May 2026 is the first full compliance month after the Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026. Per official Income Tax Department material, the new Act applies from Tax Year 2026-27 onward, while filings that relate to FY 2025-26 should still be checked against the earlier law and the applicable notified forms.
For most employers and deductors, the largest deadline of the month is 31 May 2026, when the quarterly TDS returns for Q4 (Jan-Mar 2026) in Forms 24Q, 26Q and 27Q are generally due. Limited Liability Partnerships also need to watch 30 May 2026 for Form 11 (LLP Annual Return) for FY 2025-26. GST filers must track GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, IFF and PMT-06 according to their filing category.
Two more items dominate the second half of the month. TCS Return for Q4 in Form 27EQ is due by 15 May 2026, and TDS deducted during April 2026 must be deposited by 7 May 2026. Companies covered by the MCA dematerialisation framework should review whether PAS-6 is applicable for the half year ended 31 March 2026, with a 60-day window placing the deadline around 30 May 2026.
The CCFS 2026 scheme window notified by MCA vide General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026 continues through May. The IEC annual updation window on the DGFT portal also remains open through May. Practitioners should always cross-verify final due dates from the Income Tax Department tax calendar, the GST portal, the MCA portal and the relevant DGFT notification before filing.
This calendar lists the major May 2026 due dates across income tax, GST, LLP, ROC, labour and DGFT compliance, and flags items that should be verified against the latest portal instructions before filing.
Top 5 Due Dates Not To Miss
| No | Due Date | Compliance | Who Should Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 May 2026 | TDS Returns Q4 — Form 24Q / 26Q / 27Q (Jan-Mar 2026) | Every deductor with TAN — companies, LLPs, firms, employers, large proprietors |
| 2 | 30 May 2026 | Form 11 — LLP Annual Return for FY 2025-26 | Every LLP, including LLPs with no business activity |
| 3 | 15 May 2026 | TCS Return Q4 — Form 27EQ (Jan-Mar 2026) | E-commerce operators, sellers covered by Section 206C, scrap dealers, motor-vehicle sellers |
| 4 | 07 May 2026 | TDS Deposit for April 2026 (Challan 281) | Every non-government deductor — first deposit in the new financial year |
| 5 | 15 May 2026 | EPF and ESI contributions for April 2026 | Every covered employer |
Income Tax & TDS — May 2026
May 2026 involves two main tasks: finalizing Q4 for FY 2025-26 (TDS/TCS returns, certificates, and challans) and managing April 2026 operations under the new Income-tax Act, 2025. Form 24Q for Q4 is the most data-intensive, requiring Annexure-II for annual employee-wise reconciliation of salary, deductions (Chapter VI-A), tax regime, and total TDS, which generates Form 16 Part B via TRACES. Q4 returns use the Income-tax Act, 1961, while April 2026 deductions (due 7 May 2026) must align with the new Act and current portal guidance.
| Due Date | Purpose | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 May 2026 | TDS Deposit – Non-Government Deductors | Apr 2026 | First month of TDS deposits after the Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force. Verify portal due date and applicable section codes. |
| 07 May 2026 | TCS Deposit – Non-Government Collectors | Apr 2026 | TCS collected during April 2026. |
| 07 May 2026 | TDS/TCS Deposit – Government Deductors via Challan | Apr 2026 | Government deductors/collectors depositing through challan. Government offices using book entry deposit on the day of deduction itself. |
| 14 May 2026 | TDS Certificates (Form 16B/16C/16D/16E) | Mar 2026 | Issuance of certificates for property purchase u/s 194-IA, rent u/s 194-IB, contractor/professional payments u/s 194M and virtual digital asset transactions u/s 194S. |
| 15 May 2026 | Form 24G (Book-Adjustment Statement) | Apr 2026 | Government offices where TDS/TCS for April 2026 has been paid without production of a challan furnish Form 24G. |
| 15 May 2026 | TCS Return – Q4 (Form 27EQ) | Jan-Mar 2026 | Quarterly TCS statement for Q4. |
| 30 May 2026 | Challan-cum-Statement (194-IA/IB/M/S) | Apr 2026 | Form 26QB / 26QC / 26QD / 26QE for property purchase, rent, contractor/professional payments and virtual digital asset transactions. |
| 30 May 2026 | Form 49C — Liaison/NRI Activity Report | FY 2025-26 | Annual statement of activities by non-residents having a Liaison Office in India under Section 285 read with Rule 114DA. |
| 31 May 2026 | TDS Returns – Q4 (Form 24Q / 26Q / 27Q) | Jan-Mar 2026 | Form 24Q includes Annexure-II. Form 26Q covers non-salary TDS to residents (including Section 194T partner payments). Form 27Q covers TDS on payments to non-residents. |
| 31 May 2026 | Form 61A — Statement of Financial Transactions | FY 2025-26 | SFT under Rule 114E by reporting entities — banks, NBFCs, mutual funds, sub-registrars of property, listed companies, post offices, RBI, recognised stock exchanges and similar institutions. |
| 31 May 2026 | Form 61B — Statement of Reportable Account (FATCA/CRS) | CY 2025 | Reporting financial institutions furnish Form 61B under Rule 114G for the calendar year 2025 (verify exact due date from the reporting portal guidance). |
GST Deadlines for May 2026
May (Q1) GST: Monthly filers file April 2026 returns. QRMP taxpayers (up to Rs. 5 Cr turnover) have two facilities for April: optional IFF (due May 13) for B2B invoices and mandatory PMT-06 tax payment (due May 25) via Fixed Sum or Self-Assessment. Composition dealers have no May return; the next CMP-08 is in July (for Q1 FY 2026-27).
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 2026 | GSTR-7 /GSTR-8 | Apr 2026 | GST TDS return by deductors and TCS return by e-commerce operators for April 2026. |
| 11 May 2026 | GSTR-1 (Monthly) | Apr 2026 | Monthly outward supplies return for taxpayers with turnover above Rs. 5 crore or those filing monthly. |
| 13 May 2026 | IFF (QRMP – Optional) | Apr 2026 | First-month invoice push-out under the QRMP scheme. Aggregate value capped at Rs. 50 lakh per month. |
| 13 May 2026 | GSTR-6 | Apr 2026 | Input Service Distributor (ISD) return for April 2026. |
| 13 May 2026 | GSTR-5 | Apr 2026 | Non-Resident Taxable Persons (NRTP) return for April 2026, due within 13 days after month-end or within 7 days after expiry of registration, whichever is earlier (Section 39(5), CGST Act). |
| 20 May 2026 | GSTR-3B (Monthly) | Apr 2026 | Monthly summary return — tax liability, ITC claim and net tax payment. |
| 20 May 2026 | GSTR-5A | Apr 2026 | OIDAR service providers’ monthly return for April 2026. |
| 25 May 2026 | PMT-06 (QRMP – Mandatory) | Apr 2026 | First-month tax payment by QRMP taxpayers under the Fixed Sum Method or Self-Assessment Method. |
| As needed | RFD-11 (LUT) for FY 2026-27 | FY 2026-27 | Exporters who have not yet filed their Letter of Undertaking for FY 2026-27 should do so before making any zero-rated supply. |
GST Watch-Points for May 2026
- Composition dealers must compile annual data in May for the extended GSTR-4 (FY 2025-26) due by 30 June 2026.
- A key housekeeping task is ITC reconciliation for FY 2025-26. The deadline to claim unclaimed ITC is 30 November 2026 or the GSTR-9 filing date, whichever is earlier. Reconciling GSTR-2B with books in May prevents the audit-month rush.
- Advance preparation in May is recommended for GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C (FY 2025-26), due by 31 December 2026.
ROC and LLP Filings – May 2026
May is dominated by LLP Form 11 and the PAS-6 half-yearly demat reconciliation. The CCFS 2026 scheme remains operational throughout the month for any company with overdue annual filings.
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Authority | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2026 | Form 11 (LLP Annual Return) | MCA / ROC | Filed within 60 days of FY-end under Section 35 of the LLP Act, 2008. Filing is generally required from every LLP, including LLPs with no business activity (NIL filing). Form is digitally signed by two Designated Partners; a CS certificate is required where turnover exceeds Rs. 5 crore or partner contribution exceeds Rs. 50 lakh. |
| 30 May 2026 | PAS-6 — Reconciliation of Share Capital | MCA / ROC | Half-yearly form under Rule 9A of the Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Rules, 2014, for the half year ended 31 March 2026. Private companies should verify whether the MCA dematerialisation framework requires PAS-6 for them in the relevant half-year before filing. |
| Operational till 15 Jul 2026 | CCFS 2026 — Scheme Window Continues | MCA / ROC | MCA General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026. The circular details fee relief, eligible forms and immunity conditions; refer to the circular text directly for the operative language. |
LLP Form 11 – Action Points for May
LLP Form 11 details the LLP’s management snapshot, including partner, designated partner, contribution, profit-sharing, yearly changes, and any body-corporate partners. Avoid common issues: pending Form 4 (partner changes) withuncleared fees (Form 11 won’t upload if Form 4 is processing), expired DSCs, missed NIL filings for dormant/new LLPs, and last-minute May portal congestion.
Designated partners must check MCA revision workflow before submission as revision flexibility is limited. Post-2021 LLP Amendment, the flat Rs. 100/day late fee is replaced by a multiplier structure. Late fees now depend on the delay period and whether the LLP is ‘Small’ (capital ≤ Rs. 25 lakh and turnover ≤ Rs. 40 lakh).
The normal filing fee depends on partner contribution. It begins at Rs. 50 for LLPs with contribution up to Rs. 1 lakh and goes up to Rs. 600 for contribution above Rs. 1 crore.
| Period of Delay | Small LLP | Other than Small LLP |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 days | 1× normal fee | 1× normal fee |
| 16-30 days | 2× | 4× |
| 31-60 days | 4× | 8× |
| 61-90 days | 6× | 12× |
| 91-180 days | 10× | 20× |
| 181-360 days | 15× | 30× |
| Beyond 360 days | 15× plus Rs. 10 per day for each further day beyond 360 days | 30× plus Rs. 20 per day for each further day beyond 360 days |
For a worked example and the full filing-fee slab table, refer to the Setindiabiz LLP Annual Compliance page.
CCFS 2026 — Continuing Through May:
- The CCFS 2026 scheme is operational throughout May 2026 (window: 15 April to 15 July 2026). Companies with any pending statutory filings should act early in May rather than waiting for the closing weeks, when MCA portal load typically surges.
- The scheme reportedly offers reduced additional fees for filing overdue annual returns and financial statements, with separate fee benefits for dormant status (Form MSC-1) and voluntary strike-off (Form STK-2). For the operative wording on fee relief, eligible forms and immunity conditions, refer directly to MCA General Circular No. 01/2026 dated 24 February 2026. Companies already struck off, under liquidation or facing IBC proceedings are not eligible.
EPF and ESI Compliance Dates
Employers must deposit EPF and ESI contributions for the April 2026 wage month — the first wage month of FY 2026-27. New joiner UAN/IP creation, KYC and nomination housekeeping should be completed in May to avoid Q1 ECR rejection.
| Due Date | Compliance | Period | Particulars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | EPF and ESI Contributions | Wage Month: Apr 2026 | Deposit contributions and file ECR (Electronic Challan cum Return). Delays attract interest at 12% p.a. under Section 7Q of the EPF Act, plus damages as per Para 32A of the EPF Scheme and the latest EPFO notifications. |
DGFT and RBI Compliance
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within 7 working days from month-end (as applicable) | RBI Form ECB-2 | Apr 2026 | Monthly ECB return reported through the RBI FIRMS portal. Actual date may vary depending on bank holidays. |
| Open through 30 Jun 2026 | IEC Annual Updation Window | FY 2026-27 | IEC holders complete annual verification/update on the DGFT IEC profile management portal, subject to the applicable DGFT notification/public notice. Updation is required even where there are no changes. Non-updation may lead to IEC deactivation or operational restrictions; verify the exact consequence from the latest DGFT notification. |
| As applicable | FC-GPR | As applicable | Report to RBI within 30 days of allotment of shares to foreign investors under the FDI route, filed through the RBI FIRMS portal. |
| As applicable | FC-TRS | As applicable | Report transfer of shares between resident and non-resident within 60 days of transfer, filed through the RBI FIRMS portal. |
State Professional Tax Note
Professional Tax due dates and slabs vary by state and are notified under the respective State Acts and Finance Acts. The following are illustrative due dates for high-volume employer states. Always verify on the relevant state Professional Tax portal before filing, and account for state-specific revisions during the year.
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within 7 working days from month-end (as applicable) | RBI Form ECB-2 | Apr 2026 | Monthly ECB return reported through the RBI FIRMS portal. Actual date may vary depending on bank holidays. |
| Open through 30 Jun 2026 | IEC Annual Updation Window | FY 2026-27 | IEC holders complete annual verification/update on the DGFT IEC profile management portal, subject to the applicable DGFT notification/public notice. Updation is required even where there are no changes. Non-updation may lead to IEC deactivation or operational restrictions; verify the exact consequence from the latest DGFT notification. |
| As applicable | FC-GPR | As applicable | Report to RBI within 30 days of allotment of shares to foreign investors under the FDI route, filed through the RBI FIRMS portal. |
| As applicable | FC-TRS | As applicable | Report transfer of shares between resident and non-resident within 60 days of transfer, filed through the RBI FIRMS portal. |
For state-specific PT slabs and the full multi-state monthly schedule, refer to the state-wise Professional Tax guide on setindiabiz.com.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and reflects laws (like Income-tax Act, 2025, Companies Act, 2013, GST, EPF, ESI, LLP Act, 2008) and notifications as of April 30, 2026. Due dates for Professional Tax vary by state. Always verify final due dates on official portals: Income Tax Department tax calendar, GST, MCA, EPF, ESI, and DGFT websites. This is not legal or tax advice; consult a professional. Setindiabiz offers compliance support for filing services, including TDS, LLP Form 11, GST returns, and Income-tax Act, 2025 transition advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Q4 TDS return for Jan-Mar 2026 still filed under the old law?
The Income-tax Act, 2025, came into force on 1 April 2026 and applies from Tax Year 2026-27 onwards. Q4 (Jan-Mar 2026) deductions belong to FY 2025-26, so the underlying provisions, rates and reporting structure for the Q4 return continue to be checked against the Income-tax Act, 1961, even though the return is filed in May 2026.
Form 27EQ for Q4 is similarly checked against Section 206C of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Deductions and collections from 1 April 2026 onwards should be checked against the new Act and current portal instructions
Who must file LLP Form 11 even if there was no business activity?
Under Section 35 of the LLP Act, 2008, every LLP is generally required to file Form 11 within 60 days of the financial year-end (i.e., by 30 May 2026 for FY 2025-26), irrespective of turnover, business activity or operating status.
This applies equally to newly incorporated LLPs (covering the period from incorporation to 31 March 2026) and dormant LLPs, which file a NIL return. Note that for an LLP incorporated on or after 1 October 2025 (i.e., in existence for less than 180 days during FY 2025-26), the filing of Form 11 is optional for the first financial year under the current MCA filing workflow.
What is the LLP Form 11 late fee for a Small LLP in 2026?
A Small LLP under the LLP Act, 2008, is one with capital up to Rs. 25 lakh and turnover up to Rs. 40 lakh in the preceding financial year. The earlier flat Rs. 100 per day late fee for Form 11 has been replaced under the LLP (Amendment) Act, 2021, with a multiplier-based structure applied to the normal filing fee (which itself depends on partner contribution and starts at Rs. 50).
For Small LLPs, the multiplier is 1× for delays up to 15 days, 2× for 16-30 days, 4× for 31-60 days, 6× for 61-90 days, 10× for 91-180 days, and 15× for 181-360 days. Beyond 360 days, the fee is 15× plus Rs. 10 for each further day of delay. Other-than-Small LLPs pay double these multipliers and Rs. 20 per further day beyond 360 days. The full fee table and a worked example are available on the Setindiabiz LLP Annual Compliance page.
When is Form 16 and Form 16A required to be issued to employees and vendors?
After the Q4 TDS return is filed by 31 May 2026, Form 16 for salary TDS must generally be issued to every employee by 15 June 2026 for FY 2025-26. Form 16A for non-salary TDS (covering Section 194C contractor payments, Section 194J professional fees, Section 194I rent, Section 194A interest, the new Section 194T partner payments, and similar items) must also be issued within 15 days from the due date of filing the Q4 return — effectively 15 June 2026 as well.
Both certificates must be downloaded from the TRACES portal with the official TRACES watermark. Manually generated certificates without the watermark are not valid for the deductee’s ITR. Delayed Q4 filing pushes Form 16 / 16A issuance beyond 15 June, which directly impacts employees who need Form 16 for ITR filing or for home-loan and visa documentation.
Is IFF mandatory for QRMP taxpayers in May 2026?
The Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) is optional for QRMP taxpayers — there is no penalty for not filing it. If a QRMP supplier does not upload B2B invoices via IFF for April 2026, those invoices appear in the recipient’s GSTR-2B only after the quarterly GSTR-1 is filed in July 2026, delaying the recipient’s ITC claim by up to two months.
For large-volume B2B suppliers, IFF is recommended to keep the customers’ ITC pipeline smooth. The PMT-06 tax payment for April 2026 (due 25 May), however, is mandatory for all QRMP taxpayers, payable under the Fixed Sum Method or Self-Assessment Method.
Where should businesses verify May 2026 due dates officially?
In This Article
Author Bio
Meet Sanjeev Kumar, a distinguished advocate before the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, and National Tribunals. Founding Partner of Juriskps Law Offices, a premier law firm, he specializes in commercial, corporate, tax, arbitration, and IPR matters. His incisive legal insights enrich Setindiabiz’s blog with expert commentary.
