ITR filing deadlines for FY26: Your due date depends on whether you are salaried or running a business - Moneycontrol.com

Published 5 June 2026 · india

Missing the deadline may attract interest under Section 234A along with a late filing fee of up to Rs 5,000 under Section 234F ITR filing

Missing the deadline may attract interest under Section 234A along with a late filing fee of up to Rs 5,000 under Section 234F ITR filing deadline for salaried taxpayers is July 31, 2026 Belated returns can be filed till December 31, 2026 Updated returns allowed till March 31, 2031 for FY 2025-26 Did our AI summary help? With the income tax return filing season underway, taxpayers need to keep a close eye on deadlines. While most salaried individuals must file their returns by July 31, 2026, missing the deadline does not mean the opportunity is lost. The Income Tax Act allows taxpayers to file belated and updated returns, albeit with additional costs such as interest and late filing fees. What are the ITR filing due dates for different taxpayers Due dates for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) vary by taxpayer category and income type. Salaried individuals will continue to have the earliest filing deadline, while businesses and audit cases will get additional time. From this year, the deadline for non-audit business cases or trusts is extended till 31st August.

For example, individuals earning income from Futures and Options (F&O) trading have time till August 31 to file their ITR, unlike most salaried taxpayers whose deadline is July 31. The extension is mainly because income from F&O trading is treated as business income under the Income Tax Act. “I propose to stagger the timeline for filing of tax returns. Individuals with ITR 1 and ITR 2 returns will continue to file till 31st July and non-audit business cases or trusts are proposed to be allowed time till 31st August,” the Finance Minister said in the Budget speech. Can you file ITR after the due date? Yes, taxpayers can file their Income Tax Return (ITR) even after missing the original due date. If the return is not filed within the prescribed deadline, a belated return can be submitted up to December 31 of the relevant assessment year. For FY 2025–26 (AY 2026–27), the due date for filing a belated return is December 31, 2026. What is an updated return?

Taxpayers who fail to file both the original and belated returns still have the option to submit an updated return. An updated return can be filed within 48 months, or four years, from the end of the relevant assessment year. Accordingly, for FY 2025–26 (AY 2026-27), the updated return filing deadline is March 31, 2031. “Individuals who are not subject to audit are required to file their original income tax return by July 31, 2026 (unless the deadline is extended by the government). Taxpayers who miss this deadline can still file a belated return up to December 31, 2026. If any errors or omissions are discovered after filing, a revised return can be submitted until March 31, 2027, or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier. Additionally, taxpayers can file an updated return (ITR-U) to voluntarily correct or disclose additional income for up to 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year,” said Suresh Surana a Mumbai Based chartered accountant. Consequences of missing the ITR filing Deadline Interest on outstanding tax Taxpayers who file their Income Tax Return (ITR) after the due date may have to pay interest under Section 234A of the Income Tax Act.