Understanding ITR Forms, Their Applicability and Due Dates for AY 2026-27

Understanding ITR Forms, Their Applicability and Due Dates for AY 2026-27

Latest update

Have you guys heard about the latest update about the Income Tax Department, which has already commenced the release of e-filing utilities for AY 2026-27?

Utilities Currently Available:

Online filing facility & Excel Based utility for ITR-1 (Sahaj) is enabled.
Online filing facility & Excel Based utility for ITR-4 (Sugam) is enabled.
Online filing facility & Excel Utility for ITR-2 have also been enabled on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.

But the question is, do you know about the correct ITR form for you & the due date by which you must file your ITR?

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Let’s decode it

Types of ITR Forms and Their Applicability

ITR-1 (Sahaj)

Who can file?

ITR-1 can be filed by a Resident Individual (other than RNOR) having the following:

Total income up to Rs 50 lakh.
Income from Salary or Pension.
Income from up to two House Properties (Loss cannot be carried forward).
Income from Other Sources, such as Interest.
Agricultural income up to Rs 5,000.
Long-Term Capital Gain under Section 112A up to Rs 1.25 lakh (subject to prescribed conditions).

Who cannot file?

Non-Residents (NRIs).
Directors in companies.
Persons holding unlisted equity shares.
Individuals having foreign assets or foreign income.
Persons having business or professional income.
Individuals have complex capital gain transactions.
Individuals have brought forward losses & need to be carried forward under any head of income.

ITR-2

Who can file?

Individuals and HUFs who do not have income from Business or Profession but have:

Income exceeding Rs 50 lakh.
Income from Salary
Capital gains from shares, mutual funds, property, etc.
Multiple house properties.
Income from other sources, including casual incomes such as the Lottery, winning, etc.
Foreign assets or foreign income.
Directorship in a company.
Residential status as ROR, RNOR & NR
Unlisted equity shareholdings.
Agricultural income exceeding Rs 5,000.
Individuals have brought forward losses & need to be carried forward under any head of income.

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ITR-3

Who can file?

Individuals and HUFs having:

Income from Business or Profession. (Either presumptive or Audit case)
Proprietorship business.
Partner’s remuneration, interest, and salary from partnership firms.
Futures & Options (F&O) trading income.
Intraday trading income.
Salary/House Property/IFOS/CG income along with Business or profession.

ITR-4 SUGAM

Who Can File?

It can be filled by:

Resident Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and Partnership Firms (excluding LLPs)
Those with a total income of up to Rs 50 lakh
Taxpayers declaring income under the presumptive taxation scheme — Section 44AD (businesses), Section 44ADA (professionals), or Section 44AE (goods carriage operators)
Individuals with income from salary, one- or two-house properties, and other sources, in addition to presumptive business income

Note: One relaxation for FY 25-26, i.e., taxpayers with up to two house properties can now use ITR-4, whereas previously, only those with a single house property were eligible

ITR-5

Applicable To:

Partnership Firms
LLPs
Association of Persons (AOP)
Body of Individuals (BOI)
Artificial Juridical Persons
Co-operative Societies

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ITR-6

Applicable To:

Companies other than those claiming exemption under Section 11 (income from property held for charitable or religious purposes)

ITR-7

Applicable To:

Persons required to furnish returns under Sections 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C), and 139(4D), including:

Charitable and Religious Trusts
Political Parties
Educational Institutions
Research Associations
Certain Funds and Universities

Applicable Due Dates

ITR Form	Category of Taxpayer	Due Date
ITR-1 (Sahaj)	Individuals not having business/professional income and satisfying the prescribed conditions	31-Jul-26
ITR-2	Individuals/HUFs not having business or professional income	31-Jul-26
ITR-3	Business/Professional Income (Non-Audit Cases)	31-Aug-26
ITR-3	Business/Professional Income requiring Tax Audit u/s 44AB	31-Oct-26
ITR-3	Cases covered under Transfer Pricing provisions (Form 3CEB applicable)	30-Nov-26
ITR-4 (Sugam)	Presumptive Taxation Scheme Non-Audit Cases	31-Aug-26
ITR-4 (Sugam)	Presumptive Taxation cases requiring Audit	31-Oct-26
ITR-5	Firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs, etc. (Non-Audit Cases)	31-Aug-26
ITR-5	Audit Cases	31-Oct-26
ITR-6	Companies	31-Oct-26
ITR-6	Companies covered under Transfer Pricing provisions	30-Nov-26
ITR-7	Trusts, Institutions, Political Parties, etc. (Audit Cases)	31-Oct-26
Belated Return [Sec. 139(4)]	All Taxpayers	31-Dec-26
Revised Return [Sec. 139(5)]	All Taxpayers	31-Mar-2027 (with late fee after 31/12/2026)
Updated Return (ITR-U)	Eligible Taxpayers	Up to 48 months from the end of the relevant AY

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Note:

Although filing utilities are available, taxpayers are advised to wait until Form 16, Annual Information Statement (AIS), and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) are fully updated before filing returns to avoid mismatches and defects.