The government has confirmed that new Income Tax Return (ITR) forms—aligned with the freshly enacted Income Tax Act, 2025—will be issued before the start of FY 2027–28. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament that the redesigned forms will be ready ahead of the first assessment cycle under the new regime.
New Income Tax Act to Run From April 1, 2026
The Income Tax Act, 2025, passed on August 21, 2025, will officially replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961 beginning April 1, 2026. The new framework focuses on simplifying legal language, improving clarity in tax provisions, and reducing compliance burdens on individuals and businesses.
CBDT Working on New ITR Forms
Chaudhary stated that a CBDT committee is actively redesigning the tax forms to suit the revised system. Consultations with tax professionals, industry groups and field authorities are underway to ensure the forms are simpler, more intuitive, and easier to file.
As part of this shift, all reporting formats—including quarterly TDS submissions and annual ITR forms—are being updated to align with the structure of the new law.
ITR Forms for FY 2026–27 to Be Notified Soon
The first set of ITR forms under the new tax regime, applicable for Assessment Year 2027–28, will incorporate provisions introduced in the 2026 Union Budget. These will be released ahead of FY28, allowing taxpayers and professionals enough time to adapt.
Until then, taxpayers will continue using the existing ITR forms prescribed under the Income Tax Act, 1961 for income earned in the current financial year.
Conversation
Be kind and stay on topic. Comments are moderated; abuse, spam and personal attacks are removed. Report a problem