AY 2026-27 Tax Audit Deadline Stays September 30, E-Verification Mandatory

Taxpayers covered by tax audit cannot treat the chartered accountant’s upload as the end of the process, because the report must also be accepted and e-verified through the income-tax e-filing portal by 30 September 2026. 30 September deadline still stands As of 24 September 2026, the Income Tax Department’s official news page had not issued any notification extending the tax audit due date for Assessment Year 2026-27. The statutory deadline of 30 September 2026 therefore continues to stand unless the Central Board of Direct Taxes notifies otherwise. For AY 2026-27, relating to FY 2025-26, the tax audit due date is 30 September 2026. A representation from a professional body does not extend a statutory deadline by itself. Only a government order or notification can change the due date. This matters because extension requests are circulating even as the legal deadline has not moved. Every September, according to the Caclubindia article, a chartered accountants’ association writes to the CBDT asking for more time. The same article cautions that such letters often get forwarded in WhatsApp groups without context, leading professionals to plan around a deadline that has not actually changed. The article says the date will not move until CBDT actually issues an order. It advises taxpayers and professionals to confirm the live status themselves before acting on anything read online, including the article itself. The reason is simple: a representation carries no legal weight on its own. MPTCA seeks more time from Finance Minister The Madhya Pradesh Tax Consultants Association has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to provide immediate relief from what it described as a compressed income-tax compliance calendar for AY 2026-27. The Association sought extension of the due date for tax audit reports from September 30, 2026 to November 30, 2026. In a representation dated September 21, 2026, it also sought extension of the due date for filing income-tax returns of assessees whose accounts are subject to audit from October 31, 2026 to December 31, 2026. The representation bears Ref. No. MPTCA/DT/2026-27/17. MPTCA said taxpayers, Chartered Accountants, tax consultants, accountants and other professionals were facing practical difficulties because of the compressed compliance schedule. According to the Association, the current compliance calendar has left tax professionals with only a limited period to complete a substantial volume of tax-audit assignments. MPTCA emphasised that it was not asking for waiver of any tax liability. It said the request was only for additional time to complete statutory compliance properly. A key concern raised by the Association was the impact of the August 31, 2026 deadline for non-audit business and profession returns. MPTCA said tax professionals who spend July and August completing a large number of non-audit returns must immediately shift to tax-audit assignments. The Association said September 30 remains the statutory deadline for filing tax audit reports. As a result, MPTCA contended that the effective period available for completing tax audits has been compressed to approximately one month. Why MPTCA says audit work cannot be rushed MPTCA stated that tax audit is not merely an online filing exercise. It said tax audit requires examination of books and records, reconciliation of financial and tax information, verification of transactions and professional application of judgement. The Association particularly highlighted the difficulties faced by smaller and medium-sized professional firms. It said such firms handle a large number of MSMEs, partnership firms, professionals, trusts and other taxpayers. MPTCA pointed out that preparing a tax audit report involves examination of several categories of information. These include books of account, financial statements, sales and purchase records, stock records, GST turnover, TDS and TCS records, Form 26AS, AIS and TIS. They also include bank statements, loans and advances, statutory dues, fixed assets, related-party transactions and various disclosures required under Form 3CD. The Association argued that auditors need sufficient time to verify this information and prepare an accurate report. According to MPTCA, an extension would not dilute the statutory requirement. Instead, it said, an extension would give taxpayers and professionals adequate time to discharge existing obligations accurately. The Association also referred to the progressive availability and updating of income-tax return utilities for business and audit cases. According to the representation, utilities for forms such as ITR-3, ITR-5 and ITR-6 became available progressively. The representation also said these utilities saw updates during the return-filing season. MPTCA stated that tax audit and the corresponding income-tax return cannot be treated as completely independent processes. Its reasoning was that information reported in audited financial statements and Form 3CD has a direct bearing on the corresponding ITR. The Association therefore contended that the effective time available for completing both exercises is shorter than the statutory calendar may suggest. Third-party data and reconciliation concerns MPTCA also highlighted the time required to obtain and reconcile third-party information. The Association said fourth-quarter TDS statements and annual SFT reporting take place after the end of the financial year. It said information subsequently reflected in AIS, TIS and Form 26AS must then be reconciled with the taxpayer’s books and supporting documents. According to the representation, taxpayers and professionals cannot simply rely on information appearing in AIS or Form 26AS without verifying it against the underlying records. MPTCA therefore argued that April and May cannot practically be treated as fully available months for completing tax audits. The reason it gave was that substantial third-party information is still being reported and reconciled during this period. The Association stated that the months immediately following the end of the financial year are substantially occupied with finalisation of accounts and collection of information. It listed the work involved as preparation of financial statements, bank reconciliation, GST-related reconciliation, TDS/TCS reconciliation and obtaining certificates. The work also includes reviewing AIS and TIS, verification of SFT information, debtor and creditor confirmations, stock records, fixed-asset schedules and statutory payment verification. According to the Association, these activities consume considerable professional time before the tax audit can be completed. The Association further submitted that July and August are largely occupied with preparation and filing of non-audit income-tax returns. It said professionals and their staff must handle substantial return-filing volumes before moving to tax-audit assignments because the deadline for relevant non-audit business and profession cases falls on August 31. MPTCA argued that this creates a bottleneck because the same professional resources are required for both categories of compliance. September pressure and parallel professional work MPTCA said September cannot be treated as a completely uninterrupted working month. It said tax audit requires coordination between Chartered Accountants, taxpayers, accountants, employees, bankers, GST professionals and other advisers. The Association said the availability of these stakeholders can be affected by holidays and other professional commitments. According to MPTCA, this makes a one-month effective audit window particularly challenging. The representation also cited the simultaneous nature of several professional assignments. According to MPTCA, Chartered Accountants and tax professionals may also be engaged during the same period in statutory audits, GST reconciliations, Forms 10B/10BB, MCA compliances, internal audits, TDS/TCS matters, certifications and other assignments. The Association submitted that retaining only September for a large volume of tax-audit work places considerable pressure on the profession. MPTCA also referred to revised financial-reporting requirements applicable to non-corporate entities and LLPs. It said the revised requirements involve additional work relating to presentation, classification and disclosures in financial statements. For entities becoming subject to the revised requirements, professionals may need additional time to prepare and review financial statements, including comparative information. The Association urged that these additional requirements be considered while assessing the practical time available for completing tax audits. Transition to Income-tax Act, 2025 MPTCA’s representation also referred to the transition to the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the associated rules. The Association submitted that tax professionals are currently required to deal with ongoing proceedings and compliances under the Income-tax Act, 1961 while simultaneously familiarising themselves with the new legislative framework. It referred to continuing processes under the 1961 Act, including return filing, assessment, reassessment, appeals and notices. It also referred to implementation of new procedures and compliances under the Income-tax Act, 2025. According to MPTCA, professionals must therefore devote time to training staff, understanding the new provisions and educating taxpayers about the transition. The Association said this further reduces the time available for completing AY 2026-27 tax audits. MPTCA also stressed the importance of reconciling information appearing in AIS, TIS and Form 26AS with the taxpayer’s books and underlying records. The Association noted that AIS contains multiple categories of financial information. These categories include TDS/TCS and SFT-related information, tax payments and other information received by the tax department. The representation argued that such information cannot always be mechanically incorporated into an income-tax return. It said differences between third-party information and the taxpayer’s books may require verification and reconciliation. Proposal to align tax audit and audited ITR dates MPTCA has proposed a change in the existing structure under which the tax audit report is due one month before the corresponding audited income-tax return. According to the Association, tax audit and return preparation are closely interconnected. It said the two exercises are often undertaken simultaneously. The Association suggested that the Tax Audit Report and the audited income-tax return should ultimately have the same due date. For future years, MPTCA proposed October 31 as the common due date for both the Tax Audit Report and the audited ITR. MPTCA submitted that the requested extension would only provide additional time for compliance. It said the extension would not result in any waiver or postponement of the underlying tax liability. According to the Association, taxpayers would remain responsible for advance tax, self-assessment tax, applicable interest and other statutory liabilities. The Association further stated that additional time could improve the accuracy of tax reporting. It said additional time could also reduce the possibility of defective returns, subsequent corrections and litigation arising from inadvertent errors. Apart from immediate relief for AY 2026-27, MPTCA proposed a permanent restructuring of the income-tax compliance calendar from AY 2027-28 onwards. It suggested that TDS/TCS and SFT reporting should be advanced so that relevant information becomes available to taxpayers and professionals earlier in the year. In particular, MPTCA proposed that TDS/TCS and SFT information should preferably become available by April 30. According to the representation, the objective is to facilitate earlier reconciliation of third-party information. The objective is also to allow tax professionals to begin audit and return preparation with more complete data. MPTCA said such a structure would create a more predictable compliance cycle. It also said the structure would provide professionals with a meaningful period for tax-audit assignments. One of MPTCA’s principal long-term recommendations is to align the Tax Audit Report and audited ITR due dates. Under the Association’s proposal, both would be due on October 31. MPTCA said this would eliminate the existing one-month gap. It said the proposal would reflect the practical reality that audit and return preparation are interdependent processes. The Association further submitted that a rationalised calendar would reduce the need for professional bodies to seek extensions every year. MPTCA emphasised that the issue is not limited to professional convenience. It said the issue concerns the quality and reliability of statutory tax reporting. The Association stated that tax audit reports are professional attestation documents requiring adequate examination of financial records, statutory compliances, third-party information and applicable legal provisions. It urged the Finance Ministry to consider a compliance calendar that provides adequate time for professional verification while ensuring timely tax administration. CA upload is not enough For taxpayers whose accounts are subject to tax audit, the process begins with the taxpayer assigning the applicable tax audit form to the chartered accountant. The CA then accepts the assignment, prepares and submits the report, and verifies it using the CA’s Digital Signature Certificate. Once the CA submits the report, the taxpayer receives a confirmation at the email ID and mobile number registered with the e-filing portal. However, there is still one more step for the taxpayer. The taxpayer must accept the report and complete the required e-verification on the portal. Once the CA uploads the report, it becomes available in the taxpayer’s Worklist on the e-filing portal for acceptance. “A report is not considered validly ‘furnished’ unless the taxpayer accepts the report on the portal. Forgetting to ‘accept’ the report after the auditor uploads it is a common procedural lapse,” said Isha Sekhri, Founder, Isha Sekhri & Associates LLP. The taxpayer needs to assign the applicable tax audit form to the CA. Only one of the relevant form combinations will apply to a taxpayer. Form 3CA or 3CB contains the audit report. Form 3CD contains the prescribed particulars reported by the CA. After the CA has submitted the report, the taxpayer can complete the process online. The taxpayer must go to “Pending Actions” and select “Worklist”. Under “Pending for Acceptance”, the taxpayer must find the tax audit report submitted by the CA and click “Accept”. After accepting the report, the taxpayer is taken to the “e-Verify” page. The taxpayer must then complete verification using an applicable method. The methods listed include a Digital Signature Certificate, Aadhaar OTP, bank account EVC, demat account EVC, or net banking. After successful verification, the portal displays a confirmation with a Transaction ID and Acknowledgement Receipt Number. Taxpayers should retain these details for their records. A confirmation is also sent to the registered email ID and mobile number. For taxpayers covered by section 44AB, the tax audit report must be submitted by the prescribed due date. For FY 2025-26, corresponding to AY 2026-27, the tax audit report should be submitted by 30 September 2026. The report is electronically filed by the CA with the Income Tax Department. After the CA files it, the taxpayer must approve the report through the e-filing account and complete the required verification. If the taxpayer finds an error, the taxpayer should discuss it with the CA before accepting the report. CA submission is therefore not the final step for the taxpayer. The taxpayer’s acceptance and required e-verification complete the process from the taxpayer’s side. Audit applicability and thresholds For FY 2025-26, businesses cross the tax audit line at ₹1 crore turnover. Businesses also cross the audit line at ₹10 crore where both cash receipts and cash payments stay under 5% of the total. Professionals hit the audit line at ₹50 lakh gross receipts. Professionals can also hit it at ₹75 lakh under Section 44ADA if cash stays under the same 5% threshold, along with the scheme’s other conditions. The Caclubindia article says the part that trips people up is Sections 44AD(4) and 44AD(5). It says these provisions read like one rule but perform two different functions. The article describes conflating them as a mistake. According to the article, Section 44AD(4) is the re-entry restriction. It says that if a taxpayer declares profit that does not match the presumptive scheme’s terms during the five-year commitment, the taxpayer cannot use the scheme again for the following five assessment years. Section 44AD(5), according to the article, is the separate consequence that applies during that lock-out period. If total income crosses the basic exemption limit during that lock-out period, an audit is needed under Section 44AB(e), regardless of turnover. The article says this is how a small business well under ₹1 crore can end up needing an audit purely because of how it filed a couple of years earlier. Forms this cycle and the change from FY 2026-27 From FY 2026-27, the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Income-tax Rules, 2026 bring in a single Form 26 under Section 63. That single Form 26 replaces 3CA, 3CB and 3CD. The Caclubindia article clarifies that this change does not apply to the current cycle. FY 2025-26 remains on the old forms even if the filing happens after April 2026. This means the current AY 2026-27 tax audit cycle continues to involve the existing Form 3CA, Form 3CB and Form 3CD framework. Form 3CA or 3CB contains the audit report, while Form 3CD contains the prescribed particulars reported by the CA. The e-filing process also requires portal assignment, CA acceptance, CA submission, taxpayer acceptance and e-verification. The requirement that the taxpayer accept the report is particularly important because upload by the CA is not by itself treated as the taxpayer’s completion of the process. Penalty for missing the audit deadline If the tax audit deadline is missed, Section 271B allows a penalty of 0.5% of turnover or gross receipts. The penalty is capped at ₹1,50,000. The penalty is subject to the reasonable-cause relief under Section 273B. The Caclubindia article also states the figure as 0.5% of total sales, turnover, or gross receipts, capped at ₹1,50,000. It says that below ₹3 crore, the cap does not help the taxpayer at all. It also says that above ₹3 crore, the cap is the only thing standing between the taxpayer and a much larger figure. The article clarifies that the Section 271B penalty is not an automatic charge. It says Section 271B provides that the Assessing Officer may impose it. The article states that the penalty does not fire the moment the due date passes. It says the issue typically surfaces later, during scrutiny. The article cautions that this is not a reason to relax about the deadline. It frames the point as a correction to the assumption that ₹1.5 lakh gets deducted from the taxpayer’s account on 1 October. Section 273B relief is described as real but fact-specific. The article says serious illness or death of whoever is responsible for the accounts can qualify, depending on the facts and evidence. It also says fire, a natural calamity, or a labour dispute that genuinely disrupted operations can qualify, depending on the facts and evidence. General workload or a last-minute rush should not be assumed to clear that bar. The taxpayer has to establish the circumstance and connect it to the failure, not just claim it. Late return consequences may be separate If the delay in tax audit also pushes the return itself past the due date, other consequences may arise. The Caclubindia article lists interest under Section 234A, late-filing fees, and possible restrictions on carrying forward certain losses. It adds that what actually applies depends on the taxpayer’s specific facts. Where audit-report requirements are not met, the return itself can also be affected. Depending on the circumstances, it may be treated as defective under Section 139(9). If a valid defect notice is not rectified in time, the return can be treated as invalid altogether. The article clarifies that this is not automatic in every case. It advises taxpayers to ensure that the report is correctly uploaded. It also advises that the report carry a valid UDIN. It further advises that the report be accepted through the e-filing portal wherever acceptance is required. Uploading the report is not the finish line by itself. If the return itself is filed late, Section 234A interest on unpaid tax may apply. Applicable late-filing fees may also apply. Restrictions on carrying forward certain losses under Section 139(3) read with Section 80 may also apply. The article says these restrictions mainly concern business and capital losses, subject to statutory exceptions. It notes that house-property losses are treated differently. It cautions taxpayers not to assume every kind of loss disappears the same way for eight years. The article says the Section 271B number is what shows up in searches. It says the lost carry-forward is what shows up on the balance sheet a few years later. It also advises taxpayers to keep the audit deadline and the return deadline separate in their minds. The audit deadline and return deadline are not the same clock. A taxpayer can have a late audit while the return deadline has not passed yet. A taxpayer can also have a late return even after the audit was filed on time. Past extensions are not a plan The Caclubindia article notes that extensions have happened before. It also cautions that past extensions are history, not a plan. CBDT extended the AY 2022-23 deadline by exactly a week, from 30 September to 7 October 2022. More recently, AY 2025-26, relating to FY 2024-25, received two extensions. The first extension was to 31 October 2025. The second extension was to 10 November 2025. The audit-case return deadline was eventually pushed to 10 December 2025. The article also refers to All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants v. CBDT as a real Gujarat High Court case touching on how the audit deadline and ITR deadline relate to each other. It says the judgment itself is worth reading before citing its precise holding. The article adds that the author had not independently verified the exact scope. For the current cycle, however, the same article states that no extension notification had been issued as of 24 September 2026. It also states that the 30 September 2026 statutory deadline stands unless CBDT notifies otherwise. What professionals should watch next year For practitioners, ICAI’s Chartered Accountants (Limit on Number of Tax Audits) Guidelines, 2025 cap tax audit assignments at 60 per CA per financial year. The cap is effective 1 April 2026. The Caclubindia article says this does not touch the current cycle’s deadline. It says practitioners should nevertheless have it on their radar for next year’s planning. The article’s practical advice is not to plan around an extension that has not happened. If taxpayers or professionals are behind with days left, the article says the time is better spent finishing the audit. It also says time is better spent ensuring the client has actually completed portal acceptance. The article contrasts that with watching for a notification that may not come. This advice aligns with the portal process described by Livemint, under which the taxpayer must accept and e-verify the report after the CA uploads it. It also aligns with the warning that a report is not considered validly furnished unless the taxpayer accepts it on the portal. Authorship and source context The Caclubindia article identifies its author as CA Alok Kumar Acharya, founder of Alok K Acharya & Associates. The firm is described as providing tax, audit, GST and compliance services. The author writes on Indian taxation and compliance at akacharya.com. The article identifies him as a Chartered Accountant (ACA), New Delhi. It also states that he has 11+ years across PwC, Grant Thornton and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. The author says he runs Alok K Acharya Associates, working on tax planning, GST, ITR filing and compliance under the new Income Tax Act 2025. He also says he writes on tax and compliance at akacharya.com. The Livemint article identifies Sheetal Goel as a Content Producer at Livemint. It states that she covers corporate developments, personal finance, business trends, markets and SEBI-related developments. The Livemint article also carries a disclaimer that it is only for informational and educational purposes. It advises readers to consult a qualified expert for the latest laws and regulations. The Caclubindia page includes a virtual assistant disclaimer stating that the assistant provides guidance based on AI. It advises users to refer to the corresponding statutes. Bottom line for audited taxpayers For AY 2026-27, the confirmed legal position in the cited material is that the 30 September 2026 tax audit deadline continues unless CBDT issues a notification. MPTCA has asked for the tax audit report due date to be extended to November 30, 2026 and the audited ITR due date to December 31, 2026. That request, by itself, does not extend the statutory deadline. Taxpayers whose CAs have uploaded the audit report must still accept it through the e-filing portal and complete e-verification. If errors are noticed, the taxpayer should discuss them with the CA before accepting the report. If the tax audit deadline is missed, Section 271B permits a penalty of 0.5% of turnover or gross receipts, capped at ₹1,50,000, subject to Section 273B relief. If the return filing is also delayed, interest, late-filing fees and loss carry-forward restrictions may arise depending on the facts. The immediate practical step, on the cited record, is to complete the audit process and ensure portal acceptance rather than rely on an extension request that has not become a government notification.

Latest update

Curacao and Nicaragua are set to meet at Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad on September 27 in a League A, Group A match in the 2026/27 Concacaf Nations League, with both teams chasing a top-two finish in the group.

The match will be available in the United States on FOX Soccer Plus. Streaming coverage will also be available through Fubo, FOX One and ViX.

Fubo currently offers a 5-day free trial for eligible new customers. Its official Curacao-Nicaragua match page currently advertises the game with the option to “Try for free”.

The Group A fixture opens an important four-game group stage for Curacao and Nicaragua. The format leaves little room for dropped points, with only the top two finishers advancing to the quarterfinals.

Group A also includes Costa Rica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic, making the race for qualification tightly contested from the start.

Curacao enter this Nations League campaign immediately after the biggest achievement in the country’s soccer history: qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time.

FIFA highlighted Curacao’s historic qualification and noted its status as the smallest nation by population to appear at a World Cup. The team will now try to carry that momentum into the start of a new Concacaf cycle.

The coverage material also identified Deveron Fonville #24 of Curacao, with the image credited to Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

Nicaragua come into the competition after making progress during the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle. The team reached the final round of Concacaf qualifying for the first time.

Nicaragua now begin a new chapter under Argentine coach Juan Cruz Real, who was appointed in April.

FIFA notes that Nicaragua opened this new cycle with a 0-0 draw against South Africa and a 4-0 loss to Paraguay in friendlies. That gives the Nations League an immediate role as a chance to establish a stronger competitive rhythm.

The match kicks off on Sunday, September 27, at 8:00 PM ET.

In Central European Time, the Group A clash in the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League is listed for the early hours of Monday, September 28, 2026, at 02:00, at the “Ergilio Hato” Stadium in Willemstad, with Curaçao hosting Nicaragua.

Both teams are battling for high positions in League A. The preview says the current momentum and the Caribbean home advantage give the hosts a significant edge.

Curaçao have shown strong consistency at home, putting together an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

At their home ground, the team coached by legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat plays with width and aggression.

Curaçao’s attacking potential has risen significantly because of its European-based contingent. Tahith Chong, Kenji Gorré and Jordi Paulina are all available.

The islanders are described as a team that can increase pressure after the break and regularly create overloads out wide.

Nicaragua, described as the “Blue and Whites”, are going through a slump. The team are winless in five consecutive matches, have suffered four defeats and have failed to score in three of those games.

Away from home, Nicaragua are described as traditionally lacking intensity in central midfield. The preview says this leaves the holding area exposed under pressure from physically powerful opponents.

Nicaragua’s main approach is built around a compact defensive line and the hope of making the most of occasional set pieces.

The preview says Curaçao are expected to take the initiative from the opening whistle, enjoying 60, 65% possession while stretching Nicaragua’s defensive lines through the dribbling of Chong and Gorré.

Nicaragua are expected to sit deep in a 5-4-1 formation as they try to withstand early pressure. However, the preview says the visitors’ overloaded defensive line is vulnerable to quick passes into the half-spaces.

At official international level, the teams have a limited history.

A friendly in 2017 ended in a goalless draw, 0:0.

In the early history of World Cup qualifying, the Netherlands Antilles/Curaçao national team defeated Nicaragua twice, by 1:0 and 2:0.

Historically, Nicaragua have never scored against Curaçao in an official away fixture.

The preview points to the quality of Curaçao’s European-based leaders, their strong home form at the “Ergilio Hato” Stadium and Nicaragua’s losing streak as reasons why a victory for the favorite is viewed as the safest outcome.

The stated prediction is a Curaçao win.

Ariadna is identified as a multisport journalist specialized in delivering key, high-value information across competitions, including tournament formats, rules, lineups and injury updates, while also producing evergreen content.

Her career in journalism began in 2021 at Indie Emergente, a digital music magazine, where she developed her writing and reporting skills.

In 2023, she expanded her work by contributing to Spoiler Latinoamerica, creating general culture content.

She joined Spoiler US in 2024 to focus on entertainment coverage.

With almost six years of experience across different media outlets, Ariadna has developed expertise at the intersection of sports and entertainment.

Her coverage has included live events such as Super Bowls, FIFA World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, Olympic Games and UEFA Champions League finals, bringing depth, accuracy and real-time insight to her reporting.