ITR Filing Deadlines for AY 2026-27 at a Glance
| Taxpayer Category | ITR Form | Due Date (AY 2026-27) |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried, pensioner, interest/dividend income | ITR-1 (Sahaj) | 31 July 2026 |
| Capital gains, multiple properties, directors, foreign assets | ITR-2 | 31 July 2026 |
| Business/profession income (non-presumptive or opting out) | ITR-3 | 31 August 2026 |
| Presumptive scheme (44AD/44ADA), income ≤ ₹50L | ITR-4 (Sugam) | 31 August 2026 |
| Tax audit cases (turnover above limits) | ITR-3 / ITR-4 | 31 October 2026 |
| Belated return (if you miss the above dates) | Any applicable form | 31 December 2026 |
Note: The split between July 31 (ITR-1/2) and August 31 (ITR-3/4 non-audit) was made permanent by the Finance Act 2026.
Section 234F: The Late Filing Penalty
If you file your ITR after the applicable due date but on or before December 31, 2026, a late filing fee under Section 234F is levied automatically:
- ₹5,000 — if your total income exceeds ₹5,00,000
- ₹1,000 — if your total income is ₹5,00,000 or below (reduced fee)
- Nil — if your total income is below the basic exemption limit (₹3,00,000 under the new regime / ₹2,50,000 under the old regime for those below 60 years), no Section 234F fee applies even on a belated return
The Section 234F fee is a fixed fee — it is not an interest charge. It is automatically added to your tax payable when you file a belated return on the income tax portal.
Section 234A: Interest on Unpaid Tax
If you have any unpaid tax as of August 1, 2026 (the day after the July 31 deadline), Section 234A levies simple interest at 1% per month or part of a month on the amount of tax due. This is separate from and in addition to the Section 234F late-filing fee.
Example: If you owe ₹20,000 in tax and file on October 15, 2026 (2.5 months late by part-month reckoning — August, September, October each count as a full month), the Section 234A interest = 20,000 × 1% × 3 = ₹600. This is in addition to the Section 234F fee of ₹5,000 if income exceeds ₹5L.
Key point: Pay any outstanding tax by July 31 to minimise Section 234A exposure, even if you cannot file the return by that date.
What Is a Belated Return and What Are Its Limitations?
A belated return filed under Section 139(4) must be submitted by December 31, 2026. After that date, no further return can be filed for AY 2026-27 unless the Income Tax Department issues a notice.
Key limitations of a belated return:
- Cannot carry forward most losses: Losses from capital gains, business/profession, and speculation cannot be carried forward to future years if the return is filed late. (Exception: losses from house property can be carried forward even in a belated return.)
- Cannot revise after belated filing: A belated return filed after December 31 is not permitted; a return filed on time (or as a belated return by December 31) can be revised up to December 31, 2026.
- Section 234F fee is unavoidable: Once the due date is missed, the late-filing fee applies regardless of reason (there is no waiver mechanism for most taxpayers).
How to File ITR on the Income Tax Portal
- Go to incometax.gov.in and log in with your PAN and password.
- Click on e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return.
- Select AY 2026-27 and choose Online mode (recommended for most salaried taxpayers).
- Select the appropriate ITR form (ITR-1 for most salaried individuals, ITR-4 for presumptive business/professional income).
- Your data from Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS will be pre-filled. Verify the pre-filled data against your Form 16 and bank statements before accepting it.
- Complete the tax computation, choose old or new tax regime, and verify your tax payable or refund amount.
- Pay any outstanding tax using the e-Pay Tax option (Challan 280) before submitting the return.
- E-verify within 30 days of filing using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or DSC. Your ITR is not considered filed until e-verified.
Using Third-Party Tax Filing Platforms
If you find the government portal complex, authorised third-party platforms like ClearTax, Tax2Win, myITreturn, and TaxBuddy offer guided filing for a small fee. These platforms also offer CA-assisted filing for complex cases. Note: These are private paid services — the government portal at incometax.gov.in is always free.
Documents Required to File ITR
- PAN card and Aadhaar number
- Form 16 from your employer (for salaried employees)
- Bank account details and bank statements
- Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) — downloadable from incometax.gov.in
- Details of all income sources: salary slips, interest certificates, rent receipts, capital gain statements
- Investment proof for deductions (80C, 80D, HRA, etc.) — if claiming under old regime
- Previous year’s ITR acknowledgement (for reference)
File your ITR now to avoid the ₹5,000 Section 234F penalty and loss of carry-forward losses.
File Now on ClearTax ↗EligibilityTools.in may receive a referral fee from sponsored links. This has no bearing on our editorial content.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Income tax deadlines, penalty provisions (Section 234A, 234F), and scheme parameters are governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961 and relevant Finance Acts. While all figures in this guide have been verified against publicly available provisions of the Income Tax Act and official CBDT communications as of July 20, 2026, they are subject to change by CBDT notification or government order. No extension to deadlines has been announced as of the date of this guide. Always verify the current due date on incometax.gov.in before filing. EligibilityTools.in is not affiliated with the Income Tax Department or CBDT. Consult a qualified Chartered Accountant for advice specific to your situation.