New Delhi, August 22 (TNA) The Income Tax Department has said that more than 6.5 crore Income Tax Returns have already been filed for Assessment Year 2026-27, including over 2 crore ITR-3 and ITR-4 returns till yesterday. The department has urged taxpayers not to wait until the final days, warning that last-minute filing often leads to technical congestion, verification delays and avoidable mistakes.
The reminder is especially relevant for taxpayers filing ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 and ITR-7 without audit requirement, since the due date for these returns is August 31. The latest filing numbers show that the return-filing season is moving quickly ahead of the deadline, with business and professional taxpayers accounting for a significant part of the submissions.
According to the department’s update, more than 2 crore ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms had been filed by August 20, indicating steady filing activity among taxpayers with business or professional income.
The August 31 deadline applies to non-audit taxpayers filing ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 and ITR-7, and the department has specifically advised them to complete filing early rather than wait for the last week.
This deadline is particularly important for freelancers, consultants, small business owners and other taxpayers whose income falls under business or professional categories and who are not required to undergo a tax audit.