Tax Calendar 2026: All Important Income Tax Dates for FY 2025-26
Every important income tax date for Financial Year 2025-26 (Assessment Year 2026-27) in one place.
Missing a tax deadline can cost you money - late fees, interest, and even inability to carry forward losses. This calendar covers every important income tax date for Financial Year 2025-26 (Assessment Year 2026-27).
Bookmark this page. We'll keep it updated if any deadlines change.
Quick Reference - The Most Important Dates
Save These Dates
| What | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Tax - 4th Installment | If tax liability > Rs 10,000 | March 15, 2026 |
| Tax-Saving Investments | Everyone (Old Regime) | March 31, 2026 |
| Form 16 from Employer | Salaried employees | June 15, 2026 |
| ITR Filing (Non-Audit) | Individuals, HUFs | July 31, 2026 |
| ITR Filing (ITR-3, ITR-4) | Business income (non-audit) | August 31, 2026 |
| Tax Audit Report | Businesses requiring audit | September 30, 2026 |
| ITR Filing (Audit Cases) | Companies, audited firms | October 31, 2026 |
| Transfer Pricing Report | International transactions | October 31, 2026 |
| ITR (Transfer Pricing) | Section 92E cases | November 30, 2026 |
| Belated Return | Missed original deadline | December 31, 2026 |
| Revised Return | Correct errors in original return (Budget 2026 extension) | March 31, 2027 |
What Budget 2026 Changed
Budget 2026 (presented February 2026) made three deadline-related changes that take effect from AY 2026-27 — i.e. the returns being filed right now. They do not apply retroactively to AY 2025-26.
The three changes that matter:
- ITR-3 and ITR-4 (non-audit) deadline moved from July 31 to August 31. If you file under presumptive taxation (Section 44AD/44ADA/44AE) or have professional income without an audit requirement, you get an extra month.
- Revised return window extended from December 31 to March 31 of the assessment year. Filing a revised return between January 1 and March 31 attracts a fee — Rs 1,000 if income is up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 5,000 if above. Belated return deadline is unchanged (still December 31).
- Tax audit late-filing penalty restructured as a flat fee — Rs 75,000 if the delay is up to one month, Rs 1,50,000 if longer. This replaces the earlier turnover-linked formula (0.5% of turnover, capped at Rs 1.5 lakh).
Revised Return Fee Structure (from January 1, 2027)
| When Filed | Income | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| By December 31, 2026 (original window) | Any | Free |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 (new extension) | Up to Rs 5 lakh | Rs 1,000 |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 (new extension) | Above Rs 5 lakh | Rs 5,000 |
Tax audit cases — note the flat penalty: One day's delay past September 30, 2026 (or the applicable audit-report deadline) triggers Rs 75,000. No grace period, no proportionality. This is significantly stricter than the earlier turnover-linked rule and removes the ambiguity that earlier produced years of litigation. If a CA handles your audit, build buffer into the September 30 deadline.
What did not change: salaried filers (ITR-1, ITR-2) still file by July 31; audit cases (ITR-5, ITR-6) still file by October 31; the belated return deadline is still December 31; the updated-return window under Section 139(8A) is still 48 months.
Where AY 2026-27 Filing Stands Right Now
Most deadline guides quote the same official dates and stop there. Here is something the SERP can't show inline: where AY 2026-27 filing actually stands as of today, pulled live from the IT Portal feed our dashboard tracks.
AY 2026-27 e-Verified Returns (cumulative)
Loading live figure…
Source: e-Filing portal · live dashboard
Filing for AY 2026-27 opened on May 25, 2026; the live counter above tracks daily e-verified returns through the July 31 deadline. If the live tracker is unavailable, the main dashboard always carries the same data.
What the final-week pattern typically looks like
We won't have AY 2026-27 deadline-week numbers until late July, but the qualitative pattern is consistent across recent years and worth knowing if you're planning to file:
- The portal absorbs most filings in the last three weeks. The bulk of voluntary filings concentrate in mid- to late-July, not the earlier months. Daily filing volumes typically increase several-fold relative to early-season days.
- Portal load spikes near the deadline. The 29-31 July window sees the highest daily filing rates of the year, and the e-Filing portal has historically slowed or briefly errored under that load. CBDT extensions have happened in some years, but they are exceptions, not the norm — do not plan around one.
- Refund processing follows the bulk of verified returns by 15-45 days. Filings completed in July typically clear in August-September, but cases flagged for scrutiny or refund verification can sit longer.
We'll add the actual final-week filing rates here as the data arrives — this section will keep updating through July 31.
Advance Tax Dates
If your total tax liability for the year is Rs 10,000 or more (after TDS), you must pay advance tax in installments. Failing to do so attracts interest under Sections 234B and 234C.
| Installment | Due Date | Cumulative Tax Payable |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Installment | June 15, 2025 | 15% of total tax |
| 2nd Installment | September 15, 2025 | 45% of total tax |
| 3rd Installment | December 15, 2025 | 75% of total tax |
| 4th Installment | March 15, 2026 | 100% of total tax |
Tip for freelancers: If you're under the presumptive taxation scheme (Section 44AD/44ADA), you can pay the entire advance tax in a single installment by March 15, 2026.
Interest on shortfall: If you pay less than the required percentage, interest @ 1% per month is charged on the shortfall (Section 234C).
TDS Payment & Return Dates
TDS Payment Deadline
TDS deducted must be deposited to the government by the 7th of the following month.
Exception: For March, TDS can be paid by April 30th (but April 7th is recommended to avoid issues).
TDS Return Filing Deadlines
| Quarter | Period | Due Date (24Q, 26Q, 27Q) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April - June 2025 | July 31, 2025 |
| Q2 | July - September 2025 | October 31, 2025 |
| Q3 | October - December 2025 | January 31, 2026 |
| Q4 | January - March 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
TDS Certificate Deadlines
| Certificate | For | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Form 16 | Salary TDS | June 15, 2026 |
| Form 16A | Non-salary TDS (each quarter) | 15 days from TDS return due date |
ITR Filing Deadlines
| Category | ITR Form | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried individuals (no business income) | ITR-1, ITR-2 | July 31, 2026 |
| Business/profession income (non-audit) | ITR-3, ITR-4 | August 31, 2026 |
| Businesses requiring tax audit | ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6 | October 31, 2026 |
| Transfer pricing cases (Section 92E) | ITR-6 | November 30, 2026 |
| Belated return (missed deadline) | Any applicable form | December 31, 2026 |
| Revised return (correct errors) — free window | Any applicable form | December 31, 2026 |
| Revised return — Budget 2026 extension (with fee) | Any applicable form | March 31, 2027 |
| Updated return (ITR-U) | ITR-U | March 31, 2030 (48 months) |
New from FY 2025-26 (Budget 2026): ITR-3 and ITR-4 filers (business income, non-audit) now have until August 31 instead of July 31. The revised-return window has also been extended to March 31, 2027 (with a small fee from January 1). See the What Budget 2026 Changed section above for the full breakdown.
Tax Audit Deadlines
| Audit Type | Form | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Audit Report (Section 44AB) | Form 3CA/3CB + 3CD | September 30, 2026 |
| Transfer Pricing Report (Section 92E) | Form 3CEB | October 31, 2026 |
Who Needs Tax Audit?
- Business with turnover > Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 crore if 95%+ digital transactions)
- Professionals with gross receipts > Rs 50 lakh
- Presumptive taxation (44AD/44ADA) claiming lower profits than prescribed
Month-by-Month Calendar
New Financial Year Begins
FY 2025-26 starts. Plan your tax-saving investments early!
TDS Payment TDS
Deposit TDS deducted in March 2025
Advance Tax - 1st Installment Advance Tax
Pay 15% of your estimated annual tax liability
TDS Return - Q1 TDS
File Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q for April-June 2025
Advance Tax - 2nd Installment Advance Tax
Pay cumulative 45% of your estimated annual tax liability
TDS Return - Q2 TDS
File Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q for July-September 2025
Advance Tax - 3rd Installment Advance Tax
Pay cumulative 75% of your estimated annual tax liability
TDS Return - Q3 TDS
File Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q for October-December 2025
Advance Tax - 4th Installment Advance Tax
Pay remaining 100% of your estimated annual tax liability
Tax-Saving Investment Deadline
Last day to invest in 80C, 80D, NPS for FY 2025-26. See our guide
Financial Year Ends
FY 2025-26 ends. All income and expenses for this year must be recorded.
TDS Return - Q4 TDS
File Form 24Q, 26Q, 27Q for January-March 2026
Form 16 from Employer ITR
Employer must issue Form 16 for FY 2025-26 by this date
ITR Filing - Salaried (ITR-1, ITR-2) ITR
Last date for individuals and HUFs not requiring tax audit
ITR Filing - Business Income (ITR-3, ITR-4) ITR
Last date for business/profession income (non-audit cases)
Tax Audit Report Audit
Submit Form 3CA/3CB with 3CD for audit cases
ITR Filing - Audit Cases ITR
Companies, LLPs, and businesses requiring tax audit
Transfer Pricing Report Audit
Form 3CEB for international/specified domestic transactions
ITR Filing - Transfer Pricing Cases ITR
For taxpayers requiring report under Section 92E
Belated Return + Free Revised Return ITR
Last chance to file if you missed original deadline. Revised return (correcting errors) is also free until this date; from Jan 1 it carries a Rs 1,000-5,000 fee per Budget 2026.
Revised Return Deadline (Budget 2026 extension) ITR
Final cut-off for revising AY 2026-27 returns. Fee applies: Rs 1,000 if income up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 5,000 if above. Belated returns are not allowed in this window.
Penalties for Missing Deadlines
| Deadline Missed | Penalty / Interest |
|---|---|
| ITR after July 31 / Aug 31 | Rs 5,000 late fee (Rs 1,000 if income < Rs 5L) |
| ITR after December 31 | Cannot file regular return (only ITR-U with extra tax) |
| Unpaid tax after due date | Interest @ 1% per month (Section 234A) |
| Advance tax shortfall | Interest @ 1% per month on shortfall (Section 234B, 234C) |
| Late TDS return | Rs 200 per day until filing (max = TDS amount) |
| Late TDS payment | Interest @ 1.5% per month |
| Late tax audit (Budget 2026) | Flat Rs 75,000 (delay up to 1 month) or Rs 1,50,000 (delay beyond 1 month) |
Important: If you file ITR late, you cannot carry forward business losses and capital losses (except house property loss). This can significantly increase your tax in future years.
Frequently Asked Questions
July 31, 2026 for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27). This applies to individuals filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 who don't require tax audit.
Four installments: June 15 (15%), September 15 (45%), December 15 (75%), and March 15 (100%). These dates are the same every year.
Employers must issue Form 16 by June 15, 2026. If you don't receive it, ask your employer or use Form 26AS from the income tax portal.
Yes, through Updated Return (ITR-U) under Section 139(8A). You can file within 48 months but will pay additional tax of 25% (within 12 months) to 70% (within 48 months).
Rs 5,000 under Section 234F if filed after July 31 but before December 31. Reduced to Rs 1,000 if total income is below Rs 5 lakh. Plus interest on unpaid tax.
September 30, 2026 for tax audit (Form 3CD). The ITR for audit cases is due by October 31, 2026.
Summary
The key dates to remember for FY 2025-26:
- March 15, 2026 - Final advance tax installment
- March 31, 2026 - Tax-saving investment deadline
- June 15, 2026 - Form 16 from employer
- July 31, 2026 - ITR for salaried (ITR-1, ITR-2)
- August 31, 2026 - ITR for business (ITR-3, ITR-4, non-audit)
- October 31, 2026 - ITR for audit cases
- December 31, 2026 - Last date for belated/revised return
Set calendar reminders. Missing these dates costs money.