THE CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES (CBDT) announced on Monday that it will push back the due date for the Return of Income from 31 October 2026 to 21 November 2026 for taxpayers listed under sub‑section (1) of section 139(2) of the Income‑Tax Act. The audit report deadline, originally set for 30 September, is now 21 October 2026.
The change, made in a press release, applies only to persons subject to audit under the Act, not to the general taxpayer population. Under section 139, an audit report must accompany the return when a taxpayer’s income exceeds ₹10 lakh or when the tax authorities deem the return complex.
By extending these dates, the CBDT aims to reduce the compliance burden on large firms and high‑net‑worth individuals, many of whom already juggle multiple filing obligations. Earlier, the shorter window had caused a backlog of audit reports, delaying assessments and refunds.
The board added that a formal order will be issued separately to implement the extension, and that taxpayers will be notified via the e‑filing portal. No further changes to tax rates or deduction limits are announced.
For the 2026‑27 assessment year, the extended deadlines give taxpayers an extra three weeks to gather documents, complete audits, and file returns, which could smooth the year‑end filing rush.
The next step is the issuance of the formal order, expected within the next week, after which the new deadlines will be enforceable across the country.