ITR Filing Last Date: July 31st Deadline Not for All Taxpayers – Who Can File Income Tax Returns by August 31
The July 31 ITR filing deadline does not apply to every taxpayer. While salaried individuals, pensioners and students must file by July 31, taxpayers with business or professional income not requiring a tax audit can submit Income Tax Returns until August 31. Missing the applicable due date may attract a late fee of up to INR 5,000.
The July 31 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) does not apply to every taxpayer. While salaried individuals, pensioners, students and most non-business taxpayers are required to file their returns by July 31, certain taxpayers with business or professional income who are not subject to a tax audit have until August 31 to submit their returns for the assessment year.
Missing the applicable ITR deadline can result in a late filing fee of up to INR 5,000 and require taxpayers to file a belated return. Those who fail to file even a belated return may face legal consequences under the Income Tax Act. Understanding the correct due date based on the taxpayer category is therefore important. ITR Filing 2026: Step-by-Step Guide To File Your Income Tax Return Online Before the July 31 Deadline.
Who Must File ITR by July 31?
The July 31 due date remains unchanged for salaried individuals, pensioners, students and other taxpayers who do not have business or professional income and are not subject to tax audit requirements.
Commenting on the filing schedule, Shalini Jain, Tax Partner, EY India, said: "The income tax return filing due date continues to remain 31st July for salaried individuals and other non-business non-audit taxpayers. Similarly, the existing due dates of 31st October and 30th November remain unchanged for taxpayers subject to audit requirements and transfer pricing compliances, respectively." ITR for AY 2026-27: How to Calculate Dues Under Old vs New Tax Regimes Ahead of July 31 Deadline.
Who Can File ITR by August 31?
The August 31 deadline applies to taxpayers having business or professional income whose accounts are not required to be audited and who are not companies.
This category may include certain freelancers, consultants, contractual employees with business income and self-employed professionals who fall outside the tax audit requirement.
The revised timeline provides these taxpayers with an additional month to complete their ITR filing.
ITR Due Dates for Different Categories
For Assessment Year (AY) 2026–27, the applicable due dates are:
| Category | ITR Due Date |
|---|---|
| Salaried individuals, pensioners, students and other non-business, non-audit taxpayers | July 31, 2026 |
| Taxpayers with business/professional income not requiring tax audit (non-companies) | August 31, 2026 |
| Companies and taxpayers subject to tax audit | October 31, 2026 |
| Taxpayers requiring a transfer pricing report under Section 92E | November 30, 2026 |
Why Filing on Time Matters
Tax experts advise taxpayers to verify the filing deadline applicable to their category instead of assuming that July 31 is the final date for everyone.
Failing to file an ITR within the prescribed timeline can attract a late fee of up to INR 5,000 and require submission of a belated return. If taxpayers do not file even a belated return, they may be considered in violation of income tax laws and could face additional consequences.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2026 09:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).