ITR-6 excel utility goes live: Who should file, deadlines and documents explained

If your company is yet to begin filing its income tax return, here's an important update. The Income Tax Department has released the Excel utility for ITR-6 for the Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, allowing eligible companies to start preparing and filing their returns.Sharing the update on X, the Income Tax Department said, "Kind Attention Taxpayers! The Excel Utility for ITR-6 for Assessment Year 2026–27 is now available on the Income Tax e-Filing portal."WHO NEEDS TO FILE ITR-6?According to Nishant Shanker, Tax Controversy & Dispute Resolution, Navraj Global Advisors, ITR-6 is meant for companies, except those claiming exemption on income from property held for charitable or religious purposes."It is generally applicable to both domestic companies and foreign companies having taxable income in India," he said. This means most companies carrying on business in India will need to use ITR-6 for filing their income tax returns.WHAT ARE THE DUE DATES?Shanker said that most companies whose accounts are subject to audit must file ITR-6 by October 31 of the relevant assessment year. "For companies that are required to furnish a transfer pricing report, the due date is generally November 30," he added.Companies should avoid waiting until the last minute, as preparing the return often requires collecting and reconciling several financial documents.DOCUMENTS COMPANIES SHOULD KEEP READYBefore filing the return, companies should ensure they have all the required records in place.Shanker said this includes audited financial statements, the tax audit report, computation of taxable income, Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), TDS certificates, details of advance tax and self-assessment tax paid, GST reconciliations, depreciation schedules and transfer pricing documentation, wherever applicable.Having these documents ready beforehand can help make the filing process smoother and reduce the chances of errors.RECONCILIATION IS AN IMPORTANT STEPAccording to Shanker, one of the biggest reasons companies receive income tax notices is because the information filed under different laws does not match."One of the most common reasons for tax notices is a mismatch between financial statements, GST returns and the income tax return, making reconciliation an essential step before filing," he said.Carefully matching the figures across all records before submitting the return can help companies avoid unnecessary scrutiny.WHY TIMELY FILING MATTERSApart from avoiding errors, filing on time also helps companies avoid additional costs.Shanker said delayed filing may result in interest on unpaid taxes, a late filing fee under Section 234F, delays in receiving refunds and, more importantly, the loss of the benefit of carrying forward certain losses, including business losses.He advised companies to complete all reconciliations well before the due date to ensure their returns are accurate and filed on time.- EndsPublished By: Jasmine anandPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 14:30 IST