The income tax return filing deadline is not the same for everyone for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27.
While salaried employees and many other individual taxpayers had to file their returns by July 31, 2026, taxpayers earning income from a business or profession and not required to undergo a tax audit have more time.
For these non-audit taxpayers, the ITR filing deadline is August 31, 2026.
The Income Tax Department has also reminded eligible business and professional taxpayers to complete their filing before the deadline.
Who Has to File ITR by August 31?
The August 31 deadline mainly applies to taxpayers who have business or professional income and are not required to get their accounts audited.
This can include eligible:
Business owners
Freelancers
Consultants
Professionals
Proprietors
Depending on their income and taxation method, such taxpayers may generally need to file ITR-3 or ITR-4.
The extended deadline also applies to eligible firms, LLPs and certain non-audit trusts or other entities covered under the applicable tax rules.
The deadline was extended as part of changes introduced for the 2026 tax-filing cycle.
The Union Budget 2026-27 moved the deadline for non-audit business cases and trusts from the earlier July 31 deadline to August 31.
Who Does Not Get the August 31 Deadline?
The August 31 deadline does not apply to everyone.
Salaried employees, pensioners and other taxpayers generally filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 had a July 31, 2026 deadline. That deadline has already passed for AY 2026-27.
Taxpayers whose accounts are subject to a tax audit get additional time.
For AY 2026-27, the tax audit report is due by September 30, 2026, while the ITR filing deadline for audit cases is generally October 31, 2026.
Taxpayers covered by transfer-pricing provisions have a later deadline of November 30, 2026.
ITR Deadlines for AY 2026-27
| Taxpayer Category | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Business/professional taxpayers not subject to audit | August 31, 2026 |
| Eligible non-audit firms, trusts and other applicable entities | August 31, 2026 |
| Tax audit report | September 30, 2026 |
| Taxpayers whose accounts are subject to audit | October 31, 2026 |
| Transfer-pricing cases | November 30, 2026 |
Audit vs Non-Audit: What Is the Difference?
Whether your business requires a tax audit depends on several factors.
Generally, a business may require a tax audit if its sales, turnover or gross receipts exceed ₹1 crore.
However, the threshold can increase to ₹10 crore if cash receipts and cash payments stay within the prescribed 5% limit.
For professionals, the general tax-audit threshold is ₹50 lakh in gross receipts.
However, turnover alone does not always decide whether an audit is required.
Taxpayers also need to consider factors such as cash transactions, presumptive taxation and the nature of their income.
ITR-3 or ITR-4: Which Form Should You Choose?
Taxpayers with business or professional income also need to select the correct ITR form.
ITR-3 is generally meant for individuals and HUFs earning income from business or profession who are not eligible to use ITR-4.
ITR-4, also known as Sugam, is available to eligible resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs who meet the required conditions and opt for presumptive taxation under sections such as 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE.
For instance, an eligible freelancer using presumptive taxation under Section 44ADA may be able to file ITR-4.
Similarly, an eligible business owner opting for Section 44AD may also use ITR-4.
However, if a taxpayer does not meet the eligibility conditions, ITR-3 may be required instead.
Nearly 7 Crore ITRs Filed So Far
The latest data available on the e-filing portal shows that 6.95 crore ITRs have been filed so far.
Of these, around 5.39 crore returns have already been processed.
Taxpayers who fall under the August 31 category should avoid waiting until the last day and complete their return filing on time.
