Coverage: official developments identified from 27 May 2025 through 27 July 2026. This article is a practical index, not a substitute for checking the law, notification, form instructions and filing portal applicable to the taxpayer.
1. AY 2025-26 return date extension
CBDT Circular No. 06/2025 dated 27 May 2025 extended the due date from 31 July 2025 to 15 September 2025 for assessees covered by clause (c) of Explanation 2 to section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The circular was issued to allow time for reporting changes in tax audit and related forms. It did not create a general extension for every return category, so the applicable provision and due date still had to be checked.
2. Income-tax Act, 2025 became the transition point
The Income-tax Act, 2025 provides for repeal of the Income-tax Act, 1961 with effect from 1 April 2026, subject to the saving and transition provisions in the new Act. Businesses should therefore preserve return, assessment, appeal, TDS and record trails for earlier years while mapping new forms and references for periods governed by the 2025 Act.
3. AY 2026-27 forms and utilities
The Income Tax Department notified ITR-1 and ITR-4 on 8 April 2026, followed by the other principal return forms. The Department then released online, Excel and offline utilities in stages during April to June 2026, with corrigenda issued on 24 April 2026. Before filing, confirm that the utility matches the taxpayer, assessment year and filing category, and use the latest version published on the e-filing portal.
4. Additional changes to monitor
- Notification 80/2026 dated 13 July 2026 specified certain payments received by eligible IFSC units for TDS relief under the 2025 Act framework.
- Notification 97/2026 dated 27 July 2026 introduced Form ITR-BN and related changes for search and requisition cases, effective from 1 April 2026.
- The Department's 1 April 2026 notification also set out a Form 121/UIN procedure under section 393(7).
- AIS users should review the Department's CRS/FATCA foreign-asset information note before relying on pre-filled data.
Action checklist
- Identify the applicable Act and assessment year before preparing the return.
- Download the current utility from the official e-filing portal and validate pre-filled AIS data against books, TDS certificates and bank records.
- Retain notices, acknowledgements, audit reports, computation workings and evidence of tax payment in an indexed file.
- For search cases, IFSC transactions or cross-border matters, obtain transaction-specific advice before filing.
Official sources
Disclaimer: This summary is for general awareness as published on 28 August 2026. Tax outcomes depend on facts and the law in force. Verify current notifications, due dates and portal instructions, and consult a qualified professional before acting.