Tax Bar Association Urges CBDT to Extend TAR and Form 10B/10BB Due Date Extension Until October 31:

Tax Bar Association, Jhalawar, vide a representation dated September 17, 2026, has requested the Honourable Chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to further extend the due date for filing the Tax Audit Report (TAR) and Form 10B/10BB for the Assessment Year 2026-27, from September 30, 2026, to October 31, 2026. In the representation, the association cited practical difficulties faced by taxpayers and tax professionals.

The Association stated that the income tax return utilities required for tax-audit cases were made available and updated at different stages. The ITR-3 utility was initially released on June 18 and updated on September 1, while ITR-5 was initially released on July 7 and updated on September 1. The ITR-6 utility was released on August 4. According to the Association, subsequent utility updates and schema or validation changes can require professionals to revise information already prepared, reducing the effective time available for completing audits.

It also highlighted the revised ICAI Guidance Note on Financial Statements of Non-Corporate Entities. The revised requirements, applicable in phases, have increased the work involved in preparing, reviewing and finalising financial statements for applicable entities, which also affects the time required for completing Tax Audits.

Another concern raised was the extension of the return filing due date for non-audit business and professional taxpayers from July 31, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The Association said that while the additional time benefits such taxpayers, it has compressed the working period available to Chartered Accountants for completing Tax Audit assignments before September 30.

The Association further explained that Tax Audit involves detailed verification and reconciliation of books of account, financial statements, GST returns, TDS/TCS records, AIS/TIS information, depreciation, statutory payments, loans, investments and related-party transactions, among other disclosures required under Form 3CD.

It also stressed that adequate time is necessary to ensure accurate and properly verified audit reports and reduce the possibility of errors or omissions. Similar difficulties were highlighted for Forms 10B/10BB, which require detailed reporting and verification of financial and other statutory information.

Accordingly, the association urged CBDT to extend the due date for Tax Audit Reports in Forms 3CA/3CB with Form 3CD and applicable Forms 10B/10BB to October 31, 2026, in pursuance of its powers granted under Section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. It also sought suitable clarification on consequential compliance requirements.