Summary of this article
Over 1.7 crore taxpayers filed ITRs for AY 2026–27 before July 10 deadline.
File before July 31 after verifying Form 16, AIS, TDS and e-verification carefully.
Missing deadline may attract late fee, interest, and delayed income tax refund processing.
The income tax filing season for Assessment Year (AY) 2026–27 is currently in progress, with taxpayers continuing to file their returns. The filing activity has picked up in recent weeks, with a significant number of taxpayers completing the process ahead of the July 31 deadline.
The Income Tax Department has reported that more than 1.7 crore returns have been filed till 10 July 2026, which shows the ongoing momentum in the filing process. The Income Tax Department, in a post on X, stated, “Over 1.7 crore taxpayers have already taken the smart step and filed their ITRs for A.Y. 2026–27!” The department further said that with more than 10 lakh returns filed on July 10 alone, the filing momentum is building.
The department also advised taxpayers not to wait until the final days to file their returns. It urged eligible taxpayers to complete the filing process before the July 31, 2026, deadline to avoid a last-minute rush and heavy traffic on the e-filing portal, allowing for a smoother filing experience.
The July 31, 2026, deadline applies to taxpayers filing ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-2. These forms are generally meant for salaried individuals, pensioners and other eligible taxpayers whose accounts are not required to be audited under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
What Should Pending Taxpayers Keep In Mind
Taxpayers who are yet to file their income tax returns should ensure they have all the necessary documents before starting the filing process. These include Form 16, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, bank account details and records of investments, deductions and exemptions, wherever applicable.
Taxpayers should carefully check the income details, tax deducted at source (TDS) and other pre-filled information before filing the return. Taxpayers will also need to do the e-verification after filing the return, as the return is considered to be complete only after it is verified.
What Happens If You Miss The Due Date
Taxpayers who do not file their returns by the prescribed due date may still be able to file a belated return within the permitted timeline. While they may have to pay a late filing fee under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act.
The fee can be up to Rs 5,000, while taxpayers with a total income of up to Rs 5 lakh may have to pay a reduced fee of Rs 1,000. Depending on the case, interest on outstanding tax liability may also be applicable and delayed filing could lead to slower processing of tax refunds.
