The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued Circular No. 07/2026 dated 28 September 2026, extending the due date for filing income tax returns for Assessment Year 2026-27 (financial year 2025-26) for taxpayers whose accounts must be audited.
For these taxpayers, the return due date moves from 31 October 2026 to 21 November 2026. The specified date for furnishing the tax audit report was correspondingly extended to 21 October 2026. Since AY 2026-27 relates to income earned before 1 April 2026, it continues to be governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961, and the CBDT has issued the extension read with section 536 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Who it affects: companies, firms, LLPs and other assessees covered by tax audit or other audit requirements.
What to do: finalise computations and file the return well before 21 November 2026 to avoid interest and late fees.
Source: CBDT, Circular No. 07/2026 (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/sites/default/files/2026-09/Circular-7-2026.pdf)