Published: April 1, 2026 | Updated: April 15, 2026 | By CA V. Viswanathan, FCA, ACS, CFE, IBBI RV

ITR Filing Tax Year 2026-27 — Due Dates, Forms, Procedure and E-Filing Guide

Last Updated: 15 April 2026  |  Applicable From: Tax Year 2026-27 (1 April 2026 onwards)  |  Reference: Income-tax Act, 2025 (30 of 2025), as amended by Finance Act, 2026

The return-filing season for tax year 2026-27 is historically significant. It is the first cycle under the Income-tax Act, 2025 (30 of 2025) — which received Presidential assent on 21 August 2025 and commenced unconditionally on 1 April 2026, replacing the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) that had governed Indian direct tax for 65 years. Every salaried professional, business owner, HUF karta, firm partner, company CFO, trustee and non-resident earning Indian source income must recalibrate their filing calendar, form selection logic and regime-choice strategy to the new Act. This guide walks through every step — who must file, which form to pick, what the revised due dates are, how e-filing and verification work, what the penalty consequences of delay are, and how the extended 48-month updated-return window changes compliance planning. It is written for tax year 2026-27, runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, and must be filed in the months that follow.

Definition — Tax year (under the Income-tax Act, 2025): The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaces the dual concept of “previous year” and “assessment year” used under the 1961 Act with a single concept — the tax year. A tax year is a uniform 12-month period from 1 April to 31 March. Income earned in a tax year is assessed under the Act as in force during that tax year. The first tax year under the 2025 Act is tax year 2026-27 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027). Where the Act refers to a tax year commencing on 1 April 2025 or earlier, that reference is construed as the corresponding previous year under the repealed 1961 Act.

Featured Answer — What is the ITR filing due date for tax year 2026-27?

Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, the return for tax year 2026-27 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) is due as follows. Non-audit taxpayers — individuals, HUFs, salaried employees, pensioners, small traders not covered by tax audit — must file by 31 July 2027. Audit taxpayers — including all companies, LLPs and partnership firms whose accounts must be audited, and individuals/HUFs whose turnover crosses the audit threshold — must file by 31 October 2027. Transfer-pricing taxpayers — those who must furnish the report in Form 3CEB for international or specified domestic transactions — must file by 30 November 2027. A belated or revised return can be filed up to 31 December 2027. An updated return (ITR-U equivalent) can be filed within 48 months from the end of tax year 2026-27 — that is, up to 31 March 2031 — with graduated additional tax from 25% to 70%.

Table of Contents

  1. Who Must File a Return for Tax Year 2026-27
  2. Due Dates for Tax Year 2026-27
  3. ITR Form Selection — ITR-1 to ITR-7
  4. Mandatory E-Filing and Exceptions
  5. Pre-Filled Returns, AIS and TIS
  6. Regime Selection — New Default vs Old Opt-Out
  7. Return Verification Methods
  8. Consequences of Late or Non-Filing
  9. Belated, Revised and Updated Returns
  10. Worked Example — A Salaried Professional
  11. Expert Insight
  12. Key Takeaways
  13. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who Must File a Return for Tax Year 2026-27

Chapter XV of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (the return-of-income chapter) retains the 1961 Act architecture of mandatory return filing. There are two independent bases — the income-threshold test and the transaction-threshold test. If either test is met, return filing is compulsory.

Income-threshold test

Filing is mandatory if gross total income before deductions for tax year 2026-27 exceeds the basic exemption limit. Under the new regime (default), this limit is ₹4,00,000. Under the old regime (available by opting out), the limit is ₹2,50,000 for individuals below 60, ₹3,00,000 for senior citizens (60–80) and ₹5,00,000 for super-senior citizens (80+). Note the phrase before deductions: if your salary is ₹7,00,000 and you claim ₹1,50,000 under the Sec 80C-equivalent of the 2025 Act in the old regime, your gross total income is ₹7,00,000 and filing is required. Many first-time filers misread this.

Transaction-threshold test

Irrespective of income level, return filing is compulsory where any of the following applies in tax year 2026-27:

The transaction test is designed to catch high-value financial activity even where the taxpayer reports low income. It is enforced through the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and the Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) reported by banks, registrars, sub-registrars and other specified entities.

2. Due Dates for Tax Year 2026-27

The due-date architecture under the 2025 Act carries forward the three-tier structure of the 1961 Act, re-expressed in tax-year terminology. Tax year 2026-27 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Returns are filed in the 8 months that follow.

Category of Taxpayer Due Date for Tax Year 2026-27 Relevant Form
Individuals, HUFs, AOPs, BOIs — non-audit 31 July 2027 ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4
Tax-audit cases (individuals, HUFs, firms, LLPs) 31 October 2027 ITR-3, ITR-5
All companies (whether or not they need tax audit) 31 October 2027 ITR-6 (or ITR-7 if exempt)
Transfer-pricing cases (Form 3CEB required) 30 November 2027 ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6
Belated return (late filing) 31 December 2027 Same ITR form as original
Revised return 31 December 2027 Same ITR form as original
Updated return (ITR-U equivalent) Up to 31 March 2031 (48 months from end of tax year) ITR-U

The 48-month updated-return window is a key change introduced by the Finance Act, 2025 and carried into the 2025 Act — previously it was 24 months. It significantly broadens the voluntary-disclosure runway for taxpayers who discover omitted income years later, but pushes the additional-tax cost up to 70% of the incremental tax for the last 12 months of the window. See the dedicated guide on updated returns under the 2025 Act.

3. ITR Form Selection — ITR-1 to ITR-7

The seven ITR forms from the 1961 Act regime are carried forward into tax year 2026-27, but the schedules have been rebuilt to reflect the 2025 Act’s simpler structure and the single tax-year concept. Picking the wrong form invalidates the return — so this is where most first-time filers should pause.

Form Who Files Income Profile
ITR-1 Sahaj Resident individuals (ordinarily resident) with income up to ₹50 lakh Salary / pension, one house property, family pension, interest, agricultural income up to ₹5,000, LTCG on listed equity up to ₹1.25 lakh (where applicable)
ITR-2 Individuals and HUFs without any business/professional income Capital gains, multiple house properties, foreign assets, foreign income, director in a company, unlisted equity holdings, income above ₹50 lakh
ITR-3 Individuals and HUFs having income from business or profession (not opting for presumptive) Full profit-and-loss and balance sheet; partners drawing remuneration/share from firms; speculative business; futures and options; crypto/VDA business
ITR-4 Sugam Resident individuals, HUFs and firms (other than LLPs) opting for presumptive taxation Presumptive business under 44AD equivalent (turnover up to ₹3 crore), presumptive profession under 44ADA equivalent (gross receipts up to ₹75 lakh), small transport under 44AE equivalent
ITR-5 Partnership firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs, artificial juridical persons, estates of deceased, business trusts, investment funds All business / capital gains / other sources income, partner-level schedules, 194T disclosure for partner payments
ITR-6 Companies other than those claiming exemption as charitable entities Corporate tax computation, MAT / AMT, transfer pricing, concessional rate regime choices (22% / 15%), CSR disclosures
ITR-7 Trusts, political parties, research institutions, universities, hospitals and other specified exempt entities Exemption claim under Sec 11/12/10(23C)-equivalent, accumulation, registration details, audit report details

For a detailed walk-through of each ITR form including the new disclosures on crypto, foreign assets and regime selection, see our comparison guide on new ITR forms under the 2025 Act.

4. Mandatory E-Filing and Exceptions

Electronic filing is mandatory for almost every category of taxpayer under the Income-tax Act, 2025. The exceptions are narrow and shrinking each year. Filing is done through the official portal at www.incometax.gov.in using PAN and password or through SSO with Aadhaar, net banking or DSC.

Categories for whom e-filing is compulsory

Exception — paper filing

A resident super-senior citizen (aged 80 years or above) filing ITR-1 or ITR-4 can still file in paper form at the jurisdictional assessing officer’s office. This is the only meaningful carveout under the 2025 Act.

5. Pre-Filled Returns, AIS and TIS

The pre-filled ITR facility is one of the most visible compliance improvements of the last five years, and it has been deepened in the 2025-Act filing cycle. When you log in to the e-filing portal and start a new ITR, the form is already populated with data the income tax department has received about you from third parties.

What gets pre-filled

Pre-filled data is a suggestion, not a certification. The taxpayer must verify each row against the AIS and TIS and correct any mismatch before submitting. For instance, if your AIS shows interest income from a bank that you no longer hold, or if a capital gain reported by the depository uses stale cost data from a corporate action, you must manually override the figure in the ITR and keep documentation for the correction.

6. Regime Selection — New Default vs Old Opt-Out

The Income-tax Act, 2025 continues the 2023-regime shift: the new tax regime is the default regime for every individual, HUF, AOP, BOI and artificial juridical person. To avail of the old regime’s Chapter VI-A-equivalent deductions (80C/80D/80E/HRA/LTA/24(b) etc.), the taxpayer must opt out.

How to opt out

For a side-by-side comparison, see our article on income tax slabs 2026-27 — new vs old regime.

7. Return Verification Methods

Submission of a return is not complete until it is verified. The law gives you 30 days from the date of electronic transmission to verify. A return that is not verified within 30 days is treated as not filed, attracting all the consequences of non-filing.

Modes of verification

Method Process When to Use
Aadhaar OTP OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile; enter on portal Fastest — recommended for individuals/HUFs
Net Banking EVC Login to authorised bank and click “Income tax e-filing” When Aadhaar mobile is unavailable
Bank Account EVC Pre-validated bank account; OTP on registered mobile Alternative to Aadhaar OTP
Demat Account EVC Pre-validated demat account For equity investors
Digital Signature (DSC) Class-2 or Class-3 DSC token Mandatory for companies, audit cases, firms/LLPs requiring audit
ITR-V Physical Print ITR-V, sign in blue ink, post to CPC Bengaluru Fallback where electronic modes fail

For salaried taxpayers, we recommend verifying immediately after submission via Aadhaar OTP — the entire submission-plus-verification journey is typically under 10 minutes. For companies, the DSC token must be plugged in at the time of upload; verification is effectively part of the upload step.

8. Consequences of Late or Non-Filing

The penalty consequences of missing the due date are material and compound in layers. Taxpayers often focus only on the late-filing fee and underestimate the downstream costs.

a) Late filing fee

The late filing fee (equivalent to Sec 234F of the 1961 Act, carried forward into the 2025 Act) is ₹5,000 where the return is filed after the due date but on or before 31 December of the relevant tax year, capped at ₹1,000 where total income does not exceed ₹5,00,000.

b) Interest on unpaid tax

Simple interest at 1% per month or part of a month is payable on unpaid tax from the due date until the date of filing (equivalent to Sec 234A), plus similar interest under 234B and 234C for advance-tax shortfalls. See our companion guide on advance tax due dates for 2026-27.

c) Loss of carry-forward

This is the biggest hidden cost. Business losses (including F&O losses characterised as business), speculative losses, capital losses and unabsorbed-other losses cannot be carried forward unless the return is filed within the due date. Only loss from house property and unabsorbed depreciation enjoy an exception. A trader with a ₹10 lakh F&O loss who files in January instead of July can lose the entire carry-forward — a ₹3 lakh tax cost at 30%.

d) Refund delay

Refund of excess TDS is processed only after return filing and, typically, only after verification. A late filer loses months of working capital.

e) Scrutiny exposure

Late and non-filers are disproportionately selected for scrutiny and best-judgement assessments. See our guide on the different assessment types under the 2025 Act.

9. Belated, Revised and Updated Returns

If you miss the due date, you have three remedial routes under the 2025 Act.

Belated return

A belated return can be filed up to 31 December 2027 for tax year 2026-27. It attracts the late-filing fee, interest, and loss-of-carry-forward consequences. It is essentially a “first-time late filing”.

Revised return

A revised return corrects omissions or wrong statements in a previously-filed return (original or belated). For tax year 2026-27, it can be filed up to 31 December 2027. The revised return completely replaces the earlier return.

Updated return

Where the defect is discovered after 31 December 2027, the only remaining route is an updated return, available within 48 months from the end of tax year 2026-27 — up to 31 March 2031. Additional tax is graduated (25% / 50% / 60% / 70%) and the updated return cannot be used to claim a refund, reduce tax, or convert a profit return into a loss return.

10. Worked Example — A Salaried Professional

Facts: Priya is a software engineer in Bengaluru. For tax year 2026-27 (1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027) her gross salary is ₹18,00,000, she has ₹40,000 interest on a savings bank, ₹22,000 dividend from equity mutual funds, and LTCG of ₹80,000 on listed equity (holding > 12 months). She has no business income and wants to use the new regime.

Step 1 — Form selection: Income exceeds ₹50 lakh threshold? No (₹18.42 lakh). Capital gains present? Yes. ITR-1 Sahaj does accept LTCG on listed equity up to ₹1.25 lakh under the 2025-Act version of the form. Priya can file ITR-1.

Step 2 — Regime: New regime selected by default. No Form 10-IEA needed.

Step 3 — Tax computation (new regime): Gross salary ₹18,00,000 − standard deduction ₹75,000 = ₹17,25,000. Add interest ₹40,000 + dividend ₹22,000 = ₹17,87,000. LTCG ₹80,000 taxed separately at 12.5% (exempt up to ₹1.25 lakh — so NIL tax on LTCG). Tax on ₹17,87,000 under new regime slabs = ₹1,82,100 + 4% cess ₹7,284 = ₹1,89,384.

Step 4 — Due date: Non-audit individual → 31 July 2027.

Step 5 — Verification: Aadhaar OTP.

Outcome: Priya logs in on 10 June 2027, confirms the pre-filled data, enters the LTCG, submits and e-verifies. Total time: ~20 minutes. Assessment intimation arrives in 2–4 weeks confirming the self-assessment.

Expert Insight

CA V. Viswanathan: Every return-filing cycle has a hallmark; tax year 2026-27 will be remembered as the first cycle under the Income-tax Act, 2025. In my practice, I am telling every client three things. First, do not be misled by the simplified language of the new Act into thinking obligations have eased. The Act has 536 sections across 23 chapters — more than the 1961 Act’s 298 — and the return schedules reflect that. Disclosures on crypto/VDA holdings, foreign assets, beneficial ownership and regime election have been formalised into dedicated schedules. Second, the single concept of “tax year” replaces “previous year” and “assessment year”. That sounds small, but I have already corrected a draft return where a junior accountant used the old AY 2027-28 terminology while the form asked for tax year 2026-27 — it is the same period but the labelling must now follow the new Act. Third, the 48-month updated-return window is a double-edged sword. It is generous, but the additional tax climbs to 70% for the last 12 months — we advise clients that updated returns are a last-resort compliance backstop, not a planning tool. File on time, use AIS/TIS to catch omissions early, and reserve the 48-month window for genuine late discoveries only. For high-income salaried clients, Form 10-IEA equivalent decisions should be made with a multi-year horizon because the one-lifetime-switch restriction is unforgiving.

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

Who must file an income tax return for tax year 2026-27?

Filing is mandatory if gross total income before deductions exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹4,00,000 under the new regime, ₹2,50,000 under the old regime). It is also mandatory irrespective of income where specified transactions occurred — cash deposit of ₹1 crore or more in current accounts, foreign travel expense of ₹2 lakh or more, electricity bill above ₹1 lakh, TDS/TCS credit above ₹25,000, foreign asset holdings or a refund claim. The transaction test catches high-value activity even where reported income is modest.

What are the due dates for filing ITR for tax year 2026-27?

Under the Income-tax Act, 2025: 31 July 2027 for individuals, HUFs and other non-audit taxpayers; 31 October 2027 for taxpayers requiring tax audit and all companies; 30 November 2027 for transfer-pricing cases. Belated and revised returns can be filed up to 31 December 2027. Updated returns under the new 48-month window can be filed up to 31 March 2031 for tax year 2026-27.

Which ITR form should I file for tax year 2026-27?

ITR-1 for resident salaried taxpayers with income up to ₹50 lakh from salary, one house property, family pension and interest (including limited LTCG on listed equity). ITR-2 for individuals/HUFs with capital gains, foreign income, multiple properties or income above ₹50 lakh and no business income. ITR-3 for business/professional income (non-presumptive). ITR-4 for presumptive taxation. ITR-5 for firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs. ITR-6 for companies. ITR-7 for trusts, political parties and exempt entities.

What is the penalty for late filing of ITR?

Late filing attracts a fee of ₹5,000, reduced to ₹1,000 where total income does not exceed ₹5,00,000. Interest at 1% per month (or part thereof) applies on unpaid tax from the due date until filing. The biggest loss is the inability to carry forward business and capital losses, which can have a substantial long-term tax cost. Refund processing also gets delayed until the return is both filed and verified.

Is e-filing mandatory for all taxpayers under the Income-tax Act, 2025?

Yes — almost universally. All companies, all audit cases, all partnership firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs, individuals with income above ₹5 lakh, taxpayers holding foreign assets and anyone claiming a refund must file electronically. The only carveout is paper filing of ITR-1 or ITR-4 by a resident super-senior citizen (80 years or above) at the jurisdictional AO’s office.

How is an ITR verified after filing?

You have 30 days to verify the return after submission — otherwise it is treated as not filed. Aadhaar OTP is the fastest method. Other options include net-banking EVC, bank/demat account EVC, DSC (mandatory for companies and audit cases) and physical dispatch of ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru. For most salaried taxpayers, Aadhaar OTP verification finishes the entire process in under two minutes.

Can I file a belated return after the due date?

Yes. For tax year 2026-27, a belated return can be filed up to 31 December 2027. It attracts the late-filing fee, interest and loss-of-carry-forward consequences. Certain deductions and exemptions tied to timely filing may not be available. Where the defect is discovered after 31 December 2027, the taxpayer should consider the updated-return route within the 48-month window.

Can I revise a return after filing?

Yes. A revised return corrects omissions or incorrect statements in the original or belated return. For tax year 2026-27, a revised return can be filed up to 31 December 2027, and there is no limit on the number of revisions within this window. Each revision must be complete and replaces the earlier return in its entirety.

What is the updated return and how is it different from a revised return?

An updated return allows a taxpayer to voluntarily disclose additional income and pay incremental tax even after the revised/belated window has closed. For tax year 2026-27, the window is 48 months from 31 March 2027 — up to 31 March 2031. Additional tax is graduated: 25% (first 12 months), 50% (12–24 months), 60% (24–36 months), 70% (36–48 months). An updated return cannot be used to claim a refund, reduce tax, or convert a return into a loss return.

What is pre-filled return data and how does it help?

Pre-filled data is automatically populated into the ITR from sources such as Form 16, SFT (bank interest, dividend), TDS/TCS credits in Form 26AS, and the Annual Information Statement. It reduces manual entry errors and speeds up filing, but must be verified row-by-row because third-party data can include stale or duplicated entries. Discrepancies must be corrected in the return and supporting evidence retained.

What happens if I do not file ITR at all?

Non-filing triggers refund blocking, accruing interest, exposure to best-judgement assessment, loss of carry-forward of losses and — in extreme cases of wilful evasion — prosecution. The AO can issue a notice under scrutiny or reassessment provisions and frame an order without the taxpayer’s cooperation. Non-filers are also disproportionately picked up for scrutiny under the faceless regime.

Does the new Income-tax Act, 2025 change the ITR forms?

The form naming (ITR-1 to ITR-7) is carried forward, but the schedules have been rebuilt around the single “tax year” concept, the new-regime default, and updated disclosures for crypto/VDA holdings, foreign assets and beneficial ownership. A dedicated transitional schedule captures carry-forward of losses, unabsorbed depreciation, MAT credit and AMT credit determined under the 1961 Act.

Is Aadhaar-PAN linking required for filing ITR?

Yes. PAN not linked with Aadhaar is inoperative under law. An inoperative PAN cannot be used to file a return, claim refund or complete any other tax compliance. If your PAN is inoperative, restore it by paying the prescribed fee and completing linking on the e-filing portal; it becomes operative from the date of linking.

How does regime selection (new vs old) work in the ITR?

The new regime is the default. Salaried/pension/other-sources-only taxpayers can toggle every year by selecting the regime in the ITR form. Taxpayers with business/professional income must file Form 10-IEA (equivalent) on or before the due date to opt out, and once they switch back to the new regime, they have only one more lifetime switch available. The choice is made before computing total income.

Are senior citizens exempt from filing ITR?

Only a narrow exemption applies — a resident senior citizen aged 75 years or above whose only income is pension and interest from the same specified bank paying the pension may file a declaration instead of an ITR. All other senior citizens file normally. Senior citizens benefit from a higher basic exemption under the old regime (₹3 lakh / ₹5 lakh for super seniors) and the standard deduction of ₹75,000 under the new regime for pension income.

Need help filing your ITR for tax year 2026-27? Speak with our team at +91 99622 60333 or write to support@virtualauditor.in. Virtual Auditor — Chennai.

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