Income tax return (ITR) filing for the financial year 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27) is anticipated to commence in May 2026, following the activation of necessary filing utilities by the Indian income tax department. Taxpayers must be aware of specific deadlines: salaried individuals and those filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 must submit their returns by July 31, 2026, while non-audit business cases (ITR-3 and ITR-4) have until August 31, 2026. Those requiring audits must file by October 31, 2026, and businesses involved in international transactions have until November 30, 2026. Late submissions can incur penalties under Section 234F, highlighting the importance of timely filing for smoother compliance and quicker processing of refunds. Taxpayers are encouraged to prepare now by gathering necessary documents, such as interest certificates and capital gains statements, to avoid last-minute issues. Form 16 will be available by June 2026 for salaried individuals, and verifying Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) is essential to ensure accuracy.