September Deadline Looms: Income Tax Returns, Aadhaar Verification, and Fuel Price Revisions

The month of September brings several key changes and deadlines that impact taxpayers' finances. For some taxpayers, August 31 is the last date to file their income tax returns for the relevant assessment year under the revised tax-filing calendar. This applies to individuals with business or professional income who are not subject to tax audit.

For other individual taxpayers, the return-filing deadline was July 31. Those who missed their applicable deadline can still file a belated return up to December 31, 2026, or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier.

A late filing fee applies: Rs 1,000 if total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5,000 if total income exceeds Rs 5 lakh. Taxpayers should note that September 1 does not provide additional time for filing their returns.

Another deadline to watch is the completion of Aadhaar-based biometric authentication for domestic LPG consumers. Oil marketing companies have been asking consumers to complete the verification process by August 31, which can be done through digital channels or by visiting the distributor.