Reviewed by CA & CS Team · Regikart | Last Updated: 6 June 2026 | Reading time: ~9 minutes
| Form / case | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| ITR-1 & ITR-2 | Due 31 July 2026 (salary, pension, capital gains — no business income). |
| ITR-3 & ITR-4, non-audit | Due 31 August 2026 — a new staggered date introduced for AY 2026-27. |
| Audit cases | ITR due 31 October 2026 (audit report by 30 September). |
| Transfer pricing cases | ITR due 30 November 2026. |
| Belated return | Until 31 December 2026; revised return now until 31 March 2027. |
| Governing Act | FY 2025-26 income is still filed under the Income-tax Act, 1961. |
For the first time, your ITR deadline depends on which form you file. Budget 2026 introduced a staggered timeline: simple returns close earlier, business and professional returns get an extra month, and audit cases run later still. This guide tells you which form is yours, which date applies, and the traps that now come with filing late.
The AY 2026-27 deadlines at a glance
| Taxpayer / form | ITR due date | Audit report |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 / ITR-2 (salary, pension, capital gains; no business income) | 31 July 2026 | Not applicable |
| ITR-3 / ITR-4 — non-audit business & profession | 31 August 2026 | Not applicable |
| Audit cases (44AB) | 31 October 2026 | 30 September 2026 |
| Transfer pricing cases | 30 November 2026 | 31 October 2026 |
The FM announced the staggered timeline in the Union Budget on 1 February 2026: ITR-1 and ITR-2 stay at 31 July, while non-audit business cases and trusts move to 31 August.
Which ITR form applies to me?
| Form | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident individuals with total income up to Rs. 50 lakh from salary/pension, house property and other sources (e.g. interest). From AY 2026-27 it now covers up to two house properties. |
| ITR-2 | Individuals and HUFs with capital gains, multiple properties, foreign income/assets, or income above the ITR-1 limits — but with no business or professional income. |
| ITR-3 | Individuals and HUFs with income from business or profession who maintain books of account. |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Resident individuals, HUFs and firms (other than LLPs) opting for presumptive taxation under Sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE, with total income up to Rs. 50 lakh. |
Why filing on time matters more this year
The new regime is the default for AY 2026-27. If you file after your due date, you may be locked out of the old regime and taxed under the new one — losing deductions such as 80C, 80D, HRA and home-loan interest under Section 24(b). For anyone who relies on those deductions, the deadline is not just about a late fee.
Beyond the regime lock-in, timely filing lets you: claim all eligible deductions; carry forward business, capital and house-property losses; avoid the late fee under Section 234F; reduce interest under Sections 234A/B/C; and get faster refunds.
What if you miss your deadline?
- Belated return: you can still file until 31 December 2026 under Section 139(4), with a late fee and interest on unpaid tax.
- Late fee (Section 234F; Section 428 under the new Act): Rs. 5,000, reduced to Rs. 1,000 if total income does not exceed Rs. 5 lakh.
- Revised return: the deadline has been extended to 31 March 2027 (from 31 December), subject to applicable rules.
- Lost benefits: business and capital losses cannot be carried forward if the original return is filed late.
A point of confusion: the new Income-tax Act, 2025
The Income-tax Act, 2025 took effect on 1 April 2026, but it applies to income earned from that date — Tax Year 2026-27 onwards. Your return for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) covers income earned up to 31 March 2026 and is therefore still filed under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The deadlines above relate to this assessment year. The new Act’s framework will govern the returns you file in 2027.
How ITR filing connects to your other documents
Your ITR is built from Form 16 (salary TDS), Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (TDS and high-value transactions), and your advance-tax challans. Filed on incometax.gov.in by the date applicable to your form, the return reconciles everything you earned and every rupee of tax already paid. A clean Form 16 and a reconciled 26AS make the July or August deadline far easier to meet.
Key takeaways
- ITR-1/2 are due 31 July 2026; ITR-3/4 non-audit are due 31 August 2026.
- Audit cases file by 31 October; transfer pricing by 30 November.
- Pick the right form — ITR-1 now covers two house properties.
- The new regime is default; filing late can cost you the old regime and your deductions.
- Belated return until 31 December 2026; revised return until 31 March 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ITR deadline 31 July or 31 August for AY 2026-27?
Both, depending on your form. ITR-1 and ITR-2 are due 31 July 2026; ITR-3 and ITR-4 (non-audit) are due 31 August 2026.
Which ITR form should a salaried person use?
Usually ITR-1 (Sahaj) if total income is up to Rs. 50 lakh from salary, house property and other sources, or ITR-2 if there are capital gains or income above the ITR-1 limits.
What is the penalty for filing ITR late?
A late fee under Section 234F of Rs. 5,000, reduced to Rs. 1,000 if total income does not exceed Rs. 5 lakh, plus interest on any unpaid tax.
Can I still file after the due date?
Yes, a belated return can be filed until 31 December 2026 with a late fee and interest. A revised return can be filed until 31 March 2027.
Will I lose the old regime if I file late?
Possibly. The new regime is the default for AY 2026-27, and a late return can mean you are taxed under the new regime without the old-regime deductions.
Do I file FY 2025-26 under the old Act or the new Income-tax Act, 2025?
Under the old Income-tax Act, 1961. The new Act applies to income from 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27), which you will file in 2027.
ITR ki last date kya hai AY 2026-27 ke liye?
ITR-1 aur ITR-2 ke liye 31 July 2026, aur ITR-3 aur ITR-4 (non-audit) ke liye 31 August 2026 hai.
Can ITR-1 be used for two house properties now?
Yes. From AY 2026-27, ITR-1 (Sahaj) can report income from up to two house properties, where earlier more than one required ITR-2.
Need help filing the right ITR on time?
Choosing the correct form and regime — and reconciling Form 16, 26AS and AIS before the deadline — is where most filing errors and lost deductions happen. Regikart’s CA & CS team handles ITR filing across salaried, business and professional profiles. Reach us at +91 70444 94804 or [email protected].
Related reading: see the Form 16 guide for FY 2025-26 at /blog/form-16-fy-2025-26 and the Tax Audit guide for AY 2026-27 at /blog/tax-audit-section-44ab-ay-2026-27.
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CA & CS Team
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