are well equipped with latest technological support with updated reference materials. We have a large team of professionals other than our Core Team members to meet the requirements of our prospective clients including the existing ones. However, considering our commitment towards high quality services to our clients, our team keeps on growing with more and more associates having strong professional background with good exposure in the related areas of responsibility.