The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Monday extended the due dates for furnishing tax audit reports and income-tax returns for assessment year 2026-27 by 21 days, the Times of India reported.
Taxpayers whose accounts are subject to tax audit will now have until November 21, 2026 — instead of October 31 — to file their returns. The "specified date" for furnishing the tax audit report has been moved from September 30 to October 21, 2026, the CBDT said in a press release.
Who is covered
The extension applies to persons covered under S.No.2 in the table below Explanation 2 to Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 — companies and other taxpayers whose accounts are required to be audited. The CBDT said a formal order or notification giving effect to the extension would be issued separately.
Relief after a compressed window
Tax practitioners had been demanding more time, citing a compressed audit window after the August 31 deadline for filing returns in non-audit cases. "The additional 21 days will provide much-needed breathing space to businesses to complete their tax audits, undertake necessary reconciliations and ensure that the information reported in the tax return is accurate and appropriately supported," Nangia & Co LLP Senior Partner Amit Agarwal told the New Indian Express.
The income-tax department had earlier said that a record over 7.8 crore income-tax returns for AY 2026-27 were filed by August 31. The deadline for salaried taxpayers was July 31, while those with business or professional income not requiring audit had until August 31.
Sources: Times of India: CBDT extends tax audit report deadline till October 21, ITR last date to November 21 · New Indian Express: I-T dept extends deadline for corporates tax audit report, ITR filing by three weeks
Taxpayers whose accounts are subject to tax audit will now have until November 21, 2026 — instead of October 31 — to file their returns. The "specified date" for furnishing the tax audit report has been moved from September 30 to October 21, 2026, the CBDT said in a press release.
Who is covered
The extension applies to persons covered under S.No.2 in the table below Explanation 2 to Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 — companies and other taxpayers whose accounts are required to be audited. The CBDT said a formal order or notification giving effect to the extension would be issued separately.
Relief after a compressed window
Tax practitioners had been demanding more time, citing a compressed audit window after the August 31 deadline for filing returns in non-audit cases. "The additional 21 days will provide much-needed breathing space to businesses to complete their tax audits, undertake necessary reconciliations and ensure that the information reported in the tax return is accurate and appropriately supported," Nangia & Co LLP Senior Partner Amit Agarwal told the New Indian Express.
The income-tax department had earlier said that a record over 7.8 crore income-tax returns for AY 2026-27 were filed by August 31. The deadline for salaried taxpayers was July 31, while those with business or professional income not requiring audit had until August 31.
Sources: Times of India: CBDT extends tax audit report deadline till October 21, ITR last date to November 21 · New Indian Express: I-T dept extends deadline for corporates tax audit report, ITR filing by three weeks
