The Government of India has validated that work is in progress to develop a new set of streamlined income tax return forms to align with the recently legislated Income Tax Act 2025. This statement has arrived in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha for the rollout timeline and features of the new ITR framework.
As per the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, while the new Act, passed on 21 August 2025, will come into force from the tax year 2026–27, the pertinent rules and forms are under formulation.
He said that consolidation and simplification of ITR forms for AY 2026–27 is in progress and will be declared as per the provisions of the existing Income-tax Act, 1961.
The Minister said that ITR forms under the Income Tax Act 2025 will incorporate revisions proposed in the budget 2026. The same updated forms applicable for the first tax year 2026-27 shall be declared before FY 2027-28.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), for assuring ease of compliance, has formed a committee for facilitating return filing. The committee is keeping extensive consultations with tax experts, professional bodies and departmental field officials. The suggestions from these consultations will be embedded in the final ITR forms.
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Once the facilitated ITR regime comes into function, then it is expected to ease return filing, reduce documentation pressure and improve taxpayer services.
New Income Tax Return Forms
