Tax audit, ITR deadlines extended: Here's what taxpayers need to know

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the deadlines for filing income tax returns and furnishing tax audit reports for certain taxpayers for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27.

For taxpayers covered by the audit provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the deadline for filing the income tax return (ITR) has been moved from October 31, 2026, to November 21, 2026. The corresponding deadline for furnishing the tax audit report has been extended from September 30, 2026, to October 21, 2026.

The CBDT announced the decision through a social media post, saying the extension applies to persons mentioned at serial number 2 in the table under Explanation 2 to Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

Revised deadlines for taxpayers

The extension effectively gives taxpayers and professionals additional time to complete audits, finalise accounts and submit the necessary information before filing the return.

For non-transfer pricing cases, chartered accountant Avinash Kumar Rao, partner at Mohindra & Associates, said the tax audit deadline has moved from September 30 to October 21, while the ITR deadline has shifted from October 31 to November 21, 2026.

Rao said the extension should provide relief to taxpayers and professionals because a substantial number of tax audits are still under way, while many companies are yet to fully finalise their accounts and provide the information required for completing the process.

He advised taxpayers to use the additional time rather than wait until the final days. Where the tax liability has already been determined, taxpayers should ideally pay it at the earliest because applicable interest may continue to accrue on delayed tax payments.

The Income Tax Department's guidance states that for AY 2026-27, which relates to income earned during FY 2025-26, tax audit reports continue to be governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961. The prescribed forms include Form 3CA, Form 3CB and Form 3CD, depending on the taxpayer's circumstances.

Who needs a tax audit and how it is filed

Not every taxpayer is required to undergo an income tax audit. Where an audit is mandatory, the taxpayer has to engage a chartered accountant to conduct the audit and furnish the prescribed report through the Income Tax e-Filing portal.

The Income Tax Department says Form 3CA-3CD applies where the taxpayer's accounts are audited under another law, while Form 3CB-3CD applies in other cases where an audit under Section 44AB is required.

The process begins with the taxpayer assigning a chartered accountant through the e-Filing portal. The taxpayer can go to Authorised Partners, followed by My Chartered Accountant, and assign the applicable Form 3CA-3CD or Form 3CB-3CD.

Once the assignment is made, it appears in the CA's Worklist, where the chartered accountant accepts it. The CA then prepares the audit report using the offline utility, generates the JSON file, uploads it to the portal and verifies it using a Digital Signature Certificate.

After the report is uploaded and verified, it becomes available in the taxpayer's Worklist under Pending for Acceptance. The taxpayer must review the report, accept it and complete the required e-verification. An acknowledgement is generated after the process is completed.

Taxpayers therefore do not have to depend solely on their CA for confirmation that the report has been uploaded. They can log in to the e-Filing portal and check Pending Actions, followed by Worklist and Pending for Acceptance, to verify whether the tax audit report is awaiting their acceptance.

The additional time provided by the CBDT consequently applies to two linked compliance stages: the tax audit report must now be furnished by October 21, 2026, while the ITR for the specified category of taxpayers is due by November 21, 2026.