July 2026 is the busiest compliance month of the year. It opens the income-tax return season for AY 2026-27, carries the first quarterly TDS and TCS returns of the new financial year, and stacks the biggest deadlines into two dates: the FLA return and the CCFS 2026 closing date on 15 July, and three separate obligations on 31 July — the ITR for salaried taxpayers, the Q1 TDS returns, and Form DPT-3 (now extended into July).
A clear transition line runs through the month. The Q1 (April-June 2026) TDS and TCS returns are the first quarterly returns under the Income-tax Act, 2025, but the income-tax return you file this July is for FY 2025-26 and stays entirely under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The e-filing portal supports both Acts concurrently; select the correct period when you file. Always cross-check final dates on the Income Tax Department tax calendar, the GST portal, the MCA portal and the relevant RBI or DGFT notification.
🚨 ITR Season Opens — Staggered Deadlines
For AY 2026-27 (income of FY 2025-26), the ITR is filed on the old ITR forms notified by the CBDT on 30 March 2026, and the Income-tax Act, 1961, governs the whole filing. A key Budget 2026 change is that the non-audit due date is now split by form: 31 July 2026 for ITR-1 and ITR-2 (salary, pension, capital gains), and 31 August 2026 for ITR-3 and ITR-4 (business/professional income, non-audit). Audit cases run to 31 October 2026 (audit report by 30 September), transfer-pricing cases to 30 November 2026. Late filing attracts a fee under Section 234F (₹5,000, or ₹1,000 where income does not exceed ₹5 lakh) and interest under Section 234A; a belated return is allowed up to 31 December 2026, and a revised return up to 31 March 2027.
The highest-stakes July 2026 deadlines, ordered by risk. Head-wise tables follow.
| No | Due Date | Compliance | Who Should Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 Jul 2026 | ITR — ITR-1 / ITR-2 (non-audit), AY 2026-27 | Salaried, pensioners, capital-gains taxpayers (no business income) |
| 2 | 31 Jul 2026 | TDS Returns Q1 — Form 24Q / 26Q / 27Q (Apr-Jun 2026) | Every deductor with a TAN — companies, LLPs, firms, employers |
| 3 | 31 Jul 2026 | Form DPT-3 — Return of Deposits (FY 2025-26) [extended] | Every non-government company with loans/deposits outstanding as of 31 Mar 2026 |
| 4 | 15 Jul 2026 | CCFS 2026 — scheme window closes (last day) | Every company with overdue annual filings |
| 5 | 15 Jul 2026 | FLA Return (FEMA) — FY 2025-26 | Every company / LLP with FDI received or ODI made |
| 6 | 15 Jul 2026 | TCS Return Q1 — Form 27EQ (Apr-Jun 2026) | E-commerce operators, sellers covered by Section 206C |
| 7 | 07 Jul 2026 | TDS / TCS deposit for June 2026 (Challan 281) | Every non-government deductor and collector |
| 8 | 15 Jul 2026 | EPF and ESI contributions for June 2026 | Every covered employer |
Income Tax & TDS — July 2026
July runs two tracks at once: the FY 2025-26 income-tax return under the Income-tax Act, 1961, and the first quarterly TDS/TCS returns under the Income-tax Act, 2025 for Q1 (April-June 2026). Form 24Q (salary) carries the annual reconciliation; the TCS statement in Form 27EQ is due earlier, on 15 July.
| Due Date | Purpose | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jul 2026 | TDS / TCS Deposit — Non-Government | Jun 2026 | Tax deducted/collected in June 2026 (FY 2026-27, under the Income-tax Act, 2025). |
| 07 Jul 2026 | TDS / TCS Deposit — Government via Challan | Jun 2026 | Book-entry offices deposit on the day of deduction itself. |
| 15 Jul 2026 | TCS Return — Q1 (Form 27EQ) | Apr-Jun 2026 | Quarterly TCS statement — first under the new Act framework. |
| 15 Jul 2026 | Form 24G (Book-Adjustment Statement) | Jun 2026 | Government offices that paid TDS/TCS without a challan. |
| 15 Jul 2026 | TDS Certificates (Form 16B / 16C / 16D / 16E) | May 2026 | For tax on property purchase, rent, contractor/professional payments and virtual digital assets. [VERIFY: Income-tax Act, 2025 sections replacing 194-IA / 194-IB / 194M / 194S.] |
| 30 Jul 2026 | TCS Certificate — Q1 (Form 27D) | Apr-Jun 2026 | Issued within 15 days of the 27EQ due date. |
| 30 Jul 2026 | Challan-cum-Statement (26QB / 26QC / 26QD / 26QE) | Jun 2026 | For TDS on property, rent, contractor payments and virtual digital assets during June 2026. |
| 31 Jul 2026 | ITR — ITR-1 / ITR-2 (Non-Audit), AY 2026-27 | FY 2025-26 | Return for salaried, pension and capital-gains taxpayers, on old ITR forms under the Income-tax Act, 1961. |
| 31 Jul 2026 | TDS Returns — Q1 (Form 24Q / 26Q / 27Q) | Apr-Jun 2026 | Salary / non-salary-resident / non-resident TDS. First quarter under the Income-tax Act, 2025. |
The ITR due date is staggered — ITR-1/ITR-2 on 31 July, ITR-3/ITR-4 (non-audit) on 31 August — so confirm the date for your form; late filing also blocks carry-forward of capital and business losses (house-property loss excepted). Once the Q1 TDS return is filed, Form 16A for Q1 follows within 15 days, a mid-August task. Form 16/16A is downloaded from TRACES with the official watermark.
📊 GST Deadlines — July 2026
July is a quarter-start month under the CGST Act, 2017: QRMP taxpayers file their Q1 (April-June) GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B alongside the regular June monthly returns, and composition dealers file CMP-08 for Q1.
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 2026 | GSTR-7 / GSTR-8 | Jun 2026 | GST TDS return by deductors and TCS return by e-commerce operators. |
| 11 Jul 2026 | GSTR-1 (Monthly) | Jun 2026 | For taxpayers with a turnover of above ₹ 5 crore or monthly filers. |
| 13 Jul 2026 | GSTR-1 (Quarterly/QRMP) — Q1 | Apr-Jun 2026 | Include all Q1 invoices, excluding those already reported via IFF in April and May. |
| 13 Jul 2026 | GSTR-6 / GSTR-5 | Jun 2026 | Input Service Distributor return; Non-Resident Taxable Person return (Section 39(5)). |
| 18 Jul 2026 | CMP-08 (Composition) — Q1 | Apr-Jun 2026 | Quarterly self-assessed tax payment by composition dealers. |
| 20 Jul 2026 | GSTR-3B (Monthly) / GSTR-5A | Jun 2026 | Monthly summary return; OIDAR return. |
| 22 Jul 2026 | GSTR-3B (Quarterly/QRMP) — Q1, Category 1 States | Apr-Jun 2026 | QRMP quarterly summary return, Category 1 States. |
| 24 Jul 2026 | GSTR-3B (Quarterly/QRMP) — Q1, Category 2 States | Apr-Jun 2026 | QRMP quarterly summary return, Category 2 States. |
| 28 Jul 2026 | GSTR-11 | Jun 2026 | Inward supplies statement by UIN holders claiming refunds. |
| As needed | RFD-11 (LUT) for FY 2026-27 | FY 2026-27 | Exporters who have yet to file their LUT should do so before making any zero-rated supply. |
QRMP taxpayers filing Q1 GSTR-1 should reconcile the full April-June set and avoid duplicating IFF entries. The last date to claim unclaimed FY 2025-26 ITC is 30 November 2026, or the GSTR-9 date, whichever is earlier (Section 16(4), CGST Act); GSTR-9/9C for FY 2025-26 are due 31 December 2026.
🏢 ROC, Company & LLP — July 2026
Two dates dominate. Form DPT-3 (Return of Deposits) for FY 2025-26 was extended from 30 June to 31 July 2026 without additional fees by MCA General Circular No. 02/2026 dated 19 June 2026, following a disruption to MCA21 services. The CCFS 2026 window (Section 460 r/w Section 403, Companies Act, 2013) closes on 15 July 2026, after which the ROC resumes enforcement.
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Authority | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | CCFS 2026 — Scheme Window Closes | MCA / ROC | Last day to clear overdue annual filings with 10% additional fees (90% waiver), or opt for dormancy (MSC-1, 50%) / strike-off (STK-2, 25%). See the Setindiabiz CCFS 2026 explainer. |
| 31 Jul 2026 | DPT-3 — Return of Deposits [extended] | MCA / ROC | Deposits and non-deposit receipts (director loans, ICDs, etc.) outstanding as on 31 Mar 2026, under Rule 16 / 16A, all non-government companies. Auditor-certified. Extended to 31 July by General Circular No. 02/2026. See the Setindiabiz DPT-3 guide. |
The DPT-3 extension is fee-free. However, the substance is unchanged — director loans (exempt deposits, still reported), inter-corporate deposits and other receipts under Rule 2(1)(c) all go into the return. Miss the CCFS window and the full ₹100-per-day additional fee resumes without a ceiling, along with director disqualification under Section 164(2). July is also the month to schedule the AGM (due by 30 September for a 31 March year-end), which starts the AOC-4 and MGT-7 clocks.
EPF & ESI — July 2026
Employers deposit EPF and ESI for the June 2026 wage month by 15 July; delay attracts 12% interest under Section 7Q of the EPF & MP Act, 1952, plus damages under Para 32A of the EPF Scheme, with ESI running in parallel under the ESI Act, 1948.
| Due Date | Compliance | Period | Particulars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | EPF and ESI Contributions | Wage Month: Jun 2026 | Deposit contributions and file the ECR. Late-deposited employees’ contributions are disallowed for income-tax purposes. |
DGFT & RBI — July 2026
The FLA return under FEMA, 1999, is due on the FLAIR portal by 15 July for every entity with outstanding FDI or ODI (even if there is no fresh transaction); the IEC updation window, meanwhile, closed on 30 June.
| Due Date | Purpose (Form) | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | FLA Return | FY 2025-26 | Foreign liabilities and assets as on 31 Mar 2026, filed on the FLAIR portal. If unaudited, file provisional figures by 15 July and revise by 30 September. Late Submission Fee: ₹7,500 per return. See Setindiabiz FLA filing and FLAIR registration. |
| Within 7 working days from the month-end | RBI Form ECB-2 | Jun 2026 | Monthly ECB return via the RBI FIRMS portal. |
| Overdue since 30 Jun 2026 | IEC Annual Update | FY 2026-27 | Window closed 30 June; an un-updated IEC is now deactivated — reactivate on the DGFT portal. See Setindiabiz IEC renewal. |
| As applicable | FC-GPR / FC-TRS | As applicable | FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment; FC-TRS within 60 days of a resident–non-resident transfer. |
Filing FLA with provisional numbers by 15 July and revising by 30 September is the RBI-prescribed route; missing 15 July is treated as a FEMA contravention requiring compounding. An entity that has made ODI must also file the Annual Performance Report (APR) by 31 December — a separate filing.
Professional Tax — July 2026
Professional Tax dates and slabs vary by state and are subject to change under State Acts; the table is illustrative only — verify on the relevant state portal before filing.
| No | State | Indicative Due Date (Jul) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh / Telangana | 10 Jul | Monthly |
| 2 | Karnataka | 20 Jul | Monthly |
| 3 | West Bengal | 21 Jul | Monthly |
| 4 | Maharashtra | 31 Jul | Monthly |
Penalty Matrix — Quick Reference
Illustrative figures based on current provisions; compute actual liability on the respective portal before paying.
| Compliance | Penalty Structure | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| ITR (ITR-1 / ITR-2) | Section 234F fee: ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income ≤ ₹5 lakh); Section 234A interest at 1% per month | Loss of loss carry-forward (house-property loss excepted); belated return only up to 31 Dec 2026 |
| TDS Returns Q1 | Late-filing fee ₹200 per day (formerly Section 234E), capped at the TDS amount; penalty formerly under Section 271H. [VERIFY: 2025-Act sections replacing 234E / 271H.] | Deductees’ credit delayed |
| DPT-3 (extended to 31 Jul) | Up to ₹5,000 plus ₹500 per day of default under Rule 21 | Filing by 31 July avoids the additional fee; Section 73 consequences for deposit-norm breach |
| GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B / CMP-08 | ₹50 per day (₹20 for nil) under Section 47, subject to caps; 18% p.a. interest on unpaid tax | Buyer’s ITC delayed; e-way bill blocked after consecutive defaults |
| FLA Return | Late Submission Fee ₹7,500 per return; FEMA penalty up to 3× the amount or ₹2,00,000, plus ₹5,000 per day of default | FEMA contravention; regularisation requires compounding |
| EPF / ESI | 12% p.a. under Section 7Q plus damages under Para 32A | Disallowance of late-deposited employees’ contributions |
| CCFS 2026 (missed by 15 Jul) | Full ₹100 per day additional fee resumes with no ceiling; concession and immunity lost | Director disqualification (Section 164(2)), strike-off, prosecution risk |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ITR filing due date for AY 2026-27, and is it 31 July for everyone?
Has the DPT-3 due date really been extended to 31 July 2026?
When is the FLA return due, and what if my accounts are not yet audited?
Is the CCFS 2026 window still closing on 15 July 2026?
Disclaimer
This general guidance reflects laws and notifications as of 1 July 2026 — including the Income-tax Act, 2025 (FY 2026-27 TDS/TCS returns), the Income-tax Act, 1961 (AY 2026-27 ITR), the Companies Act, 2013 with the DPT-3 extension under MCA General Circular No. 02/2026 dated 19 June 2026 and CCFS 2026 (General Circular No. 01/2026), the CGST Act, 2017, FEMA, 1999 (FLA return), the EPF & MP Act, 1952, the ESI Act, 1948, and DGFT Notification No. 58/2015-2020. Professional Tax dates vary by state. Verify final due dates on the official portals (incometax.gov.in, gst.gov.in, mca.gov.in, flair.rbi.org.in, dgft.gov.in, epfindia.gov.in, esic.gov.in). This is not legal or tax advice; consult a qualified professional. Setindiabiz offers compliance support for ITR, TDS returns, DPT-3, GST, FLA and the Income-tax Act, 2025 transition.
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Setindiabiz Editorial Team is a multidisciplinary collective of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Advocates offering authoritative insights on India’s regulatory and business landscape. With decades of experience in compliance, taxation, and advisory, they empower entrepreneurs and enterprises to make informed decisions.
