Taxpayers, Professionals Demand Extension of Audit Filing Deadline to October 31

Ghaziabad, September 24, 2026: Professional organizations and tax practitioners are intensifying pressure on the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to extend the deadline for tax audit filings for the assessment year 2026-27. The Bharatiya Vaishya Global Foundation has formally submitted a memorandum seeking an extension of the tax audit report deadline, including forms 10B and 10BB, from September 30 to October 31, 2026. Furthermore, the organization has requested that the filing deadline for tax returns related to these audits be pushed from October 31 to November 30, 2026. This appeal aligns with similar requests made by the CA Association Jalandhar, the Rajasthan Tax Consultants Association, and the All India Management Tax Practitioners Association (AIMTPA).

Challenges Faced by Tax Professionals

CA Dr. Vinay Mittal, national president of the Bharatiya Vaishya Global Foundation, highlighted the severe time constraints that have hampered the audit process this year. According to the foundation, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) mandated a new accounting format for non-corporate entities with a turnover exceeding ₹5 crore only on March 31, 2026. This late notification left little room for compliance adjustments. Additionally, the release of ITR forms and their respective utilities was delayed and frequently updated; for instance, the utility for ITR-6 was only made available on August 20, while the utilities for ITR-3 and ITR-5 underwent revisions as late as September 1.

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Dr. Mittal noted that the compressed timeline, compounded by the deadline for non-audit returns being set for August 31, left auditors with effectively only one month to complete the complex audit tasks. Operational hurdles were further exacerbated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ CCFS-2026 scheme, which remained active until September 15, requiring additional filings from the same group of chartered accountants.

Logistical and External Disruptions

Beyond administrative delays, external factors have significantly slowed the filing process. The month of September saw the observance of Paryushan and Dashlakshan festivals, which fell across 18 days, impacting working hours. Regional disruptions, including heavy rainfall and waterlogging in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, further hindered office operations. Professionals also reported persistent technical glitches on the income tax portal, specifically involving login, OTP, and DSC validation, as well as errors in form 3CD validation.

The foundation also pointed to a complex regulatory environment, noting that this is the first year where compliance with both the Income Tax Act of 1961 and 2025 has been required simultaneously. Meanwhile, the fiscal pressure of managing GST, TDS, advance tax, and EPF/ESI liabilities remains constant throughout the month. Compounding these issues, a one-day bank strike occurred on September 11, 2026, with a three-day strike proposed for September 28 to 30. This creates a critical risk, as banks will be largely inaccessible during the final week of the filing window, impacting balance confirmations and tax payments.

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Advocating for Long-Term Reform

In its communication to the CBDT, the foundation emphasized that an extension would not lead to any loss in revenue, as advance tax and self-assessment tax obligations are already being met. They suggested that the interest provisions under Section 234A could be maintained if necessary. Dr. Mittal warned that insisting on the current timeline would likely result in hasty filings, leading to a surge in revised reports, unnecessary tax notices, and increased litigation. The foundation recalled that the board granted a similar extension to October 31 last year, setting a precedent for such relief.

Looking toward future compliance cycles, the Bharatiya Vaishya Global Foundation has urged the CBDT to provide immediate relief through an official order. They further proposed a permanent structural change: all ITR forms and utilities should be released and finalized by April 30 each year, with audit report deadlines fixed at October 31 and return filing deadlines permanently set for November 30. “Taxpayers should not be forced to choose between religious observances and statutory compliance,” said Dr. Mittal. “We remain confident that the board will act in the best interests of millions of honest taxpayers.” For further details, Dr. Vinay Mittal can be reached at 9310556351.