ITR Filing Last Date for Salaried Employees – FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)
If you’re a salaried employee, mark your calendar: the last date to file your Income Tax Return (ITR) for FY 2025-26 (Assessment Year 2026-27) is 31st July 2026. Missing this date can cost you money in penalties and interest — and delay your refund.
Here’s everything you need to know, in plain language.
Quick Answer
| Taxpayer Category | ITR Form | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried employees (salary, up to 2 house properties, capital gains) | ITR-1 / ITR-2 | 31st July 2026 |
| Business/professional income (no audit required) | ITR-3 / ITR-4 | 31st August 2026 |
| Accounts requiring audit | ITR-3 / ITR-4 | 31st October 2026 |
| Transfer pricing cases | — | 30th November 2026 |
For most salaried professionals reading this, 31st July 2026 is your deadline.
Why This Deadline Matters for Salaried Employees
- Faster refunds — If excess TDS was deducted from your salary, filing early means your refund lands sooner.
- Avoid late fees — Under Section 234F, missing the deadline attracts a penalty even if you don’t owe any additional tax.
- Interest on unpaid tax — Section 234A charges interest on any tax due if you file late.
- Loss carry-forward — File late, and you lose the right to carry forward certain capital losses to future years.
- Visa and loan applications — Banks and embassies often ask for ITR copies. A late-filed or missing return can create last-minute hurdles.
What Happens If You Miss 31st July 2026?
You’re not completely out of options, but it gets more expensive:
- Belated Return: You can still file until 31st December 2026, but you’ll pay a late fee of ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000 (income above ₹5 lakh) under Section 234F, plus interest on any unpaid tax.
- Revised Return: If you’ve already filed but spot an error, you can revise it until 31st March 2027.
- Updated Return (ITR-U): For missed income even after the above windows close, an updated return can be filed within the prescribed time, subject to additional tax.
None of these are as good as filing correctly and on time — so it’s best not to rely on them as a backup plan.
Documents Salaried Employees Need Before Filing
Keep these ready so filing takes minutes, not hours:
- Form 16 from your employer (usually issued by mid-June)
- Form 26AS / AIS (Annual Information Statement) to cross-check TDS and other income
- Salary slips for the financial year
- Bank statements and interest certificates (savings account, FDs)
- Proof of deductions if opting for the old regime — Section 80C (PF, ELSS, life insurance), 80D (health insurance), HRA receipts, home loan interest certificate (Section 24b), etc.
- Capital gains statements if you sold mutual funds, stocks, or property during the year
- Bank account details for refund credit (pre-validated on the e-filing portal)
Old Regime vs New Regime — A Quick Note
The new tax regime (Section 115BAC) continues as the default for FY 2025-26. Key points for salaried employees:
- Standard deduction of ₹75,000 applies under the new regime.
- Section 87A rebate makes income up to ₹12.75 lakh (after standard deduction) effectively tax-free under the new regime.
- You can still choose the old regime if your deductions (HRA, 80C, home loan interest, etc.) work out better for you — salaried individuals without business income can switch regimes every year, but only if you file by the due date.
Comparing both regimes before filing can make a real difference to your final tax outgo, so it’s worth running the numbers rather than defaulting to whichever regime was applied on your payslip.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Week
Every year, the income tax portal slows down as the deadline approaches, and last-minute filers are more prone to mistakes — wrong ITR form, mismatched TDS figures, missed deductions. Filing a few weeks early gives you room to fix errors, gather missing documents, and avoid the portal rush.
File Your ITR the Easy Way — with EasyITR Filing
At EasyITR Filing, we handle the entire process for salaried professionals, freelancers, and business owners — CA-assisted, over WhatsApp, without the paperwork headache.
- ₹499 — Salaried income only
- ₹998 — Salary + Capital Gains
- ₹1,497 — Salary + Capital Gains + F&O
- ₹1,999 — Business/Professional income
- Custom pricing for NRI and complex filings
Just send your Form 16 and documents over WhatsApp, and our CA team takes care of computation, regime comparison, and filing — accurately and on time.
👉 Get started on easyitrfiling.com or message us on WhatsApp to file your ITR before the 31st July 2026 deadline.
FAQs
Q: What is the last date to file ITR for salaried employees for FY 2025-26? A: 31st July 2026, for those filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 without audit requirements.
Q: Can I file after 31st July 2026? A: Yes, as a belated return until 31st December 2026, but with a late fee under Section 234F and interest on any unpaid tax.
Q: Is ITR filing compulsory even if my employer already deducted TDS? A: Yes. TDS deduction doesn’t replace ITR filing — filing is how you claim any refund and formally report your total income.
Q: Which ITR form should a salaried person use? A: ITR-1 if your total income is up to ₹50 lakh with salary, one or two house properties, and other specified income sources. ITR-2 is required if you have capital gains, foreign assets, or income that doesn’t fit ITR-1’s criteria.
This article is for general information and reflects rules applicable for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) as per current guidance from the Income Tax Department. Tax rules can change; please verify specifics for your situation or consult a CA before filing.