The Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued a circular on Tuesday, pushing the filing window for 2025‑26 annual financial statements to December 31, 2026, and for annual returns to January 31, 2027, in response to a surge of stakeholder complaints.
Companies reported that the MCA 21 portal crashed or lagged during the critical filing period, causing missed deadlines and automatic penalties.
Under the revised timeline, firms still need to submit audited financial statements and comply with the Companies Act provisions, but the additional month is expected to ease pressure on auditors and compliance teams.
CII finance head Ramesh Kumar praised the move, saying it would reduce "administrative friction" for SMEs, while the Ministry said it would review portal performance.
Companies are urged to update their internal filing schedules and seek professional advice to avoid late penalties, with the next audit cycle slated to begin in early 2027.