- Tax department urges taxpayers to file ITRs early.
- Verify financial records to avoid errors and portal congestion.
- Over four crore returns filed; CBDT revised forms.
The Income Tax Department has urged taxpayers who are yet to file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 to complete the process well before the July 31 deadline, advising them to verify all financial records to avoid errors and last-minute difficulties.
The department has reminded eligible taxpayers filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 that delaying the exercise until the final day could result in unnecessary stress, technical issues and slower response on the e-filing portal due to increased traffic.
Verify Financial Records Before Filing
As part of its latest advisory, the department has asked taxpayers to reconcile their financial documents before submitting their returns. It recommended matching details available in Form 16, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, bank statements and other income records to ensure the information reported in the return is accurate.
The advisory is intended to help taxpayers minimise discrepancies in their filings and complete the process smoothly ahead of the due date.
In a post on social media platform X, the Income Tax Department urged taxpayers not to postpone filing their returns.
“Missing the ITR deadline is like getting Hit Wicket – completely avoidable.”, the department said.
Missing the ITR deadline is like getting Hit Wicket – completely avoidable.
Avoid late fees and interest, turn your ITR filing into a Free Hit by filing early.
Reconcile & file your ITR 1 & 2 for AY 2026-27 before 31st July 2026!
🔗 https://t.co/GYvO3mStKf#ITR #TaxFiling… pic.twitter.com/kLb0U15mrY— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) July 29, 2026
More Than 4 Crore Returns Already Submitted
The reminder comes after the department recently announced that more than 4 crore income tax returns had already been filed for AY 2026-27. At the time, it appealed to the remaining taxpayers to complete the filing process before the July 31 deadline.
The latest figures indicate that a significant number of taxpayers have already complied, even as the department continues to encourage those yet to file their returns to avoid waiting until the final hours.
Also Read : ITR Filing 2026: 5 Financial Tasks To Complete After Filing Your Income Tax Return
Return Filing And Refunds Continue To Grow
The department’s latest update also highlights the steady growth in tax return filings in recent years.
According to official data, more than 9 crore taxpayers filed income tax returns during the financial year 2024-25 as of March 31, 2025. Of these, 8.64 crore returns were successfully e-verified.
During the same period, the Income Tax Department issued refunds worth Rs 4,35,008 crore, reflecting the scale of return processing carried out over the financial year.
CBDT Revises ITR Forms For AY 2026-27
Separately, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified revised ITR forms for AY 2026-27 with updated disclosure requirements.
The revised forms require additional disclosures relating to long-term capital gains, losses arising from share buybacks and certain trading transactions.
With only two days remaining before the filing window closes, the Income Tax Department has reiterated that taxpayers should complete the process at the earliest after reconciling their financial records, rather than leaving it until the deadline when portal congestion and avoidable complications are more likely.
Also Read : Buying An EV In Haryana? No Motor Vehicle Tax On Vehicles Worth Up To Rs 30 Lakh
