Guide covers due dates for ITR, TRA & Belated ITR for tax year 2026-27

Income Tax Due Dates & Return of Income (AY 2026-27 / TY 2026-27): Complete Compliance Guide

Timely filing of Income Tax Returns (ITR) and compliance with audit requirements are crucial for taxpayers to avoid penalties, interest, and other adverse consequences under the Income Tax Act. With different due dates applicable to different categories of taxpayers, understanding the compliance calendar is essential for businesses, professionals, companies, firms, and individual taxpayers.

This comprehensive guide covers the important due dates for filing Income Tax Returns, Tax Audit Reports, and Belated Returns for assessment year (AY) 2026-27 and tax year (TY) 2026-27.

1. Due Date for Filing Original Income Tax Return (ITR)

The due date for filing the original return depends upon the category of taxpayer and the applicability of audit provisions.

A. Transfer Pricing (TP) Audit Cases

This category includes taxpayers who are required to furnish a report under Section 92E relating to international transactions or specified domestic transactions.

Due Date

Who is Covered?

• Companies having international transactions with associated enterprises.
• Taxpayers entering into specified domestic transactions covered under transfer pricing provisions.
• Multinational group entities having transfer pricing compliance requirements.

B. Companies (Other Than TP Audit Cases)

Due Date

C. Audit Cases (Other Than Companies)

Applicable where accounts are required to be audited under the Income-tax Act or any other law.

Due Date

Examples

• Proprietorship businesses covered under tax audit.
• Professional firms subject to audit.
• LLPs requiring audit.
• Trusts and institutions requiring audit under applicable laws.

D. Partners of Audited Firms

Where a firm is required to get its accounts audited, the due date applicable to partners is aligned with the audited entity.

Due Date

Applicable To

• Partners of partnership firms.
• Partners of LLPs whose accounts are audited.

E. Business and Professional Taxpayers Not Subject to Audit

This category consists of taxpayers having income under the head "Profits and Gains of Business or Profession" whose accounts are not required to be audited.

Due Date

This category generally includes salaried individuals and taxpayers not covered under the above categories.

Due Date

2. Due Date for Submission of Tax Audit Report

Taxpayers covered under audit provisions must furnish the tax audit report before filing the income tax return.

A. Persons Required to Get Accounts Audited Under Any Law

Due Date

Applicable Forms : Form 3CA & Form 3CD

Penalty for Delay

B. Persons Not Required to Get Accounts Audited Under Any Other Law

Due Date

Applicable Forms

• Form 3CB
• Form 3CD

Examples

• Proprietorship concerns.
• Professionals covered under tax audit but not under any separate statutory audit requirement.

Penalty for Delay

3. Due Date for Filing Belated Return

A taxpayer who fails to file the original return within the prescribed due date can still file a belated return.

Assessment Year 2026-27

Due Date : 31 December 2026

Late Filing Fee under Section 234F

Tax Year 2026-27

Due Date : 31 December 2027

Late Filing Fee

Consequences of Missing the Due Date

Failure to file the return within the prescribed due date may result in:

• Late filing fee under Section 234F.
• Interest liability under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C.
• Delay in refund processing.
• Inability to carry forward certain losses.
• Increased scrutiny and compliance challenges.

Therefore, taxpayers should ensure timely filing even when taxes have already been paid through TDS or advance tax.

Quick Reference Compliance Calendar

Conclusion

The income tax compliance calendar for AY 2026-27 and TY 2026-27 provides different filing deadlines based on the nature of the taxpayer and the applicability of audit provisions. While salaried taxpayers generally have time until 31 July, business taxpayers without audit requirements can file up to 31 August, audit cases until 31 October, and transfer pricing cases up to 30 November.

Given the increasing focus on digital compliance and data analytics by the tax department, taxpayers should not wait until the last date. Timely filing of returns, tax audit reports, and related forms helps avoid penalties, protects the right to carry forward losses, ensures faster refunds, and promotes smooth tax compliance.