Income tax returns for AY 2026-27 surpass 78 million in India

India’s Income Tax Department has reported that more than 78 million Income Tax Returns were filed for the 2026–27 assessment year (AY) by 31 August.

Taking to the social media platform X, the agency categorised the turnout as a “record”.

“We sincerely thank the taxpayers and professionals for their timely compliance,” the post added.

The date marked the end of the revised filing deadline for non-audit business and professional taxpayers, according to an ANI report.

Changes introduced through the Finance Act 2026 amended the return-filing timetable under the Income-tax Act, 1961.

The change gave non-audit businesses and professionals one additional month to file returns. The due date for other taxpayers was 31 July.

Companies and taxpayers whose accounts must be audited have a filing deadline of 31 October.

Taxpayers covered by transfer-pricing requirements under Section 92E must file by 30 November.

AY 2026–27 applies to income earned during the 2025–26 financial year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

A belated return can be submitted up until 31 December 2026, although late filers will be subject to penalties and interest.

The Income Tax Department stated that returns for this assessment year remain regulated by the Income-tax Act, 1961, despite the Income Tax Act, 2025 taking effect from 1 April 2026.

The new act is said to have removed obsolete provisions and simplified the language in a more coherent format.

Earlier this year, a senior revenue department official predicted that the new law, which came into force following a full-scale review of the older Income-tax Act, may lead to higher voluntary compliance.