Compliance in India now runs on two tracks. The Income-tax Act, 2025 governs income from 1 April 2026, while the 1961 Act still governs FY 2025-26 and earlier. MCA21 V3 drives company and LLP filings, and GST has moved from rate reform to compliance reform. This guide gives each type of taxpayer one place to check dates, forms and traps.
First, which law applies?
- Income from 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27): the Income-tax Act, 2025, with TDS under ss. 392 and 393.
- FY 2025-26 and earlier (AY 2026-27): the 1961 Act, including returns, tax audits, notices and penalties.
- Companies Act, GST and LLP Act: unchanged in structure, but with recent date relaxations and threshold changes noted below.
Missed in October?
| Item | Was due | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| LLP Form 8 (statement of account and solvency) | 30 October | I found no extension, and Circular 05/2026 covers companies only. File now, as ₹100 a day accrues with no cap |
| Q2 TDS/TCS returns (July to September) | 31 October | File now. The late fee is ₹200 a day, capped at the TDS amount (s. 427, formerly 234E), and it must be paid before filing |
| MSME-1 (April to September) | 31 October | File now where applicable |
| Tax audit report | 21 October (as extended) | If missed, check exposure under the audit-default provisions |
1. Companies
Companies Act, 2013
| Compliance | Time limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board meetings | At least 4 a year, with no more than 120 days between meetings | |
| AGM | Within 6 months of year-end (30 September) | Not extended by any circular |
| ADT-1 | 15 days from the AGM | Only when an auditor is appointed or re-appointed |
| MGT-14 | 30 days from passing | For special resolutions. The private-company position on the board resolution approving the accounts is debated, so verify |
| AOC-4 | 30 days from the AGM | Relaxed for FY 2025-26: file by 31 December 2026 without additional fees (Circular 05/2026) |
| MGT-7 / MGT-7A | 60 days from the AGM | Relaxed: file by 31 January 2027 without additional fees |
| DPT-3 | 30 June | Where applicable |
| MSME-1 | Half-yearly (30 April, 31 October) | Next one is due 30 April 2027 |
| DIR-3 KYC | Once every three financial years | From 31 March 2026 |
| DIR-12 | 30 days from a director change |
Three points deserve attention:
- Circular 05/2026 applies only to the listed forms. If you file late, additional fees count from the original due date, not from 31 December or 31 January. A company whose AGM was held on 30 September has original dates of 30 October for AOC-4 and 29 November for MGT-7, so waiting means fees from those dates.
- Small company now means paid-up capital up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹100 crore (from 1 December 2025). Re-test whether MGT-7A applies.
- Accounting software must keep an audit trail.
Income tax (company)
- Advance tax: 15 June (15%), 15 September (45%), 15 December (75%), 15 March (100%).
- TDS: deposit by the 7th of the next month, and file quarterly returns (31 July, 31 October, 31 January, 31 May).
- Tax audit and ITR-6: the tax audit report was extended to 21 October 2026, and returns for audit cases to 21 November 2026 . Transfer-pricing cases have a separate timeline, so confirm the notification for your case.
- MSME payments: s. 43B(h) disallows the expense if payments to micro and small suppliers are delayed beyond the permitted period.
GST
- Returns: GSTR-1 by the 11th and GSTR-3B by the 20th for monthly filers.
- Annual return: GSTR-9 by 31 December, and GSTR-9C for turnover above ₹5 crore.
- ITC deadline: invoices of FY 2025-26 must be claimed by 30 November 2026 (s. 16(4)).
- Reconcile GSTR-2B and watch the 180-day payment rule on ITC.
Allied compliances
- PF and ESI: by the 15th of each month. In November the 15th is a Sunday, so plan to pay earlier.
- Foreign investment: FLA return by 15 July, FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment, and the ODI annual performance report by 31 December.
- Other: CSR where applicable, POSH reporting, and the new Labour Codes.
2. LLPs
| Compliance | Due date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form 11 (annual return) | 30 May | Must be filed before Form 8 |
| Form 8 (statement of account and solvency) | 30 October | See “Missed in October?” above |
| Form 3 / Form 4 | 30 days from a change | LLP agreement changes and partner changes |
| DPIN KYC | Per the three-year cycle | A deactivated DPIN blocks signing |
| ITR-5 | 31 July (non-audit); 21 November 2026 (audit cases, as extended) |
Specific points
- Late fee: ₹100 a day per form, with no cap.
- Audit: an LLP audit is needed above ₹40 lakh turnover or ₹25 lakh contribution. A tax audit applies above the s. 44AB limits.
- Partner payments: TDS applies to remuneration, interest and similar payments to partners above ₹20,000 a year, under s. 393(3) of the 2025 Act (formerly 194T).
- GST and TDS: the same rules as companies.
- Dormant LLPs still file Forms 11 and 8.
3. Individuals
- ITR: 31 July for ITR-1/2. For non-audit business or professional income (ITR-3/4) commentary reports 31 August. For AY 2026-27 the belated window runs to 31 December 2026 , with a fee of ₹5,000, or ₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh.
- Advance tax: if liability after TDS is ₹10,000 or more, pay by 15 June, 15 September, 15 December and 15 March. The next instalment is 15 December.
- Reconcile: compare the return with AIS and Form 26AS.
- Capital gains: report ESOP and share sales, and note the changed buyback treatment from 1 April 2026.
- Foreign assets: disclose in Schedule FA and claim foreign tax credit on time.
- Property: TDS on purchase and on sale to non-residents, and TDS on rent above the limit.
- Updated return: up to 48 months, at 25% to 70% additional tax.
- E-verify within 30 days of filing.
- Directors and partners: keep KYC current.
- GST: only if the individual has a taxable business above the threshold.
4. Calendar: November 2026 to March 2027
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| 7 November | TDS/TCS deposit for October |
| 11 November | GSTR-1 for October (monthly filers) |
| 15 November | PF and ESI (a Sunday, so pay earlier) |
| 20 November | GSTR-3B for October (monthly filers) |
| 21 November | ITR for audit cases, including audited LLPs and companies (as extended) |
| 25 November | PMT-06 for QRMP taxpayers |
| 30 November | ITC deadline for FY 2025-26; challan-cum-statement for TDS on property and rent for October; transfer-pricing ITR |
| 15 December | Advance tax, third instalment |
| 31 December | AOC-4 (relaxed), GSTR-9/9C, belated or revised ITR for AY 2026-27, ODI annual performance report |
| 31 January 2027 | MGT-7/7A (relaxed), Q3 TDS returns |
| 15 March 2027 | Advance tax, final instalment |
5. Common mistakes
- Counting from 30 September rather than the actual AGM date.
- Treating the circular as a blanket extension. It covers specific forms and doesn’t touch the AGM.
- Using old section numbers in TDS workings, notices and replies.
- Skipping nil filings. Dormant companies and LLPs still file.
- Letting data drift between books, GST, ITR and MCA.
- Leaving DIN or DPIN KYC lapses until a filing is blocked.
6. Checklist
- Fix the AGM date and calculate every dependent date.
- Reconcile share capital, borrowings and related parties before filing.
- Match GST turnover, ITR turnover and the financial statements.
- Calendar TDS deposits, returns and advance tax instalments.
- Check which Act applies to each notice or return.
- Test small-company, XBRL and audit applicability each year.
- Keep a written record of every extension, with the circular number.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information. Dates and thresholds change by circular and notification, so confirm them against the latest official sources before relying on them.
CAclubindia
