It is early October 2026, and the question many people in the capital are asking is whether it is too late to file. For salaried people and other ordinary taxpayers the 31 July date for assessment year 2026-27 has gone by, and for freelancers and small business owners the 31 August date has gone by too. Audit cases are the exception: the CBDT has pushed their return date to 21 November 2026.
If you are looking for the best ITR filing services in Delhi, the real test is whether the person filing your return picks the right form, reads your AIS properly and tells you plainly what a late return will cost. This page explains how returns work for assessment year 2026-27, which form fits which taxpayer, what belated, revised and updated returns mean, and how the move from the Income-tax Act, 1961 to the Income-tax Act, 2025 affects you.
PC Media House handles the whole process online from Delhi, for individuals, freelancers, firms, LLPs and companies across Delhi NCR and the rest of India. You will find the documents we ask for, the process, the statutory amounts, a fair comparison with self-filing, and our starting price of From ₹999, followed by ten questions people ask us most.
Who must file, and which ITR form applies
A return is compulsory for companies and firms, including LLPs, every year, whether they earn a profit or a loss. Individuals and HUFs must file once total income crosses the basic exemption limit, and some people must file even below it. The Income Tax Department lists conditions such as depositing more than ₹1 crore in current accounts, spending more than ₹2 lakh on foreign travel, paying electricity bills above ₹1 lakh, business turnover above ₹60 lakh, professional receipts above ₹10 lakh, or TDS and TCS of ₹25,000 or more (₹50,000 for resident seniors).
Holding foreign assets or signing authority over a foreign account can also make filing mandatory. Many other people file voluntarily, because a return is the cleanest income proof for a loan, a visa or a tender, and the only way to claim a refund of excess TDS.
The seven forms in plain words
| Form | Who it is for | Main limits to watch |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident individuals with salary or pension, one house property and other income such as interest | Total income up to ₹50 lakh; long-term gains under section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh; not for directors, unlisted shareholders or those with foreign assets |
| ITR-2 | Individuals and HUFs with no business or professional income who cannot use ITR-1 | Used for capital gains, more than one house property, foreign income or assets, or income above ₹50 lakh |
| ITR-3 | Individuals and HUFs with business or professional income not covered by ITR-4 | Used for regular books, F&O trading, partners in firms and mixed income |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs on presumptive taxation under sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE | Total income up to ₹50 lakh; the same exclusions as ITR-1 apply |
| ITR-5 | Partnership firms, LLPs, AOPs and BOIs | Not for individuals, HUFs or companies |
| ITR-6 | Companies other than those claiming exemption under section 11 | Filed with audited financial statements where applicable |
| ITR-7 | Charitable and religious trusts, political parties and specified institutions | Filed under sections 139(4A) to 139(4F) |
Eligibility is taken from the Income Tax Department's guidance for assessment year 2026-27. The form instructions on the portal remain the final word.
Old regime or new regime
For individuals the new regime is the default. Under section 87A, a resident individual in the new regime gets a rebate of up to ₹60,000 when total income is up to ₹12 lakh, and salaried taxpayers also get a standard deduction of ₹75,000. The old regime keeps its higher exemptions and deductions for items such as home loan interest, insurance and HRA. Neither regime wins for everyone, which is why we calculate both and show you the figures.
Due dates for assessment year 2026-27, and what late filing means
Assessment year 2026-27 covers income earned in financial year 2025-26. The statutory dates, and the position as on 7 October 2026, are below.
| Taxpayer | Due date | Position as on 7 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals and others with no business income (ITR-1, ITR-2) | 31 July 2026 | Date has passed; belated return possible until 31 December 2026 |
| Non-audit business or professional assessees, and partners of non-audit firms (usually ITR-3 or ITR-4) | 31 August 2026 | Date has passed; belated return possible until 31 December 2026 |
| Companies, audit cases and partners of audit-liable firms | 31 October 2026, extended to 21 November 2026 for the covered category | Open; tax audit report date moved from 30 September to 21 October 2026 |
| Cases needing a transfer pricing report | 30 November 2026 | Open |
| Revised return | Until 31 March 2027, or before assessment, whichever is earlier | Open for returns already filed |
| Updated return (ITR-U) | Within 48 months from the end of the assessment year | Open, with additional tax |
The extension to 21 November 2026 was announced by CBDT on 28 and 29 September 2026 for persons falling under the audit category in Explanation 2 to section 139(1). We did not find any extension for non-audit cases.
Belated return
If the due date is missed, a belated return can be filed under section 139(4) until 31 December 2026 or until assessment is completed, whichever is earlier. The cost is a late fee under section 234F of ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh and ₹5,000 otherwise, interest under section 234A on any tax still unpaid, and the loss of some benefits: most losses, other than house property loss, cannot be carried forward, and certain deductions under sections 10A, 10B and Chapter VI-A Part C are not available.
Suppose a salaried employee with total income of ₹9 lakh forgot to file by 31 July. A belated return in October would typically attract the ₹5,000 fee plus interest on any balance tax, whereas the same return filed on time would have cost nothing extra. Each further month adds interest, so the sensible move is to file now rather than wait for December.
Revised and updated returns
A revised return under section 139(5) corrects an error or omission in a return already filed, and the window has been extended to 31 March 2027, with a nominal fee after a certain period. An updated return under section 139(8A) can be filed even after that, within 48 months from the end of the assessment year, but it cannot show a loss, reduce tax or increase a refund, and it carries additional tax of 25% to 70% depending on how late it is. It is a last resort, not a plan.
Income-tax Act, 1961 and Income-tax Act, 2025: which one applies to you
The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income-tax Act, 1961 from 1 April 2026. The practical rule is simple: the old Act continues to govern every tax year that began before that date, and the new Act governs tax years from 2026-27 onward.
- Returns for assessment year 2026-27, that is income of 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, are filed under the 1961 Act on the older ITR forms, even though you are filing after 1 April 2026.
- The new Act drops the terms previous year and assessment year and uses a single term, tax year. Tax year 2026-27 means income earned from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- Advance tax for tax year 2026-27 has followed the new Act since the 15 June 2026 instalment.
- Penalty and reassessment proceedings for years before 1 April 2026 continue under the 1961 Act.
- Returns for tax year 2026-27 will be filed in 2027 under the new Act, using forms and rules notified under the Income-tax Rules, 2026.
Section numbers change as well. The department's transition FAQs show, for example, that sections 139(4), 139(5) and 139(8A) become sections 263(4), 263(5) and 263(6), tax audit under section 44AB becomes section 63, and the late filing fee in section 234F becomes section 428. When you read older articles or notices, check which Act they refer to before acting on a section number.
Some commentary online mixes the two Acts. For a return being filed today for financial year 2025-26, old section numbers, old forms and old due dates are correct.
Documents to keep ready
A tidy set of papers makes the difference between a one-sitting return and a week of back and forth. Most delays come from missing capital gains statements, Form 16 from a past employer or business bank statements.
- Identity and bank: PAN, Aadhaar, the bank account for refund and last year's acknowledgement.
- Salary: Form 16 from every employer, salary slips if you changed jobs, and rent receipts with landlord PAN for HRA.
- Department data: Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement and the Taxpayer Information Summary from the portal.
- Investment income: interest certificates, dividend details, broker or mutual fund capital gains statements and property sale papers.
- Deductions: insurance premium, home loan interest certificate and donation receipts, mainly useful if you stay in the old regime.
- Business or profession: bank statements, sales and expense records or books in Tally, Zoho Books or QuickBooks, GST returns and, where audit applies, the audit report.
If your books are not in good shape, our bookkeeping and virtual CFO service can bring them up to date before the return is prepared.
How our ITR filing process works
Step 1: Intake call
We learn your income sources, residential status and past filings, and send a short, tailored document list.
Step 2: Match with AIS and Form 26AS
Every entry the department holds against your PAN is compared with your papers, and gaps or duplicates are listed.
Step 3: Form and regime decision
We confirm the ITR form and compute tax under both regimes, so you see the difference in rupees.
Step 4: Draft computation
You get a plain statement of income, deductions, TDS, advance tax and refund or balance. Nothing is filed until you approve.
Step 5: Filing and e-verification
After any balance tax is paid, the return is filed and you complete e-verification, with guidance if the method fails.
Step 6: After-filing follow-up
We watch for the processing intimation, explain it and respond to any defect or mismatch message.
Most straightforward returns move through these steps in about 1 to 3 working days from the point that your documents are complete. Returns with capital gains, business accounts or foreign assets take longer, and the department's own processing and refund time cannot be controlled by anyone.
Fees and pricing
There is no government fee to file a return. The amounts that can arise are late fee, interest and, for updated returns, additional tax. Our own professional fee starts at From ₹999 per return.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Filing on the e-filing portal | No government fee | Tax payable is a tax, not a filing fee |
| Late fee, section 234F (AY 2026-27) | ₹1,000 up to ₹5 lakh income; ₹5,000 otherwise | Only for returns filed after the due date |
| Interest, section 234A | Charged on unpaid tax for the months of delay | Only where tax remains payable |
| Updated return, section 139(8A) | 25% to 70% additional tax, depending on timing | Cannot show a loss or reduce tax |
| PC Media House professional fee | From ₹999 | Starting price for a straightforward individual return |
Government amounts are from the Income Tax Department's guidance at the time of writing. Our final quote is itemised after we see your documents.
What moves the price above the starting point is the form needed, the number of income sources, capital gains transactions, business books, and whether the filing is on time, belated or revised. If you have a business or professional practice and also deal with GST, our GST registration and filing service keeps turnover figures consistent across returns.
Self-filing, freelancer or expert-assisted: an honest comparison
Self-filing is a reasonable choice for a plain salary return. The portal now pre-fills a lot of data, and a calm hour can be enough. Trouble starts when income is mixed, because the portal will accept a wrong form and the error surfaces months later as a notice.
| Point | Self-filing | Expert-assisted filing |
|---|---|---|
| Form selection | Based on portal prompts | Based on your actual income, holdings and status |
| Regime comparison | Possible, but easy to skip | Both regimes calculated for approval |
| AIS and 26AS match | You reconcile each line | Gaps flagged and explained before filing |
| Capital gains and business income | Slow and error-prone for first-timers | Supported by working papers |
| After filing | You handle intimations alone | Intimations are read and answered with you |
| Cost | No professional fee | Professional fee, from ₹999 here |
A freelancer working on a one-off basis can also do this well. The real question is whether the person will still be around when a notice arrives.
Mistakes that cause notices and rejected returns
- Using ITR-1 when you are a director, hold unlisted shares, have short-term capital gains or own foreign assets. Such a return can be treated as defective.
- Skipping the AIS review, so interest, dividends or sale proceeds that the department already sees are left out.
- Picking a tax regime without calculating both, or assuming a business owner can switch back and forth freely.
- Filing but forgetting to e-verify, which leaves the return in limbo.
- Entering a bank account for refund that is not pre-validated on the portal.
- Missing the belated return window of 31 December 2026 and then having only an updated return, with additional tax, as the option.
After you file, and how PC Media House works
Once the return is verified, the department processes it and sends an intimation. If a refund is due, it is credited to the pre-validated account; if the processing shows a difference from your computation, you have the option to respond online. Keep the acknowledgement, computation and supporting papers for at least six years, longer if an assessment is pending.
Many clients need more than a yearly return. Companies and LLPs also have annual filings with the Registrar, which our ROC annual compliance service covers, and employers often need monthly help with payroll services. A general overview of what we do on the tax side sits on our taxation and compliance page.
How we work
- We work online from Delhi and serve clients across Delhi NCR and India, with calls and, by appointment, meetings.
- You get an itemised quote with a clear scope before work starts, and no hidden charges added later.
- We explain the choice of form and regime in numbers, and nothing is filed without your approval.
- We cannot promise a refund amount, a processing time or the outcome of a notice, because those depend on the department.
- To discuss your case, use our contact page and share your documents when you are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, in most cases. If the original due date has passed, a belated return can be filed until 31 December 2026 under section 139(4), or until assessment is completed if earlier. A late fee under section 234F applies, interest may be charged on unpaid tax, and certain losses cannot be carried forward. Filing sooner keeps the extra cost lower.
A freelancer or professional who opts for presumptive taxation under section 44ADA and meets the conditions usually files ITR-4. Someone who maintains full books, has capital gains beyond what ITR-4 allows, or is not eligible for presumptive taxation files ITR-3. The correct form depends on receipts, other income and whether audit applies, so check it before filing.
For assessment year 2026-27 the original date for audit cases was 31 October 2026. The CBDT has extended it to 21 November 2026 for persons covered by the relevant category, and moved the tax audit report date from 30 September to 21 October 2026. Transfer pricing cases have 30 November 2026. Confirm your own category on the portal.
The new regime is the default and has lower slab rates, with a rebate that makes income up to ₹12 lakh tax free for eligible resident individuals. The old regime allows many deductions and exemptions. The better option depends on how much you actually claim, so it should be worked out for both regimes every year, not assumed.
Usually PAN, Aadhaar, Form 16 from each employer, Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement, bank interest certificates, details of capital gains or dividends, and proofs of deductions if you opt for the old regime. Rent receipts with landlord PAN are needed for HRA claims. We confirm the exact list after a short call.
A return that is filed but not verified within the allowed time is treated as not filed, which can bring late fee and interest consequences. Verification is quick online, using Aadhaar OTP, net banking or a similar method. Keep the acknowledgement and check the portal later to confirm the status shows as verified.
No. The Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026, but returns for financial year 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27) are governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961, with the older forms and due dates. The new Act applies to tax year 2026-27 onward, whose returns fall due in 2027.
We can read the intimation, explain what the department is pointing to, check it against your records and prepare a response or a revised return where appropriate. We cannot promise how the department will decide, and anything beyond a routine reply, such as an assessment or appeal, is quoted as separate work.
Not always, but a return may still be mandatory if you meet certain conditions, such as large current account deposits, high electricity spend, foreign travel spend, substantial TDS, or holding foreign assets. Many people also file voluntarily to claim a refund, show income proof for a loan or visa, or carry forward losses.
The label From ₹999 is the starting price for a straightforward individual return. The final quote depends on the ITR form, number of income sources, capital gains, business accounts and whether the filing is on time, belated or revised. You receive an itemised quote after we see your documents, and nothing is filed without your approval.
Sources and Official Links
Facts on this page were checked against the sources below, last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Fees, thresholds and rules can change, so confirm the current position on the official site before you pay or file.
- incometaxindia.gov.in/w/return-of-income-2
- incometaxindia.gov.in/documents/81799/11848482/FAQs-on-Interplay-and-Transition.pdf/05f80c1a-073c-a5d7-fb6f-55509242be53?t=1774082865717
- incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/objective-and-scope-new-act
- incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/income-tax-returns
- incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/latest-news
- incometaxindia.gov.in/documents/d/guest/cbdt-extends-due-date-for-furnishing-return-of-income-for-ay-2026-27-pdf
- incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/individual/return-applicable-1
- incometaxindia.gov.in/w/what-is-rebate-under-section-87a-for-f.y-2025-26-and-who-can-claim-it-
- incometaxindia.gov.in/w/tax-rates%E2%80%8B
- pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2221458®=3&lang=2
- pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098406®=48&lang=2
- cleartax.in/s/which-itr-to-file