ITR Filing: Record 7.8 Crore Returns Filed for AY 2026-27 As August 31 Deadline Ends, What if You Missed It?
More than 7.8 crore income tax returns have been filed for AY 2026-27, according to the Income Tax Department, following the August 31 deadline for taxpayers not requiring audit. Those who missed the deadline can still file a belated return until December 31, 2026, but late filing fees and interest may apply depending on their tax liability.
A record number of over 7.8 crore income tax returns (ITRs) have been filed for the assessment year (AY) 2026-27, the income tax department said on X. The department shared the update on September 1, 2026, a day after the August 31 deadline for taxpayers not requiring audit to file their ITRs.
“A record 7.8 Crore+ ITRs have been filed for AY 2026-27 as on August 31, 2026. We sincerely thank the taxpayers and professionals for their timely compliance," Income Tax India said in a post on X on Tuesday, September 1. The filing numbers come as taxpayers completed their ITR filing ahead of the deadline, with the final day seeing a rush in filings on the e-filing portal. ITR Deadline August 31: ITR-3 vs ITR-4, Eligibility, Documents and Filing Rules Explained.
Record 7.8 Crore ITRs Filed for AY 2026-27 As August 31 Deadline Ends
A record 7.8 Crore+ ITRs have been filed for AY 2026–27 as on August 31,2026.
We sincerely thank the taxpayers and professionals for their timely compliance 🙏🇮🇳https://t.co/5XSxJVCtPx#ITR #FileNow #Taxfiling pic.twitter.com/IdWp8ejJWB
— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) September 1, 2026
What If You Missed August 31 Deadline?
Missing the deadline does not mean that taxpayers have lost the opportunity to file their return. Those who could not submit their ITR by August 31 can still file a belated return. According to the Income Tax Department, a belated ITR for AY 2026-27 can be filed up to December 31, 2026, or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier.
The important difference is that filing after the original due date can attract a late filing fee. If the taxpayer’s total income does not exceed INR 5 lakh, the late filing fee is INR 1,000. In other cases, the fee can be INR 5,000. Interest may also be payable where there is an outstanding tax liability.
How To File A Belated ITR
Taxpayers who have missed the deadline should therefore avoid waiting until December. They can log in to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, select AY 2026-27, choose the applicable ITR form and file the return as a belated return under Section 139(4) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Filing a belated return allows taxpayers who missed the original deadline to complete their tax compliance, subject to the applicable late fee and interest provisions.
Check Income And Tax Details Before Filing
It is also important to check all the information before submitting the return. Taxpayers should reconcile their income with Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS), verify TDS details, report income from salary, business, investments and other sources correctly, and check eligible deductions and tax payments.
Careful verification can help taxpayers identify discrepancies before submitting the belated return and ensure that the information reported in the ITR matches the tax records available with the department.
ITR Filing Deadline And Late Fee
The August 31 deadline applied to taxpayers not requiring an audit for AY 2026-27. Taxpayers who did not file by that date can still submit their return within the belated-return window.
However, the delayed filing can result in a late filing fee of INR 1,000 for taxpayers whose total income does not exceed INR 5 lakh and INR 5,000 in other cases. Additional interest may apply if tax remains payable. With more than 7.8 crore returns already filed, taxpayers who have missed the original deadline have until December 31, 2026, or completion of assessment, whichever is earlier, to file their belated ITR.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2026 08:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
