New Delhi: A record over 7.8 crore ITRs have been filed for assessment year (AY) 2026-27 till August 31, the income tax department said on Tuesday.
Last year, over 7.3 crore income tax returns (ITRs) were filed by September 16, 2025, the extended deadline for filing returns for non-audit cases for AY 2025-26.
” A record 7.8 crore+ ITRs have been filed for AY 2026-27 as on August 31, 2026,” the I-T department said in a X post.
The filing numbers come as taxpayers completed their ITR filing ahead of the deadline, with the final day seeing a rush in filings on the e-filing portal.
What if you missed the August 31 deadline?
Missing the deadline does not mean that taxpayers have lost the opportunity to file their return. Those who could not submit their ITR by August 31 can still file a belated return.
According to the Income Tax Department, a belated ITR for AY 2026-27 can be filed up to December 31, 2026, or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier.
The important difference is that filing after the original due date can attract a late filing fee. If the taxpayer’s total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh, the late filing fee is Rs 1,000. In other cases, the fee can be Rs 5,000. Interest may also be payable where there is an outstanding tax liability.
Taxpayers who have missed the deadline should therefore avoid waiting until December. They can log in to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, select AY 2026-27, choose the applicable ITR form and file the return as a belated return under Section 139(4) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
It is also important to check all the information before submitting the return. Taxpayers should reconcile their income with Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS), verify TDS details, report income from salary, business, investments and other sources correctly, and check eligible deductions and tax payments.
