Tax Audit Deadline September 30: Checks Businesses Should Make Before Filing

Taxpayers who are required to undergo a  tax audit for AY 2026-27 must submit their tax-audit report by September 30, 2026. For FY 2025-26, the report is filed using Form 3CA-3CD or Form 3CB-3CD, depending on the taxpayer’s situation. As the deadline nears, businesses and professionals required to complete this formality must check their books, tax records, and supporting documents to avoid unnecessary delays and lapses while filing the return. Here’s a list of things taxpayers and businesses must keep in check in order to have a smooth filing process.

Complete the Process Before The Deadline

Leaving the audit process until the very last day can increase the chances of errors or incomplete disclosures. Taxpayers should provide the reconciled trial balance, invoices, contracts, fixed-asset records and other supporting documents well in advance. Taxpayers and business owners can fulfil this formality on their own or through their chartered accountants. The audit report requires detailed disclosures, so discrepancies identified at the last minute may leave little time for verification or correction.

Reconcile GST Turnover

Turnover reported in the books should be checked against figures disclosed in GST returns, and the income ultimately reported in the income-tax return. A difference between these figures does not necessarily indicate an error. However, the taxpayer should be able to explain the reason and must maintain proper documentation. The reconciliation should also be extended to information available through the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), especially where these contain details of receipts, interest, dividends or other financial transactions.

Verify TDS and TCS credits

Taxpayers should also compare the tax deducted or collected against their records before claiming credit in the return. Form 26AS and AIS should be checked for the taxpayer’s PAN, assessment year, and the amounts reported by deductors or collectors. Since AIS contains much broader financial information while Form 26AS primarily provides TDS and TCS-related information, both documents might need to be reviewed. If a deductor has reported incorrect information, the taxpayer may need to request a correction from the deductor before finalising the return.

Separate Personal Expenses

Business owners and professionals should review expenses appearing in the profit and loss account to ensure that they are genuinely connected with the business or any professional activity associated with the business. Personal travel, household spending, family expenses and personal insurance should not be treated as business expenditure as a way to reduce taxable.

Recheck Tax Payments                                                            

Advance tax and self-assessment tax should be reconciled with Form 26AS and bank records. Similarly, interest, dividend and other income reflected in AIS or TIS should be compared with the books and the figures proposed for the income tax returns.
The upcoming deadline should therefore be treated as the final filing date and not as a starting point of the process for reconciliation. Completing all the checks and responsibilities on one's end can give taxpayers enough time to identify discrepancies, obtain corrections and finalise the audit report accurately.