India, June 30 -- What if the Income Tax Return (ITR) deadline you've followed for years no longer applies to you? As millions of taxpayers across India prepare to file returns for the income earned during the Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, the government has introduced a major change in the filing calendar for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27. Instead of a single deadline for everyone, taxpayers will now follow different due dates based on the ITR form they file.

The move, announced through Budget 2026, aims to reduce compliance pressure, give professionals and small businesses more time to prepare accurate returns, and simplify the overall filing process.

Before you begin your tax filing this year, it is important to know who needs to file,...