Chartered Accountant · ICAI M.No. 153926 · FRN 136869W
The usual deadline
Most NRIs — with salary, rent, capital gains or interest but no audit — file by 31 July after the year ends. For FY 2025-26 that is 31 July 2026. Dates can be extended by the department — confirm the current deadline.
When it's later
If your Indian business or professional income requires a tax audit, the due date moves to 31 October. Miss the deadline and you can still file a belated return (with a late fee and interest) up to the cut-off, or later an updated return.
Why not to miss it — an example
Example: an NRI owed a ₹5 lakh TDS refund who files by 31 July gets it processed with interest; filing late delays the refund and adds a late fee under Section 234F. If you have capital losses to carry forward, filing on time is essential — a belated return can lose that benefit. The deadline also matters for choosing the old regime, which in some cases can only be opted for in a return filed by the due date. And interest under Sections 234A/B/C runs on any unpaid tax from the due date, so filing late costs more than just the ₹5,000 fee. Our NRI tax service files well before the date.