Tax Filing Milestone: Over 7.5 Crore Returns Filed as Deadline Approaches

NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a significant surge in tax compliance, with a record-breaking 7.5 crore income tax returns (ITRs) submitted for the Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27. With the filing window for non-audit business and professional taxpayers closing at midnight on Monday, officials expect this figure to climb even higher.

The current data highlights a robust trend in early filing, with more than 5.9 crore ITR-1 and ITR-2 forms having been processed by the July 31 deadline. This substantial volume underscores an increasing digital adoption among taxpayers and a broader shift toward timely tax reporting.

For perspective, the current figures surpass the performance of the previous assessment cycle. For AY 2025-26, the total number of returns filed reached over 7.3 crore by September 16, 2025—a date that followed an extension granted for non-audit cases. The current tally of 7.5 crore indicates that taxpayers are increasingly prioritizing filing well within the stipulated timelines.

The Income Tax Department has reminded taxpayers that the specific deadline for those with business or professional income—who do not fall under the category requiring a formal audit—is August 31, 2026.

As the digital infrastructure continues to streamline the filing process, the Income Tax Department urges remaining taxpayers to complete their filings before the final cutoff to avoid potential penalties or processing delays. With the deadline looming, the tax authority remains on high alert to handle the final surge of data submissions.