Tax Audit Deadline 30 September: What Taxpayers Need To Do Now
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The tax audit deadline for assessment year 2026-27 remains 30 September, while tax professionals are seeking an extension to 31 October from the government.
The tax audit deadline for assessment year (AY) 2026-27 is approaching, with several chartered accountant and tax professional associations seeking more time from the government. However, no extension has been announced yet.
The representations seek to move the deadline from 30 September to 31 October, citing the work involved in reconciliation, verification and other audit-related compliances.
Why Are Tax Professionals Seeking More Time?
A tax audit involves more than preparing and uploading the audit report. Taxpayers and auditors need to reconcile books with Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns, verify Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) details, and check Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).
Bank transactions, fixed assets, loans, statutory dues, related-party transactions, expenses and other disclosures also need to be reviewed before the report is finalised.
Professional bodies have also pointed to portal-related issues, reconciliation challenges and the availability of tax utilities while seeking additional time.
What Is The Tax Audit Deadline For AY 2026-27?
The applicable deadline for filing the tax audit report remains 30 September 2026. The income-tax return deadline for taxpayers whose accounts are subject to audit is 31 October 2026. The two dates should not be confused.
An extension of the tax audit deadline to 31 October will apply only if the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) formally announces the change.
What Should Taxpayers Do Before The Deadline?
Taxpayers covered by tax audit should continue working towards the existing deadline rather than wait for a possible extension.
Books of accounts, sales and purchase records, bank statements, invoices and supporting documents should be ready. GST turnover should be reconciled, while TDS and TCS details should be checked against Form 26AS, AIS and TIS.
Major or unusual transactions, related-party dealings, fixed assets, loans and expenses requiring tax-disallowance analysis should also be reviewed with the auditor.
The tax audit report and income-tax return should be consistent on key details such as turnover, expenses, deductions, tax disclosures and brought-forward losses.
Once the audit report is uploaded electronically, the taxpayer also needs to approve it through the income-tax e-filing account. Taxpayers should therefore leave enough time for this final step.
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This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice from Kotak Neo. For compliance T&C and disclaimers, Visit www.kotakneo.com/disclaimer
Vishwa has spent 10+ years across fintech and FMCG doing what most people miss, connecting the dots, catching trends before they trend, and finding the angle nobody else thought to ask about.
At Kotak Neo, she drives content strategy for neoshorts, Kotak News Desk, and Investing Guide, turning market noise into something worth reading.
When she's not decoding markets, she trades charts for canvases, chasing art, painting, and architecture across cities she's yet to explore.
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