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Income Tax Return Filing: More than 5.9 crore income tax returns (ITRs) were filed for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 by the July 31 deadline, the Income Tax Department said on Saturday. The department thanked taxpayers for completing their income tax filing within the due date.
In a post on social media platform X, the Income Tax Department said the filing of more than 5.9 crore ITRs by the deadline reflected taxpayers’ trust and timely compliance.
“Thank you, taxpayers! Over 5.9 crore ITRs were filed for AY 2026-27 by July 31st!”
The latest figures highlight the sharp increase in ITR filing activity during the final days before the July 31 income tax return filing deadline. More than 40 lakh ITRs were filed on the final day alone, as taxpayers rushed to complete their returns before the deadline. 🧾
📈 ITR Filing Surges Ahead of July 31 Deadline
The pace of income tax return filing increased significantly in the weeks leading up to July 31.
According to the Income Tax Department, the number of ITRs filed for AY 2026-27 crossed several major milestones in a short period:
- July 11: More than 1.7 crore ITRs filed
- July 22: ITR filings crossed 3 crore
- July 27: More than 4 crore ITRs filed
- July 31: ITR filings crossed 5 crore
- By the close of filing: More than 5.5 crore ITRs had been filed
- Final figure: Over 5.9 crore ITRs filed by the July 31 deadline
The numbers show how sharply filing activity accelerated as the deadline approached.
⏰ More Than 40 Lakh ITRs Filed on Last Day
A significant portion of taxpayers completed their income tax returns at the last minute.
More than 40 lakh ITRs were filed on July 31, the final day for taxpayers covered by the July 31 due date. The surge underlines the annual trend of taxpayers waiting until the final days to submit their returns.
The Income Tax Department had repeatedly advised taxpayers to avoid waiting until the last moment. Early filing can help taxpayers avoid potential technical issues, website congestion and heavy traffic on the e-filing portal.
🧾 What Changed in ITR Forms for AY 2026-27?
For AY 2026-27, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified revised income tax return forms with updated disclosure requirements.
The revised forms include changes relating to areas such as:
- Long-term capital gains
- Losses arising from share buybacks
- Certain trading transactions
- Other disclosures intended to improve transparency and tax compliance
These changes are part of the broader effort to make income tax reporting more transparent while streamlining the filing process for taxpayers.
💰 Income Tax Filing and Refunds Continue to Grow
The latest ITR filing numbers also highlight the growing scale of India’s direct tax administration.
During FY 2024-25, more than 9 crore taxpayers filed income tax returns, while the Income Tax Department issued refunds worth more than ₹4.35 lakh crore.
The rising number of ITR filings reflects the expanding taxpayer base and increasing adoption of online income tax return filing in India.
🔎 What the 5.9 Crore ITR Filing Figure Means for Taxpayers
The filing milestone shows that millions of taxpayers completed their annual income tax compliance before the July 31 deadline.
For taxpayers who missed the original deadline, the applicable provisions for belated ITR filing may still allow them to submit a return, subject to the rules, applicable deadlines, interest and late-filing consequences.
Taxpayers should also carefully verify their return details, complete the required verification process and retain relevant records after filing.
📌 ITR Filing 2026: Key Takeaways
More than 5.9 crore ITRs were filed for AY 2026-27 by July 31, according to the Income Tax Department.
The key highlights are:
✅ 5.9 crore+ ITRs filed by the July 31 deadline
✅ More than 40 lakh returns filed on the final day
✅ ITR filings crossed 5 crore on July 31
✅ Revised ITR forms were introduced for AY 2026-27
✅ CBDT updated disclosure requirements in several areas
✅ More than 9 crore ITRs were filed during FY 2024-25
✅ Income Tax Department refunds exceeded ₹4.35 lakh crore during FY 2024-25
📰 Bottom Line
The filing of more than 5.9 crore ITRs for AY 2026-27 by the July 31 deadline marks another major milestone for India’s income tax administration. The sharp rise in filings during the final weeks also shows the importance of completing ITR filing early to avoid last-minute technical problems and portal congestion.
With updated ITR forms and additional disclosure requirements in place for AY 2026-27, taxpayers should ensure that their income, deductions, capital gains and other relevant details are accurately reported in their returns.
