ITR due date extension 2026 Highlights: Over 5.9 crore ITRs filed by 31 July. Check who has more time to file returns

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Apart from the late filing fee and interest on tax dues, taxpayers also miss out on some benefits if they fail to file their return within the original due date.

According to the provisions of the Income-tax Act, you can carry forward the losses of the current year to future periods, offset against future profits, thereby reducing the total tax liability.

However, taxpayers who file a belated return are not allowed to carry forward their losses to future years, meaning they lose the opportunity to set them off against future gains. These losses include loss on sale of capital assets like properties, stocks, mutual funds, and business losses.

Those expecting a tax refund should also file their returns on time. While a belated return may still be eligible for a refund, filing before the due date helps ensure the refund is processed sooner.

Taxpayers who have missed the due date can still file a belated return by 31 December 2026 but would be subject to late filing fee along interest on outstanding tax dues (if applicable) as follows:

• Filing belated return: If you have an income above ₹5 lakh, the penalty is up to ₹5,000. For those with an income of of ₹5 lakh or lower, the maximum late filing fee is ₹1,000.
• Having unpaid taxes: If a person owes tax, the late filing fee applies in addition to the interest charged on the pending amount under Section 234A. A simple interest of 1% per month or part of the month is charged on the unpaid tax amount, which is calculated from the applicable ITR due date for the relevant financial year until the date the return is actually filed.
• Missing the belated return due date: If you also miss the belated return deadline, then an updated return can be filed within 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year. Except in certain circumstances, it can be filed whether or not the taxpayer has previously filed an original, belated or revised return for the relevant assessment year.

Missing yesterday's due date does not necessarily mean the opportunity to file an ITR is lost. Individuals and Hindu undivided families (HUFs) can still submit a belated return, although additional charges such as a late filing fee and interest on outstanding tax dues may apply.

Taxpayers who have missed the original return filing due date are eligible to file a belated return by December 31, 2026.

The tax department's dedicated e-filing portal remains the official platform for all sorts of taxpayers to file their returns online. It also allows you to pay taxes online and submit statutory forms. There is one and a half hour left for the ITR filing deadline to end.

Taxpayers can log in using their PAN details, select the applicable ITR form, verify their income and deduction details (if filing under old tax regime), pay tax due (when necessary) and complete e-verification after submission of the return.

The e-filing portal also provides access to pre-filled information based on available records, including details from Form 16, Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).

One important reason for mandatory ITR filing is that your total income exceeding basic exemption limit; any income below this threshold can skip filing ITR if they meet the other prescribed conditions.

Under the old tax regime, the exemption limit is ₹2.5 lakh for individuals below 60 years, ₹3 lakh for senior citizens (60 years but less than 80 years of age) and ₹5 lakh for super senior citizens (80 years or more). Meanwhile, as per the new tax regime, the basic exemption limit is ₹4 lakh for taxpayers of all age groups.

Here are some reasons that make ITR filing mandatory:

• Savings bank deposits exceed ₹50 lakh
• Current account deposits cross ₹1 crore
• Foreign travel expenses exceed ₹2 lakh
• Electricity bill exceeds ₹1 lakh
• You own foreign assets or have signing authority abroad

Due date for filing income-tax returns (ITR) without delayed charges and penalties for taxpayers using the ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-2 forms passed at midnight on 31 July (Friday). If you haven't done so already, now is the best time to take prompt steps to file your ITR.

Notably, the deadline was only applicable for resident individuals who do not need to undergo an audit. Such taxpayers include most salaried employees, pensioners and students, with income from multiple house properties, interest, dividends, capital gains, or other sources.

According to official data, more than 5.9 crore returns were filed till the end of due date, indicating that taxpayers rushed to complete their filings to avoid penalties, interest, and compliance notices.

No extension has been announced so far. Last year a set of circumstances led to extension of deadline for filing ITR. This year, however, the government has highlighted improvements in the portal's infrastructure ahead of the filing deadline, including its ability to process up to 1 crore returns a day.

Experts thus believe the current filing trend does not support a case for extending the July 31 deadline. File your returns as soon as possible to avoid higher penalties and delayed filing charges.

Not every taxpayer was required to file their ITR by today, 31 July. The deadline was only applicable for resident individuals who do not need to undergo an audit.

Taxpayers with business or professional income filing ITR-3 form, as well as those opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under ITR-4 (Sugam) form, have later due dates, as follows:

• ITR-3 due date is 31 August 2026: Salary from freelance or business income that does not require a tax audit.
• ITR-4 due date is 31 October 2026: Business or professional income requiring a tax audit.

The income-tax department in a post on its social media account on X, said that more than 5.9 crore returns were filed for AY2026–27 by 31 July. “Your trust and timely compliance provide the energy that fuels India’s growth,” it added.

Last year a set of circumstances led to extension of deadline for filing ITR. This year, however, the government has highlighted improvements in the portal's infrastructure ahead of the filing deadline, including its ability to process up to 1 crore returns a day.

Experts thus believe the current filing trend does not support a case for extending the July 31 deadline. File your returns by midnight today to avoid penalties and delayed filing charges.

The tax department's dedicated e-filing portal remains the official platform for all sorts of taxpayers to file their returns online. It also allows you to pay taxes online, and submit statutory forms. There is one and a half hour left for the ITR filing deadline to end.

Taxpayers can log in using their PAN details, select the applicable ITR form, verify their income and deduction details (if filing under old tax regime), pay tax due (when necessary) and complete e-verification after submission of the return.

The e-filing portal also provides access to pre-filled information based on available records, including details from Form 16, Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).

A number of fintech platforms offer integrated ITR filing via apps, enabling users to file returns ITRs without visiting a tax-filing website. Here is the list of options:

• Paytm: In partnership with Cleartax, Paytm will now offer ITR filing services directly through its app. The plan starts at ₹11.
• Angel One: The stock-broking firm has also tied up with Cleartax to offer tax integrated ITR filing services for its users. Users can choose between self-filing and expert-assisted filing services.
• PhonePe and JioFinance: Through their partnership with TaxBuddy, both PhonePe and JioFinance provide in-app ITR filing solutions, with entry-level self-filing plans priced from ₹24.
• INDmoney: The platform allows taxpayers to file their AY2026-27 ITR for free.

• Verify documents: Keep PAN, Aadhaar, Form 16, AIS, Form 26AS and bank details ready.
• Reconcile income: Match salary, TDS, interest income and other earnings with official records.
• Choose the correct ITR form: File the applicable return form, such as ITR-1 or ITR-2, based on your eligibility.
• Review before submitting: Check deductions, exemptions and personal details carefully for accuracy.
• E-verify your returns: Complete e-verification after filing to successfully complete the ITR process.

Today is the last day to file your income-tax returns and the I-T department thinks that missing the due date today (31 July) is “a completely avoidable mistake”.

In a post on social media platform X, the department reminded taxpayers about the due date using a cricket analogy. Its official account wrote: “Missing the ITR deadline is like getting Hit Wicket - completely avoidable. Avoid late fees and interest, turn your ITR filing into a Free Hit by filing early. Reconcile & file your ITR 1 & 2 for AY 2026-27 before 31st July 2026!”

While filing your income tax return, you can choose either of these options if you fulfill the prescribed conditions:

• Taxable income above the exemption limit, i.e. it exceeds ₹4 lakh under the new tax regime or ₹2.5 lakh (for individuals below 60 years) under old regime.
• Claiming a tax refund if you paid excess TDS or tax and want to get a refund.
• Carrying forward losses from shares, mutual funds, and business.
• Mandatory filing if your filing is mandated by law despite income being below the exemption limit.
• Others can be used if none of the above options apply in your case, but you still want to file your income tax return.

More than 5.5 crore returns have been filed for AY27, data on the official e-filing portal showed today. Of these, over 42 lakh were filed on July 30 — just a day ahead of the deadline today.

Notably, the I-T department has not announced any extension for filing of income-tax returns yet on Friday.

The last date to file ITR 1 and ITR 2 for FY26 is 31 July 2026.

While a taxpayer is still allowed to file a delayed income tax return till the year-end, doing so will attract penalties between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 under Section 234F of the Income-tax Act, depending on the income of the individual.

• For those with an income above ₹5 lakh, filing a belated return will incur a penalty of up to ₹5,000.
• For those with an income of up to ₹5 lakh, the maximum penalty for filing a belated ITR is ₹1,000.
• If a person has an outstanding tax liability, this late filing fee applies in addition to the interest charged on the pending amount under Section 234A.

Nishant Shanker, Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution at Navraj Global Advisors, explained how the interest works under different scenarios:

• If the tax due is ₹10,000: Interest of ₹100 (1% of ₹10,000), plus any applicable late filing fee under Section 234F.
• If the tax due is ₹1 lakh: Interest of ₹1,000 (1% of ₹1,00,000), plus any applicable late filing fee.
• If the tax due is nil: No interest to be paid as there is no outstanding tax. However, a late filing fee under Section 234F may still apply.

If you fail to file your ITR by 31 July and have unpaid tax dues, interest under Section 234A may apply. The interest is charged at 1% per month or part of a month, calculated from the due date until the date you file your return and pay the outstanding tax.

In other words, whether you pay the outstanding tax on 1 August 2026 or any time during the following 30 days, interest for one full month may still apply on the unpaid amount.