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ITR filing deadline confusion: July 31 or August 31? Check your actual due date

image Sangeeta Ojha
By Sangeeta Ojha

2 min read | Updated on July 28, 2026, 13:01 IST

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SUMMARY

Confused whether the ITR filing deadline is July 31 or August 31? Here's who must file by July 31 and which taxpayers can file their income tax return by August 31.

itr filing deadline confusion

If you are required to file ITR-1 or ITR-2, don't assume you can wait until August 31. | Image: Shutterstock.

Many taxpayers are confused about the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline this year. Is the last date July 31 or August 31? While tax professionals and finance experts are aware of the changes announced in Budget 2026, many taxpayers are unsure which deadline applies to them.
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For years, most individuals associated ITR filing with a single deadline of July 31. However, Budget 2026 introduced different due dates for different categories of taxpayers. As a result, not everyone has the same filing deadline anymore.

Depending on the type of income you earn, the ITR form you need to file, and whether your accounts are subject to audit, your due date could be July 31, August 31, or even later. At the same time, assuming you have extra time when you don't could result in a late filing.

That is why it is important to know the deadline that applies specifically to you.

What has changed?

For Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, the government has extended the due date for eligible non-audit business and professional taxpayers filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 from July 31 to August 31, 2026.

However, this relaxation does not apply to everyone.

If you are filing ITR-1 or ITR-2, your due date continues to be July 31, 2026. This category includes most salaried individuals, pensioners, and many taxpayers with capital gains who are eligible to file ITR-2.

The August 31 deadline is available only to specified taxpayers filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 who have business or professional income and are not required to get their accounts audited.

In short, if you are required to file ITR-1 or ITR-2, don't assume you can wait until August 31. Missing the July 31 deadline could lead to late filing consequences, including interest, penalties (where applicable), and delays in processing refunds.

576 individuals reported income above ₹100 crore in AY 2025-26

Meanwhile, the government has shared fresh data highlighting the rise in ultra-high-income taxpayers.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on July 27, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said 576 individuals reported a gross total income of ₹100 crore or more in their income tax returns for Assessment Year 2025-26. This is a four-fold increase from 142 individuals in AY 2021-22.
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About The Author

image Sangeeta Ojha
Sangeeta Ojha is a business and finance journalist with experience across leading media platforms like Mint and India Today. She has built a reputation for covering a wide range of personal finance topics, including income tax, mutual funds, insurance, savings and investing.

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