Income Tax Return Filing

Deadlines for AY 2026-27

Filing late is not just a penalty. You lose the ability to carry forward business and capital losses to future years, and interest runs on any tax outstanding. For a business with a loss year, that carry-forward is often worth far more than the penalty itself.

Dates, fees and form numbers on this page were checked on 5 September 2026. Government timelines change; if you are reading this much later, confirm with us before you rely on it.

The two decisions that actually change your tax

Which form. Filing on the wrong ITR form gets the return treated as defective, and you are back at the start with less time. Salary alone is not the same as salary plus capital gains, which is not the same as presumptive business income. Getting this right at the outset avoids the whole cycle.

Which regime. The new regime is the default and wins for most people with few deductions. The old regime pulls ahead only when you genuinely claim — 80C, 80D, home loan interest, HRA. This is worth computing rather than guessing, and it is worth knowing that salaried people can choose each year while those with business income are far more restricted once they have switched.

You can compare both on our income tax calculator before you decide.

What we need

• PAN and Aadhaar, and a bank account for any refund
• Form 16 if salaried; for business, the books or at least a clean summary of receipts and expenses
• Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement — we reconcile against these, because mismatches here are the most common trigger for a notice
• Proof for any deduction you want claimed. Claiming without documentation is a problem deferred, not avoided
• Details of capital gains, other income, and foreign assets if any

Common questions