5.9 Crore Indians Filed ITRs by July 31 Deadline

The July 31 deadline saw a massive surge in tax compliance, with over 5.9 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed for Assessment Year 2026-27. This crucial date applied to individuals filing ITR-1 and ITR-2, ensuring they submitted returns without facing interest or late fees.

Understanding Your Filing Categories

If you’re new to filing, knowing which ITR form applies to you is key. The Income Tax Department specifies different forms based on your income sources.

For example, ITR-1 (Sahaj) is designed for resident individuals earning up to Rs 50 lakh annually from salary, one house property, or agricultural income up to Rs 5,000.

Meanwhile, ITR-2 is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who do not have income from business or profession but earn from sources like capital gains.

Key Filing Figures by July 31

By the July 31 deadline, a total of 5.9 crore ITRs were filed for Assessment Year 2026-27. Specifically, 3.15 crore ITR-1 submissions were recorded this year, a slight dip from 3.3 crore in the previous year. ITR-2 submissions, however, remained largely consistent.

You might notice this slight decrease in ITR-1 filings, which could be linked to changes in the new tax regime. The increased income tax exemption threshold of up to Rs 12 lakh may have reduced the number of taxpayers needing to file this specific form.

While the July 31 deadline has passed for some, other filing categories are still open. ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms are due by August 31, and the total number of returns is expected to climb further in the coming weeks.

For context, the previous Assessment Year 2025-26 saw over 7.3 crore returns filed by the extended deadline of September 16, 2025. The Income Tax Department even thanked taxpayers on X (formerly Twitter) for their timely compliance, noting its contribution to India’s growth.