ITR Filing for AY 2026-27 Begins: Important Deadlines & Penalties Announced
The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season for Assessment Year 2026-27 has officially started, with the government announcing category-wise deadlines for taxpayers.
Salaried employees and pensioners filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 must submit returns by July 31, 2026, while freelancers, professionals, and small businesses filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 without audit requirements have time till August 31, 2026.
Businesses requiring tax audits can file returns till October 31, 2026, and companies involved in international transactions have time till November 30, 2026.
The government has also fixed December 31, 2026, as the deadline for belated returns and March 31, 2027, for revised returns.
Tax experts advise taxpayers to file early to avoid portal congestion, technical issues, and delays in refund processing. Missing the due date may attract penalties of up to ₹5,000 along with interest charges under the Income Tax Act.
