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  5. ITR filing last date extension: ITR due date extended in 5 of last 6 years. Why is 2026 different?

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ITR filing last date extension: ITR due date extended in 5 of last 6 years. Why is 2026 different?

rajeev kumar
By Rajeev Kumar

4 min read | Updated on July 28, 2026, 14:30 IST

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SUMMARY

Income tax Return (ITR) filing due dates have been extended in five of the last six assessment years. However, 2026 is likely to be different, as the due date may not be extended for at least three reasons.

itr filign last date extension news 2026

No ITR filing due date extension is expected in 2026. | Image: Shutterstock

"ITR filing last date extension" and "ITR due date extension" were among the breakout search phrases on Google Trends on the morning of Tuesday, July 28, 2026 (see screenshot below). Searches for an ITR deadline extension are expected to intensify in the run-up to July 31, 2026, the last date for filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 without paying any penalty.
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However, it is surprising to see such a search trend for AY 2026-27, as the Income Tax Department has already announced separate deadlines this year to help taxpayers and reduce the likelihood of demands for a last-minute extension.

google-trends-itr-extension.webp

As the ITR filing deadline for AY 2026-27 approaches, this article takes a look at the five occasions in the past six assessment years when the Income Tax Department extended the ITR due dates. But first, let's look at reasons why 2026 is different.

Why is 2026 different?

ITR due dates have been extended in five of the last six assessment years. However, 2026 is likely to be different, as the due date may not be extended for the following three reasons:

1)Large no. of returns already filed

As of July 27, 2026, more than 4.37 crore returns have been filed for AY 2026-27, of which taxpayers have verified over 4.11 crore ITRs while the Income Tax Department has processed more than 2.3 crore returns.

Compared to last year, when 4.9 crore returns were filed under ITR-1 and ITR-2 between April 1 and September 30, 2025, it appears that most returns in these forms have already been filed, reducing the possibility of any further deadline extension this year.

2) Deadline already extended for non-audit business and professional taxpayers

The Income Tax Department has already extended the deadline till August 31, 2026, for taxpayers filing returns for business and professional income in non-audit cases. July 31 is the deadline only for ITR-1 and ITR-2 filers, and it appears most returns under these forms have already been filed.

3) e-filing portal glitches and due date extension demand are not as intense as last year

Scores of taxpayers and tax experts complained about technical glitches on the e-filing portal in 2025 on social media platforms such as X. They even ran the "Extend Due Date Immediately" campaign on X, which eventually resulted in an extension. However, this year appears to be different, as very few taxpayers or experts have complained about glitches on the e-filing portal so far.

ITR due date extensions in last 6 years

AY 2020–21: The original ITR filing deadline of July 31, 2020, was extended multiple times and was eventually pushed to January 10, 2021. Through multiple notifications issued in 2020 and early 2021, the government extended the due dates for filing ITRs and audit reports amid COVID-19 disruptions (read more about these extensions).
AY 2021-22: The due date for filing ITR was first extended from July 31, 2021, to September 30, 2021. It was subsequently extended to December 31, 2021. The due date for furnishing audit reports was first extended to October 31, 2021, and later to January 15, 2022.
AY 2022-23: The due date for filing income tax returns in audit cases was extended to November 7, 2022. The due date for furnishing various reports of audit was first extended from September 30 to October 7, 2022.
AY 2023-24: No extension in ITR due dates
AY 2024-25: The due date for filing audit reports was extended from September 30, 2024, to October 7, 2024. The due date of filing returns by assesses required to furnish an audit report was extended to December 15, 2024. The due date for filing a belated return was extended from December 31, 2024 to January 15, 2025.
AY 2025-26: The ITR filing due date was first extended from July 31, 2025, to September 15, 2025, due to delays in notifying new ITR forms and implementation of necessary system updates. The deadline was extended again by a day to September 16, 2025. The due date for furnishing audit reports was extended to November 10, 2025.
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About The Author

rajeev kumar
Rajeev Kumar is a Deputy Editor at Upstox, and covers personal finance stories. In over 11 years as a journalist, he has written over 2,000 articles on topics like income tax, mutual funds, credit cards, insurance, investing, savings, and pension. He has previously worked with organisations like 1% Club, The Financial Express, Zee Business and Hindustan Times.

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