For different assesses based on their nature of income and complexity of books of accounts, the government of India has specified the due date for filing income tax returns.
The due date for filing income tax return is the date by which asessee can file the return without paying any late fee or penalty
If you file your income tax return after the due date as applicable to the financial year, then you will be liable to pay interest under section 234A and penalty under section 234F.
As per present tax laws, the due date varies on the basis of taxpayers. For instance, salaried individuals are required to file their income tax return by 31st July of the assessment year relevant to the financial year, whereas individuals covered under tax audit and corporate can file their tax return by 31st October of the assessment year.
Such a due date can be extended by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) working under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. If it’s extended by CBDT, then such a new extended date will be considered as the due date for filing income tax return.
For companies being a private limited company or public limited company registered in India and not having any international transactions are required to furnish their income tax return on or before 31st October 2022 for the financial year 2021-22. If the companies are having any international transaction then the due date for filing will be 30th November.
Any assessee whose accounts are required to be audited under Income Tax act 1961 or any other act like companies act 2013, then the due date of IT filing is 31st October.
If you are a self-employed person and required to get your accounts audited under section 44AB, then the due date for filing your income tax return is 31st October.
If you are a partner of a partnership firm and the accounts of the firm are required to be audited under any law like under section 44AB, then the due date of filing your income tax return is 31st October.
In case of a salaried person or a self-employed person whose accounts are not required to be audited under any law or a person not covered under any points discussed above, has to file their income tax return on or before the due date of 31st July.
Where the last day for filing income tax return is a day on which the offices are closed, the assessee/person can file the Income Tax Return on the next day following the due date on which the office is open and in such cases the return will be considered to have been filed within the specified time limit. If the offices are kept open on the last day even though the due date is a holiday then such returns have to be filled on such a date instead of filing on the next day. This is applicable only when you file your income tax return in paper format.
Tax filing due date applicable for the Financial year 2020-21 and 2021-22
| Category | Tax filing Due Date for FY 2020-21 | Tax filing Due Date for FY 2021-22(unless extended by CBDT) |
| Individual / HUF/ AOP/ BOI(Cases where taxpayer is not required to audit books of accounts) | 31st December 2021(extended from 31st July) | 31st July 2022 |
| Businesses (Audit is mandatory) | 15th February 2022(extended from 31st October 2021) | 31st October 2022 |
| Businesses (Transfer Pricing Report is required) | 28th Feb 2022(extended from 30th Nov 2021) | 30th November 2022 |
Due dates for payment of advance tax
We have few important due dates in Income tax which have to be followed if advance tax provisions are applicable to the taxpayer. Here is a list of those important advance tax due dates;
| Installments | Due dates |
| First installment of advance tax | 15th June |
| Second installment of advance tax | 15th September |
| Third installment of advance tax | 15th December |
| Fourth installment of advance tax | 15th March (Also the due date for the whole amount of advance tax for taxpayers covered under the presumptive scheme of Section 44AD and 44ADA) |
What if you missed the due date of filing your tax return?
If you missed the due date of filing a tax return, then you can file it after the due date of filing, which is called a belated return. However, you can file the return on or before 31st December of the relevant assessment year. For the financial year 2020-21, 31st December 2021 has been extended to 31st March 2022.
Can you claim a refund if your IT return is filed after the due date?
Income tax refund can be claimed only if you have filed your income tax return. Due date of filing has nothing to do with the refund. However, if you file after the due date, then penal interest and late fee as applicable will be levied. Remember the last date of filing your income tax return is 31st December of the assessment year. For the financial year 2020-21, the last date of filing has been extended from 31st December 2022 to 31st March 20222.
You can file your return before 31st march 2022 to get a refund.
Can you revise your income tax return if it’s filed after the due date?
In case of any correction to the original income tax return, it can be done using the revised return under section 139(5) of the Income tax act, 1961. If you have filed a belated return, then it can be revised under section 139(5).
