Key Changes in ITR-6 for AY 2025-26: What Companies Must Know

In line with the transition towards the Income-tax Act, 2025 (effective 1 April 2026), the government has notified revised Income Tax Return (ITR) forms applicable for Assessment Year 2026–27 (Financial Year 2025–26) which inter-alia includes structural changes and aims at having more clarity and transparency in the Income Tax Returns. This article outlines the key changes in ITR6 along with their applicability. While new forms maintain the core structure for corporate tax reporting, several updates have been made in the AY 2026-27 version. Let us understand them one by one.

Applicability of Form ITR6

Before deep diving through the understanding the key changes in form ITR6, let us first understand the list of persons to whom from ITR 6 is applicable. ITR 6 is generally applicable to companies other than companies claiming exemption under section 11 of the Income Tax Act 1961. Thus, the following taxpayers are required to file their income tax return using Form ITR‑6:

• A domestic company incorporated in India
• A foreign company having business or permanent establishment in India
• Any institution, association or body, whether incorporated or not and whether Indian or Non-Indian which is declared by general or special order of the Board, to be Company, etc.

This form is not applicable to Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), LLPs, AOPs or Partnership firms, Companies and Persons required to file ITR‑7 (such as charitable/religious trusts, political parties, institutions, etc.).

Let us begin to understand the key changes in form ITR6

More Granular and aligned Trading / Business schedules to enhance transparency especially for companies doing F&O trading business

Introduction of mandatory disclosure for Futures & Options turnover and Segregation of trading income components has been introduced which specifically applies to companies engaged in derivatives trading.

Schedule 80G Seeks the IFSC and Transaction Reference Number

Schedule 80G of the ITR forms seeks additional the disclosures in respect of the deductions claimed for donations made to specified funds, charitable institutions, or relief organisations. This schedule interalia requires the taxpayer to provide detailed information for each donation, including the type of donation, name, PAN, and complete address of the donee, along with the city, state code, and pin code, to ensure that the donation is traceable and made to an eligible institution. Following two additional reporting requirements are incorporated in this Schedule:

• IFSC code of the bank.
  
• Transaction reference number for UPI transfers or the cheque/IMPS/NEFT/RTGS reference number, and

Removal of bifurcated Reporting of Capital Gains Earned Before or After 23rd July 2024

The bifurcation of capital gains introduced in pursuance of amendments announced via enactment of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, requiring a separate disclosure of capital gains arising before 23rd July 2024 and on or after that date, as different tax rates and provisions applied based on the timing of transfer stands removed in AY 2026-27 ITR6, since such separate disclosures are no longer required, thereby simplifying the reporting framework.

Removal of Schedule BBS in ITR-6

Companies were liable to pay tax on the distributed income arising from the buyback of shares, and such income was exempt in the hands of shareholders under Section 10(34A). Such, buyback transactions were required to be reported in Schedule BBS of ITR-6.

However, with effect from 1st October 2024, the taxation mechanism has been shifted, whereby the buyback proceeds are now taxable in the hands of the shareholders and companies are no longer required to pay tax on such transactions. Consequently, Schedule BBS has been removed in form ITR6 for the Assessment Year 2026–27.

Reporting for Presumptive Income Under Section 44BBD

A new section viz 44BBD was introduced by the Finance Act, 2025, non-residents engaged in supplying services or technology for setting up electronics manufacturing facilities or manufacturing electronic goods in India can opt for presumptive taxation scheme and offer 25% of the specified receipts as taxable income.

To facilitate compliance to this, the ITR forms have been updated by amending the declaration in Part A–GEN to capture whether income is being offered under Section 44BBD, and by incorporating specific reporting in Schedule BP to disclose such deemed profits, in line with other presumptive taxation provisions.

Generic Changes Across All ITR Forms

• Contact & Address Details: Fields names for contact details like address, mobile number been updated from Mobile 1, Mobile 2 to both primary and secondary mobile numbers. Similar nomenclature changes are incorporated for email addresses, and residential addresses.
• Few Cosmetic changes like introduction of drop downs for addition of due dates in filing of income tax returns.
• Revised Return Fees (Section 234-I): A separate field for the late fee on revised returns filed after 31st December is now mandatory in all forms, including ITR-7.
• The 15% STCG and 10% LTCG fields added due to amendment in Finance Act 2024 have been removed, since the old capital gains rates for listed equity securities i.e., 15% for STCG and 10% for LTCG is no longer applicable for gains in financial year 2025-26.
• The 2026-27 form features a standard verification clause where the authorized person solemnly declares the correctness and completeness of the return.

Filing Deadlines

The 2026-27 form includes specific dropdown options for the due date for filing the return (e.g., 31st October or 30th November) and checkboxes to identify if the return is filed on or before the due date (139(1)), after the due date (139(4)), or as a revised return (139(5)). Below are the key filing deadlines for filing ITR.

• Non-Audit Cases: For trusts whose accounts are not required to be audited, the ITR filing due date has been extended from 31st July to 31st August 2026.
• Audit Cases: The deadline remains 31st October 2026.
• Revised Returns: Can now be filed up to 12 months from the end of the tax year (i.e., until 31st March 2027).

Conclusion

The revised Forms signals a decisive move and form level changes rather than a law level changes by the Central Board of Direct Taxes towards greater transparency, accountability, and data-driven compliance for taxpayers.