New Delhi, March 20 -- The Finance Ministry has on 20 March notified and published its draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 in the e-Gazette.

This comes after the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) put out its Draft Income Tax Rules in January 2026 and sought feedback from stakeholders. These rules make it possible for the I-T Act of 2025 to go into effect, replacing the 1961 Act with effect from 1 April 2026.

Notably, Budget 2026 extended the Income-Tax Returns (ITR) due date for ITR-3 and ITR-4 for non-audit taxpayers to 31 August from the end of the relevant tax year. However, there are no changes in the income tax slabs for FY26-27, and the existing slabs will continue. Further, deadline ITR-1 and ITR-2 remains 31 July of the relevant tax...