The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has officially notified all Income Tax Return (ITR) forms for the Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27. Starting from March 30 and 31, forms ITR-1 to ITR-7, along with ITR-V and ITR-U, have been released. This early notification allows individuals, professionals, and businesses to organize their financial documents well before the peak rush.

A major highlight this year is the simplification of the ITR-1 (Sahaj) form. Taxpayers owning up to two house properties can now use this simpler form, which was previously restricted to single-property owners. This move is expected to reduce the compliance burden for millions of salaried individuals. For most individual taxpayers, the deadline to file returns remains July 31, 2026. Experts advise taxpayers to verify their AIS and Form 26AS early to avoid any mismatches or late filing penalties.