Filing the Return for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27): Form, Verification, Dates and Corrections
This article covers the governing Act, the choice of form, the documents and reconciliations needed before filing, verification, the due dates and the routes for filing late or correcting a return for AY 2026-27, as on 12 October 2026.
The Income-tax Act, 2025 commenced on 1 April 2026, but returns for FY 2025-26 continue to be governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961 under the transitional framework. Forms ITR-1 to ITR-7 are available for the year. Practitioners handling the season's last filings need to be exact on dates, verification and the effect of late action.
Governing Law and Choice of Form
References throughout are to the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Income-tax Rules, 1962.
- ITR-1 (Sahaj) is for eligible resident individuals with total income up to Rs 50 lakh from specified sources.
- ITR-2 is for individuals and HUFs without business or professional income, and ITR-3 for those with such income.
- ITR-4 (Sugam) is for eligible resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs with qualifying presumptive income.
- ITR-5 is for firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs and other specified persons.
- ITR-6 is for companies other than those claiming exemption under
Section 11. - ITR-7 is for persons filing under
Section 139(4A)to139(4D).
For AY 2026-27 the eligibility for ITR-1 and ITR-4 is wider. Income from up to two house properties and specified long-term capital gains under Section 112A up to Rs 1.25 lakh may be reported in these forms, subject to the conditions in the form. Not every capital-gains case qualifies, and the instructions to the form decide eligibility. A wrong form is among the commonest causes of a defective return.