The Income Tax Department has issued a reminder to taxpayers with business or professional income who are not subject to tax audit to file their income tax returns (ITRs) for assessment year 2026-27 by August 31. According to reports from The Economic Times, this deadline applies specifically to non-audit taxpayers, providing them with an extended filing window compared to taxpayers whose accounts are subject to audit. As per Mint, the 31 July ITR deadline for AY 2026-27 has passed, but taxpayers in other categories have more time, with the next major deadline being August 31 for non-audit cases. The department has emphasized the urgency through social media, stating '31st August 2026 is the due date for filing ITRs for AY 2026-27 for taxpayers with business or professional income who are not subject to audit. Be the tax hero who files on time,' as reported by Mint. The department has now specifically urged eligible taxpayers not to wait until the last minute, stating 'Don't wait till the last minute. File your (non-audit) business or professional income ITR today,' urging them to log in to the income-tax e-filing portal and complete their filings.
As reported by The Economic Times, till August 27, 2026, more than 7 crore ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms had been filed on the income tax e-filing portal, taking the total number of ITRs filed for AY 2026-27 to over 7 crore. This includes more than 5.9 crore ITR-1 and ITR-2 forms that were filed by the July 31 deadline. According to Mint, individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) eligible to file ITR-1 or ITR-2 and not required to undergo a tax audit had to file their returns by 31 July 2026. As per Mint, the department reported that over 5.9 crore ITRs were filed for AY 2026-27 by July 31st, with the last date for filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 being July 31 without penalty and interest. This compares to over 7.3 crore ITRs filed by September 16, 2025 for AY 2025-26, indicating a slight decline in filings this year. Depending on their income and circumstances, such taxpayers may need to file ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 or ITR-7 forms.
The August 31, 2026 deadline primarily applies to taxpayers with business or professional income where an audit of the accounts is not mandatory. This may cover certain freelancers, consultants, self-employed individuals and small business owners, based on the nature of their income and the tax rules governing their case. For AY 2026-27, the Income Tax Department has specified August 31 as the filing deadline for eligible non-audit cases involving business or professional income. According to Mint, taxpayers using the presumptive taxation route should still check their eligibility and filing conditions carefully before assuming that ITR-4 automatically applies to them. The department has advised eligible taxpayers to complete their filings before the August 31 deadline to avoid last-minute difficulties. The applicable due date depends on the taxpayer's income, nature of income, the ITR form applicable to them and whether their accounts are subject to tax audit. For those filing ITR-3 form, as well as those opting for the presumptive taxation scheme using ITR-4 (Sugam) form, the due date is August 31, 2026 for salary from freelance or business income that does not require a tax audit.
ITR-3 is applicable if you are an individual or HUF with business or professional income but do not opt for presumptive taxation, including cases where you maintain regular books of account, have total income above ₹50 lakh, or engage in F&O trading. According to Mint, the form is generally applicable where the taxpayer is not eligible to file ITR-1, ITR-2 or ITR-4. ITR-4 is applicable if you are an individual, HUF or firm opting for presumptive taxation of business or professional income, with total income of up to ₹50 lakh. As per Mint, ITR-4 is not applicable for taxpayers who have short-term capital gains or long-term capital gains under Section 112A exceeding ₹1.25 lakh, those who hold unlisted equity shares or have foreign assets or income, or taxpayers with losses to be carried forward, deferred ESOP tax, or income chargeable at special rates.
If taxpayers miss the August 31, 2026 deadline, they can generally file a belated return, subject to applicable provisions. For AY 2026-27, a belated return can generally be filed until December 31, 2026, or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. However, filing late can result in a late-filing fee. For details on late-filing fees, refer to earlier articles. If August 31, 2026 is your applicable deadline, taxpayers should check the correct ITR form, keep the required documents ready and file their return before the deadline to avoid any complications.
The October 31, 2026 deadline applies to companies, partnership firms and individuals covered by the compulsory tax audit provisions under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act. This category includes taxpayers filing ITR-3, ITR-4 in audit cases, ITR-5, ITR-6 and, in certain cases, ITR-7. Their Tax Audit Report (TAR) must be furnished earlier, with September 30, 2026 serving as the deadline for its submission. As reported by Mint, the 31 October 2026 deadline also applies to ITR-5 and ITR-7 taxpayers with business or professional income whose accounts are not subject to tax audit under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Additionally, 30 November is the due date for taxpayers covered by transfer-pricing requirements under Section 92E.
