The upcoming deadlines are particularly significant as they fall toward the end of the financial year 2025–26 and may require taxpayers to finalise their tax liabilities and complete statutory filings within the prescribed timelines.
Advance tax payment due on March 15
One of the key deadlines this month is the payment of the fourth instalment of advance tax for the assessment year 2026–27, which is due on March 15, 2026.
Advance tax applies to taxpayers whose total tax liability during a financial year exceeds ₹10,000. Such taxpayers are required to pay tax in instalments during the year instead of a lump sum payment at the time of filing returns.
The same date, March 15, is also the deadline for taxpayers opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under sections 44AD and 44ADA to pay the entire amount of advance tax for the assessment year 2026–27.
Government offices to file Form 24G by March 15
Government offices that deposit TDS or Tax Collected at Source (TCS) without producing a challan must furnish Form 24G for February 2026 by March 15. The form helps report tax deductions made by government departments where tax is remitted through book adjustment.
TDS certificate issuance due by March 17
Several TDS certificate issuance deadlines also fall in mid-March. By March 17, 2026, deductors must issue certificates for taxes deducted in January under multiple provisions.
These include TDS certificates related to property transactions (Section 194-IA), rent payments by individuals or HUFs (Section 194-IB), payments to contractors or professionals under Section 194M, and certain virtual digital asset transactions under Section 194S.
Issuing these certificates enables taxpayers to claim credit for taxes already deducted while filing their income tax returns.
TDS challan-cum-statements due on March 30
By March 30, taxpayers responsible for deducting tax under specific provisions must file challan-cum-statements for deductions made in February.
These filings apply to transactions covered under Sections 194-IA, 194-IB, 194M and 194S, which include property purchases, rent payments exceeding prescribed limits, payments by individuals or Hindu Undivided Families not covered under tax audit, and certain digital asset transactions.
International tax reporting due by March 31
Companies that are part of multinational groups also face reporting obligations before the financial year ends.
The Country-by-Country (CbC) Report in Form 3CEAD for the previous year 2024–25 must be filed by March 31, 2026 by parent entities or alternate reporting entities resident in India. Constituent entities may also be required to file the report if the parent entity is not obligated to do so in its jurisdiction or if India lacks an agreement for exchange of such reports.
Other filings due before the financial year closes
March 31 also marks the deadline for certain additional compliance requirements.
Taxpayers claiming foreign tax credit must upload Form 67, which contains details of foreign income offered to tax and taxes paid overseas for the previous year 2024–25.
Further, March 31 is the last date to file an updated income tax return for the assessment year 2021–22 under the updated return provisions.