ITR-4 Due Date for AY 2026-27 Is 31 August 2026: What Presumptive Taxpayers Should Check Before Filing
The Income Tax Department's help page on filing ITR-4 (Sugam) online states that for Assessment Year 2026-27, relating to Financial Year 2025-26, the due date for filing ITR-4 is 31 August 2026. The form is used mainly by small businesses and professionals who declare income on a presumptive basis, and the AY 2026-27 version carries several new fields and disclosure requirements that preparers need to handle.
Because the return relates to FY 2025-26, the provisions cited on the portal, such as sections 44AD, 44ADA, 44AE, 112A and 139(1), are those of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from tax year 2026-27 onwards.
Who can file ITR-4
ITR-4 can be filed by a resident individual, HUF or firm (other than an LLP) whose total income does not exceed Rs 50 lakh and who has business or professional income computed under section 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE. Along with presumptive income, the return can include:
- salary or pension;
- income from up to two house properties, up from one in earlier years;
- agricultural income up to Rs 5,000;
- long-term capital gains under section 112A up to Rs 1.25 lakh;
- income from other sources, subject to the listed exclusions.
Turnover and receipt limits for presumptive taxation
| Provision | Limit where cash receipts are within 5% | Limit otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| Section 44AD (business) | Rs 3 crore | Rs 2 crore |
| Section 44ADA (profession) | Rs 75 lakh | Rs 50 lakh |
Who cannot use ITR-4
According to the official ITR-4 FAQs, the form cannot be used by a person who:
- is Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR) or a non-resident;
- has total income above Rs 50 lakh;
- has short-term capital gains, or section 112A long-term gains above Rs 1.25 lakh;
- has agricultural income above Rs 5,000;
- is a director in a company;
- has income from more than two house properties;
- has income such as lottery winnings or from owning and maintaining racehorses;
- held unlisted equity shares at any time during the year;
- has deferred tax on ESOPs received from the employer.
What is new in ITR-4 for AY 2026-27
- Income from up to two house properties can now be reported.
- A separate field has been added for rent which cannot be realised.
- Reporting of foreign retirement benefits has been removed from the form.
- TDS claims now require selection of the section under which tax was deducted.
Deduction details the form now asks for
- Section 80C: policy number or document identification number.
- Sections 80CCD(1) and 80CCD(1B): PRAN, in a dedicated tab.
- Sections 80DD and 80U: Form 10-IA must be filed and its acknowledgement number entered.
- Section 80GG: Form 10BA must be filed and its acknowledgement number entered.
- Sections 80E, 80EE, 80EEA and 80EEB: loan account number and interest amount.
These deductions are relevant only to taxpayers who opt for the old tax regime. An individual with business income who wants the old regime must file Form 10-IEA before the due date under section 139(1). Such a taxpayer has only a one-time option to switch back to the new regime later, so the choice needs care.
Documents and reconciliation
The portal lists Form 16, bank statements, housing loan interest certificates and rental agreements among the documents needed. Before filing, preparers should match TDS and other credits with Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement, since each TDS claim now has to carry the correct section. ITR-4 does not take annexures, but the underlying records should be retained.
After the due date
A return filed after the due date may attract a late filing fee of up to Rs 5,000, along with interest on any unpaid tax. As of 27 September 2026, the Income Tax Department's news page carries no announcement extending the 31 August 2026 due date for ITR-4, so taxpayers who missed it should file a belated return and pay the applicable fee and interest.
Updated on 27 September 2026: added the official ITR-4 help page and FAQs, corrected the exclusion to Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident taxpayers, added the full exclusion list, the turnover table and the regime-switch rule, and noted that no extension of the 31 August 2026 due date has been announced.
