New Delhi, 01 September (H.S.): In a positive development on the economic front, the number of income tax returns (ITRs) filed in India has reached a record high, with more than 7.8 crore returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 as of August 31.

The Income Tax Department said in a post on X on Tuesday that more than 7.8 crore ITRs had been filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 as of August 31, 2026. This figure also includes more than 5.9 crore Income Tax Return-1 (ITR-1) and Income Tax Return-2 (ITR-2) forms filed by the original deadline of July 31.

According to data released by the department, more than 7.3 crore ITRs had been filed for Assessment Year 2025-26 by September 16, 2025, which was the deadline for filing returns in non-audit cases. The department thanked taxpayers and tax professionals for complying with the prescribed requirements within the stipulated time.

For Assessment Year 2026-27, the prescribed deadline for taxpayers having income from business or profession whose accounts were not required to be audited was August 31, 2026.

Taxpayers falling under the applicable non-audit category can file the relevant income tax return forms, including ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5 or ITR-7, depending on their nature of income and status.

ITR-3 is used by individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who earn income from a proprietary business or profession. ITR-4 is a comparatively simplified return form intended for eligible small and medium taxpayers under the applicable provisions.

ITR-5 is meant for entities such as firms, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), associations of persons, bodies of individuals and other specified entities. ITR-6 is used by companies registered under the Companies Act, except those claiming exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act. ITR-7 is applicable to persons, including trusts and charitable or religious institutions, required to file returns under the specified provisions of the Income Tax Act.

The record number of ITR filings reflects continued compliance by taxpayers and professionals and comes as the Income Tax Department has increasingly encouraged timely and digital filing of returns.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar