Crypto ITR filing season: deadlines and checklist (AY 2026-27)
By BtcMedia Research · Updated · Updated every year before June
Key takeaways
- The regular due dates for AY 2026-27 (31 July / 31 August 2026) have passed; belated returns are open until 31 December 2026.
- Revised returns are now allowed until 31 March 2027 (fee after 31 December).
- Crypto goes in Schedule VDA of ITR-2 or ITR-3, one row per transfer.
- Income from 1 April 2026 falls under the Income-tax Act, 2025; that return is due in 2027.
Deadlines for AY 2026-27 (income of FY 2025-26)
| Who / what | Last date | Status (22 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 / ITR-2 (salary, pension, capital gains, most crypto investors) | 31 July 2026 | Passed |
| ITR-3 / ITR-4, no tax audit (business income, many frequent traders) | 31 August 2026 | Passed |
| Tax-audit cases | 21 November 2026 (extended from 31 Oct by CBDT Circular 7/2026) | Open |
| Transfer-pricing report cases | 30 November 2026 | Open |
| Belated return (after the due date, with late fee) | 31 December 2026 | Open |
| Revised return (fee after 31 Dec: ₹1,000 if income up to ₹5 lakh, else ₹5,000) | 31 March 2027 | Open |
| Updated return, ITR-U (to declare missed income, with extra tax) | Up to 48 months from the end of the assessment year | Open |
The 31 August date for non-audit business cases and the revised-return window to 31 March were introduced by the Finance Act, 2026 and apply from AY 2026-27.
Schedule VDA checklist
- Download the annual statement from every exchange and wallet you used (Indian and foreign) for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
- List every sale, swap and spend of crypto: date acquired, date transferred, cost of acquisition, sale value. These go row by row in Schedule VDA.
- Compute the gain on each transfer separately. Only cost of acquisition is deductible; a loss on one coin cannot reduce the gain on another.
- Match the 1% TDS in your Form 26AS / AIS with the exchange statements, and claim it as a credit.
- Report crypto received as gifts from non-relatives (if over ₹50,000 in the year) under income from other sources.
- If you held crypto on a foreign exchange, review Schedule FA (calendar-year basis, ITR-2/ITR-3 only).
- Pick the right form: crypto investors usually file ITR-2; if you report crypto as business income, ITR-3. ITR-1 and ITR-4 have no Schedule VDA.
- Pay any balance tax (30% + 4% cess on gains, less TDS) before filing, and keep the challan.
Step-by-step help with each row: how to fill Schedule VDA →
Old Act, new Act
The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026, and the tax year replaces the "previous year / assessment year" pair. For crypto the substance is the same: 30% tax on income from transferring a VDA moves from section 115BBH to section 194, and 1% TDS from section 194S to section 393(1) (Table Sl. No. 8(vi)), with the same ₹50,000 / ₹10,000 thresholds. Returns for FY 2025-26 and earlier years stay under the old Act.
FAQ
Which Act applies to the return I file in 2026?
The Income-tax Act, 1961. The new Income-tax Act, 2025 took effect on 1 April 2026, but the return for income earned in FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) relates to a year that began before that date, so it is governed entirely by the old Act and filed with the old ITR forms. Your income from 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27) falls under the new Act and its return is due in 2027.
Which ITR form do I use for crypto?
Schedule VDA is in ITR-2 and ITR-3. Most investors with crypto gains use ITR-2; if your crypto activity is reported as business income, use ITR-3. ITR-1 and ITR-4 cannot be used to report VDA income.
What is the last date to file ITR for AY 2026-27?
31 July 2026 for ITR-1 and ITR-2 filers, and 31 August 2026 for non-audit ITR-3/ITR-4 filers. Both have passed. You can still file a belated return until 31 December 2026, with a late fee.
I missed reporting crypto in my return. What now?
You can revise the return until 31 March 2027 (a fee applies after 31 December 2026), or file an updated return (ITR-U) later, paying additional tax. Do it before the department contacts you.
Sources
- Income Tax Department e-filing help: Income Tax Returns (which Act applies, AY 2026-27 vs Tax Year 2026-27, time limits)
- Income Tax Department: Return of income (due dates)
- CBDT Circular 7/2026 (28 Sep 2026): audit-case due date extended to 21 Nov 2026
- Mint: ITR calendar for AY 2026-27
- Income-tax Act, 2025, section 393
Not tax advice. Dates can be extended by CBDT; check the e-filing portal. Speak to a chartered accountant for your case.
Tools: 30% tax calculator · crypto price on a date (INR) · Schedule FA guide · all guides
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- Guide published. Sources: Income Tax e-filing portal, Income Tax Department return-of-income page, CBDT Circular 7/2026 (audit due date 21 Nov 2026), Income-tax Act, 2025.