31st July 2026 ITR Due Date: Complete Guide for Salaried Assessees and Non-Audit Cases

The calendar is moving steadily towards 31st July 2026, the statutory deadline for filing the Income Tax Return (ITR) for Financial Year 2025–26 (Assessment Year 2026–27) for a large category of assessees. Many salaried individuals and pensioners are still wondering whether this date really matters, especially when their employer has already deducted TDS from salary.

This article explains, in practical terms, who must file the ITR by 31st July 2026, why timely filing is critical, what happens if you miss the due date, and what alternative options remain (Belated Return, Revised Return, Updated Return).

1. What Exactly Is the 31st July 2026 Due Date?

1.1 Statutory due date for non-audit cases

For Assessment Year 2026–27 (Financial Year 2025–26), 31st July 2026 is the due date for filing ITR for:

  • Salaried assessees
  • Pensioners
  • Individuals and HUFs having income from sources such as salary, house property, capital gains, and other sources, where no tax audit is required

This is the standard non-audit due date under the Income Tax Act 1961.

Important: The due date is linked to the nature of income and whether a tax audit is applicable – not merely to the fact that TDS has been deducted.

Many salaried assessees incorrectly believe that once their employer has deducted TDS from salary and issued Form 16, their responsibility ends. That is incorrect.

  • Deduction and deposit of TDS:
    • This is the employer’s statutory duty.
  • Filing of ITR:
    • This is the assessee’s independent legal obligation.

One compliance does not substitute the other. Even if full tax is already paid through TDS, the assessee is still required to file the ITR if the law mandates so.

2. Who Should File ITR by 31st July 2026?

2.1 Mandatory filers – when filing is compulsory

For Assessment Year 2026–27, the following assessees must file their ITR by 31st July 2026:

  1. Salaried employees whose gross total income before deductions exceeds the basic exemption limit.
  2. Pensioners receiving pension income plus other incomes crossing the basic exemption limit.
  3. Individuals and HUFs (no tax audit) having income from:
    • Salary or pension
    • One or more house properties
    • Capital gains (e.g., sale of shares, mutual funds, immovable property)
    • Income from other sources (interest, family pension, etc.)

Where total income before Chapter VI-A deductions (e.g., Section 80C, Section 80D, etc.) exceeds the basic exemption threshold, ITR filing is not optional – it is mandatory.

2.2 Why you may still want to file even if income is below exemption limit

Even if your income is below the basic exemption limit, filing an ITR by 31st July 2026 is often beneficial in several situations:

  • To claim refund of excess TDS

    • Example:
      • Mr. Sharma’s gross total income is below the taxable limit, but his bank has deducted TDS on interest. He must file ITR to get that money refunded.

  • To carry forward eligible losses

    • Losses from:
      • Shares
      • Mutual funds
      • Derivatives
      • Certain other capital assets
        can be carried forward only when ITR is filed within the due date.

  • To strengthen financial documentation

    • Banks and financial institutions often insist on ITR copies for:
      • Home loan applications
      • Car loans
      • Credit cards
    • Embassies routinely ask for ITRs for:
      • Visa processing, especially for business or long-stay visas