Last Updated on July 20, 2026
Every private limited company in India must file its income tax return every year, whether it made a profit, ran at a loss, or had no transactions at all. Unlike individual filers, a company’s ITR is tied to its statutory audit, tax regime choice, and mandatory digital signing, which makes it a more layered process than most first-time directors expect.
This guide walks through the ITR-6 filing process for a private limited company for AY 2026-27, covering due dates, documents, tax rate choices, and the transitional rules that apply this filing season.
Quick Summary
Private Limited Companies are generally required to file their income tax return in Form ITR-6 electronically using a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Filing is mandatory every financial year, regardless of whether the company has earned a profit, incurred a loss, or had no business activity during the year. Failure to file the return within the prescribed due date may result in late fees, interest, and other consequences under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- ITR-6 applies to most companies, except those claiming exemption under Section 11.
- The return must be filed online using a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
- For AY 2026–27, the due date is generally 31 October 2026 for companies not covered by transfer pricing provisions, unless extended by the CBDT.
- Companies eligible for the concessional tax regime may opt for taxation under Section 115BAA, subject to the prescribed conditions.
- Timely filing helps avoid penalties, interest, and compliance issues.
Need Help Filing ITR-6?
Kanakkupillai’s tax experts can help you prepare and file your company’s ITR-6 accurately, ensure timely compliance, and assist with corporate tax planning.
Which ITR Form Applies to a Private Limited Company?
A Private Limited Company is generally required to file ITR-6 under the Income Tax Act, 1961. This form is applicable to companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 or the Companies Act, 1956, except those claiming exemption under Section 11 for income derived from charitable or religious purposes. ITR-6 requires companies to report details such as their financial statements, profit and loss account, balance sheet, taxable income, tax liability, depreciation, MAT (Minimum Alternate Tax), and other statutory disclosures. The return must be filed electronically using a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
Why is it Important?
Filing ITR-6 on time keeps a company’s tax position clean for future assessments, loan applications, and investor due diligence. It also preserves the ability to carry forward business losses against future profits, a benefit that is lost if the original due date is missed, regardless of how genuine the delay was.
ITR-6 is one of several annual compliance obligations for private limited companies, see our complete guide on annual compliance costs for a private limited company in India for the full compliance calendar and cost breakdown.
Who Needs to File ITR-6?
- Private limited companies, regardless of turnover or profitability
- Public limited companies and One Person Companies
- Foreign companies earning income in India
- Companies with zero transactions in the financial year still need to file a Nil return
Before You File: Complete Statutory and Tax Audit
Every company must complete its statutory audit under the Companies Act before finalising accounts. Most private limited companies also fall under tax audit requirements based on turnover under Section 44AB, and the audit report in Form 3CA/3CD must be filed before the ITR-6 itself, since the return draws its figures directly from the audited financials.
Depreciation Under Companies Act vs Income Tax Act
One of the most common reconciliation errors in ITR-6 is depreciation:
| Companies Act 2013 | Income Tax Act 1961 | |
| Method | Usually SLM (Schedule II) | WDV (Written Down Value) |
| Asset life | Based on Schedule II | Based on IT Rules |
| Rate for computers | Over 3 years | 40% WDV |
| Rate for buildings | Over 30-60 years | 5-10% WDV |
- Book profit (for MAT) uses Companies Act depreciation.
- Taxable income uses the Income Tax Act depreciation.
These often produce significantly different net profits, and both figures must be correctly reflected in ITR-6’s Schedule DPM (Depreciation of Plant and Machinery). Getting this wrong in either direction, overstating or understating depreciation, creates a mismatch with the audit report that examiners flag.
Want to calculate depreciation correctly? Explore our blog on Depreciation Rates Under the Companies Act & Income Tax Act for practical insights and tax compliance tips.
Choosing a Tax Regime
A company can opt for the concessional 22 percent rate under Section 115BAA, without exemptions, or continue under the standard corporate tax rate with applicable deductions, subject to Minimum Alternate Tax where relevant. The right choice depends on how many exemptions and deductions the company would otherwise claim, and switching regimes has long-term implications, so this decision is worth evaluating each year before filing.
MAT (Book Profit) — What It Actually Means for Your Company
Under Section 115JB, if a company’s regular income tax liability is less than 15% of its book profit (profit as per Companies Act financials, before income tax adjustments), the company must pay MAT at 15% of book profit instead.
- Book profit ≠ taxable income. Book profit starts with net profit per P&L account and adds back certain items (income tax provision, depreciation over SLM, etc.) and deducts other items.
- MAT Credit: MAT paid can be carried forward as MAT credit for 15 years — offset against regular tax liability in future years when the company becomes more profitable.
- MAT doesn’t apply under 115BAA. Companies opting for the concessional 22% rate are permanently exempt from MAT — which is one of the key advantages of 115BAA for companies with consistently low regular tax liability.
What Documents are Required for a Pvt Ltd Company ITR Filing?
- Audited Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account for the financial year
- Tax audit report in Form 3CA/3CD, where applicable
- PAN, CIN, and details of directors and authorised signatories
- TDS certificates and Form 26AS reconciliation
- Advance tax and self-assessment tax challans
- Form 3CEB, for companies with international or specified domestic transactions
Need help organising your documents before filing? Our experts can assist you.
Private Limited Company Income Tax Filing Process – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1. Finalise accounts and complete audits
Close the books, complete the statutory audit, and complete the tax audit if applicable, ensuring figures reconcile with GST returns and TDS data.
Reconciling AIS, Form 26AS, and Books Before Filing
Before filing ITR-6, reconcile three data sources that the Income Tax Department will automatically cross-check:
| Data Source | What It Shows | Common Mismatch |
| Form 26AS | TDS deducted and deposited against company’s PAN | TDS credits not reflecting due to PAN mismatch by deductor |
| AIS (Annual Information Statement) | All financial transactions reported to IT Dept | Bank interest, GST turnover, dividend income |
| Books of Accounts | Company’s own P&L and Balance Sheet | Timing differences, unreported income |
Key reconciliation steps:
- Match Form 26AS TDS credits with actual TDS certificates received
- Compare AIS turnover figures with GST returns — the Department now directly imports GSTR data into AIS
- Verify that all interest income, dividend income, and capital gains appear in the books
Mismatches between AIS and ITR-6 are the single most common trigger for scrutiny notices; address them before filing, not after receiving a notice.
Step 2. Choose the applicable tax regime
Evaluate whether Section 115BAA or the standard regime results in lower tax liability, factoring in MAT where relevant.
Step 3. Pay any outstanding tax
Clear any remaining self-assessment tax liability before filing to avoid interest accruing further under Section 234B.
Advance Tax for Companies: Quarterly Payments That Affect Your ITR
Unlike individuals, companies must pay advance tax in four instalments, not just at year-end:
| Installment | Due Date | Cumulative % Required |
| 1st | June 15, 2025 | 15% |
| 2nd | September 15, 2025 | 45% |
| 3rd | December 15, 2025 | 75% |
| 4th | March 15, 2026 | 100% |
Shortfall in any instalment attracts interest under Section 234C at 1% per month in addition to Section 234B interest for underpayment overall. These interest amounts must be calculated and disclosed in ITR-6. Many companies miss this step and receive demand notices post-filing.
Step 4. Prepare and file ITR-6
Fill in the balance sheet, profit and loss, and tax computation schedules on the income tax e-filing portal, and validate figures against the audit report.
Step 5. Sign with a Class 3 DSC
Authenticate and submit the return using the authorised signatory’s registered Class 3 DSC, since companies have no EVC or paper filing alternative.
What is the Due Date for Filing ITR for a Private Limited Company?
| Compliance | Due Date for AY 2026-27 |
| Tax audit report (Form 3CA/3CD) | 30 September 2026 |
| ITR-6 for companies liable to audit | 31 October 2026 |
| ITR-6 with transfer pricing report (Form 3CEB) | 30 November 2026 |
| Belated or revised return | 31 December 2026 |
For a complete overview of all ITR due dates across taxpayer categories for AY 2026-27, see our guide on the last date for ITR filing in India.
Latest Legal Updates
The Income Tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026 and now governs the company’s current-year compliance, including TDS deductions and advance tax. However, the ITR-6 return for AY 2026-27 covers income earned during FY 2025-26 and is governed entirely by the Income Tax Act, 1961, using its section numbering and forms. Companies should file this year’s return under the old Act while tracking ongoing compliance under the new one from 1 April 2026 onward.
Penalty / Consequences
- Legal: Late filing fees under Section 234F apply, up to Rs. 5,000, depending on total income
- Financial: Interest under Section 234A accrues at 1% per month on unpaid tax from the due date
- Business: A late return forfeits the right to carry forward business losses to future years
- Compliance: Persistent non-filing can trigger scrutiny, especially given automated data matching with GST and TDS records
Avoid interest and lost carry-forward benefits with timely filing support.
Common Mistakes
- Filing ITR-6 before completing the mandatory tax audit, causing figures to not reconcile
- Choosing a tax regime without comparing the actual tax outcome under both options
- Mismatches between tax audit turnover and GST returns, which can trigger scrutiny
- Waiting until the DSC expires before attempting to sign and file the return
Benefits of ITR Filing for Companies
- Preserves the right to carry forward business losses against future profits
- Keeps the company’s compliance record clean for loan and investor due diligence
- Avoids escalating interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C
- Reduces the risk of scrutiny triggered by late or inconsistent filings
Practical Scenario
A two-year-old private limited company posts a loss in its second year after heavy initial investment in product development. The founders assume there is no urgency since no tax is payable, and file the return two months after the due date. As a result, the company forfeits its right to carry forward that year’s business loss, a loss that would otherwise have offset profits once the company turned cash-flow positive the following year.
Understanding which losses can be carried forward and for how long is critical, our guide on how to carry forward losses while filing ITR explains the rules and timelines in detail.
Expert Tips / Best Practices
- Start the audit process at least six to eight weeks before the ITR-6 due date
- Reconcile tax audit turnover with GST returns before filing, not after a notice arrives
- Re-evaluate the Section 115BAA choice every year based on actual deductions available
- Keep the signing director’s Class 3 DSC valid well ahead of the filing deadline
Tax Regime Comparison: Section 115BAA vs Standard Regime
| Aspect | Section 115BAA (Concessional) | Standard Regime |
| Tax rate | 22% (plus surcharge and cess) | 25% or 30%, depending on turnover |
| Exemptions and deductions | Not available | Available, subject to conditions |
| MAT applicability | Not applicable | Applicable at 15%, where relevant |
| Best suited for | Companies with few deductions to claim | Companies claiming significant exemptions |
Actual Effective Tax Rates — What Companies Actually Pay
| Tax Regime | Base Rate | Surcharge | Cess | Effective Rate |
| Section 115BAA (concessional) | 22% | 10% (flat) | 4% | 25.168% |
| Standard (turnover ≤ ₹400 crore) | 25% | 7% (if income > ₹1 crore) | 4% | 29.12% (approx.) |
| Standard (turnover > ₹400 crore) | 30% | 12% (if income > ₹10 crore) | 4% | 34.944% (approx.) |
| MAT (Section 115JB) | 15% of the book profit | 7% or 12% | 4% | Varies by income |
The 115BAA effective rate of 25.168% is fixed regardless of income level the 10% surcharge is capped at this flat rate. Under the standard regime, the surcharge escalates with income, making the comparison more favourable to 115BAA for higher-income companies.
How Kanakkupillai Can Help?
Kanakkupillai helps private limited companies complete their statutory and tax audits, choose the right tax regime, and file ITR-6 accurately and on time, with the correct DSC-based authentication, so directors can focus on the business instead of the filing mechanics.
Conclusion
Filing ITR-6 for a private limited company is not just an annual formality; it protects loss carry-forward rights, keeps the company’s compliance record clean, and avoids escalating interest on any unpaid tax. With this year’s filing sitting at the transition between the old and new Income Tax Acts, getting the audit, regime choice, and due dates right matters more than usual.
Filing an ITR for your Private Limited Company?
Let our tax experts handle your company income tax return accurately and on time. We ensure complete compliance, minimise errors, and help you avoid penalties.
FAQs
1. Does a private limited company need to file an ITR even with zero income?
Yes, filing ITR-6 is mandatory every year for every company, regardless of profit, loss, or business activity. Even a dormant company with no transactions must file a Nil return to stay compliant.
2. Can a company file ITR-6 without a Digital Signature Certificate?
No, companies must authenticate ITR-6 using a Class 3 DSC of an authorised signatory. There is no electronic verification code or paper filing alternative available for companies.
3. What happens if the tax audit report is filed late?
Since the ITR-6 draws its figures from the audit report, a delayed audit report pushes back the entire filing timeline. This risks missing the ITR-6 due date itself and losing the ability to carry forward business losses.
4. Is Section 115BAA compulsory for all private limited companies?
No, opting for Section 115BAA is voluntary and should be evaluated each year based on the deductions and exemptions the company would otherwise be eligible for under the standard regime.
5. Which Income Tax Act governs this year’s ITR-6 filing?
The ITR-6 return for AY 2026-27, covering income earned in FY 2025-26, is filed entirely under the Income Tax Act, 1961, even though the new Income Tax Act, 2025, governs the company’s compliance from 1 April 2026 onward.
6. What if a company misses the belated return deadline as well?
If both the original and belated return deadlines are missed, the company can still file an updated return under Section 139(8A) within the prescribed time limit, though additional tax and interest will apply.
