M Rishabh & AssociatesCHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
CBDTCIRCULARINCOME TAXEFFECTIVE IMMEDIATE

Extension of the due date for furnishing tax audit reports for Assessment Year 2026-27

SOURCE

Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance

NUMBER

17/2026

ISSUED

24 October 2026

EFFECTIVE

Immediate

NOTE BY

CA Vivek Agarwal

REVIEWED BY:CA M. Rishabh

What the notification does

CBDT exercises powers under Section 119 of the Income-tax Act to address electronic filing difficulties encountered by assessees:

  • Extends the specified date for filing Form 3CA-3CD and Form 3CB-3CD tax audit reports.
  • Clarifies that interest provisions under Section 234A continue to apply for tax payments deferred beyond the original timeline.
  • Directs field formations to facilitate e-filing validations without penalty notices for submissions within the extended period.

Who it affects

Corporate assessees, working partners of audited firms, and business taxpayers with gross turnover exceeding statutory audit limits.

Points for finance teams

ACTIONBY WHENOWNER
Finalise draft audit statements with statutory auditorWithin extended timelineFinance team
Approve electronic form via taxpayer e-filing portalImmediate on uploadAuthorised signatory

The firm's note

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has extended the statutory deadline for electronic submission of audit reports under Section 44AB for AY 2026-27. Taxpayers and audit teams should ensure final reconciliations are uploaded within the extended window.

Disclaimer. This note is a summary prepared by M Rishabh & Associates for general information as on 26 October 2026. It is not professional advice. Refer to the official notification for the full text, which prevails in case of any difference. See the full disclaimer.

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