NEW DELHI, October 4 — In a significant compliance relief for businesses and professionals, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), exercising its powers under Section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, has extended the due date for furnishing statutory tax audit reports for Assessment Year 2026–27 to November 21, 2026.
The extension comes following representations from trade associations, industry bodies, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) highlighting seasonal filing congestion and recent electronic reporting schema updates on the e-filing portal. The statutory deadline, originally September 30 and subsequently adjusted to October 7, has now been provided a comprehensive window to ensure seamless reconciliation without penal consequences.
Under the notification, audit reports mandated under Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, transfer pricing audit filings in Form 3CEB, and related reporting forms can now be submitted without interest or late-filing fees through November 21.
Direct tax administration, statutory powers of revenue boards, and compliance frameworks are frequently tested in UPSC, SSC CGL, and economic services exams. Candidates should note that the CBDT is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, and forms part of the Department of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance.