Income tax returns (ITRs) filed for assessment year 2026-27 crossed the 40 million mark on July 26, with over 2 million returns submitted in the preceding five days, according to livemint.com. The surge in filings comes as individual taxpayers rush to meet the July 31 deadline set by the Income Tax Department.
The department's upgraded e-filing portal has played a key role in handling the increased volume, processing more than one crore taxpayer interactions in a single day. Peak daily interactions reached 16 million, reflecting the system’s capacity to manage heavy traffic during the filing season. The Income Tax Department posted on X urging taxpayers not to wait until the last minute to file their returns.
This rise in filings underscores a steady increase in tax compliance, driven by technology-driven measures implemented by the department to encourage early filing and improve accuracy. The current filing season’s numbers indicate growing taxpayer engagement compared to previous years, highlighting the impact of digital infrastructure enhancements on compliance rates.
The July 31 deadline remains the final date for filing ITRs for AY 2026-27, with the department continuing to monitor filing trends closely. The department’s communication on social media platforms serves to remind taxpayers of the approaching deadline and the benefits of timely filing.