October is one of the busiest months in the compliance calendar. This update covers the key developments across Company Law, Income Tax, TDS and GST. It also lists the due dates that businesses should keep in mind for the coming weeks.
1. MCA / ROC: Relief for Annual Filing of FY 2025-26
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued General Circular No. 05/2026 dated 24 October 2026. It gives companies more time to complete their annual ROC filings for FY 2025-26 without additional fees.
- AOC-4 and its variants (AOC-4 CFS, AOC-4 XBRL, AOC-4 NBFC Ind AS): extended to 31 December 2026.
- MGT-7 / MGT-7A (Annual Return): extended to 31 January 2027.
- No additional fees will be levied if the forms are filed within the extended dates.
- The relief applies to the forms named in the circular. Other event-based forms continue to follow their normal timelines.
Our suggestion: Do not wait for the last week. The MCA portal usually slows down near the deadline. Companies with signed financial statements should file AOC-4 at the earliest.
2. Income Tax: ITR Due Date for Audit Cases is 21 November 2026
Through Circular No. 07/2026 dated 28 September 2026, CBDT extended the due date for filing the Income Tax Return for AY 2026-27 in audit cases. The new date is 21 November 2026, in place of 31 October 2026. The tax audit report date was extended to 21 October 2026, which has now passed.
- Companies, partnership firms and other assessees covered by tax audit should file their ITR by 21 November 2026.
- Cases covered by transfer pricing (Section 92E) are not affected by this extension and follow their own timelines.
- Penalty waiver: CBDT Notification No. 134/2026 dated 8 October 2026 has introduced a revised Form 161 for applications seeking waiver of penalty under section 440(2) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
3. TDS: Q2 Quarterly Statement Due on 31 October 2026
The quarterly TDS/TCS statements for July to September 2026 must be filed by 31 October 2026.
- A late fee of ₹200 per day applies for delayed filing, up to the amount of TDS in the statement.
- TDS deducted in October 2026 must be deposited by 7 November 2026.
- Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, the TDS statement forms have new numbers. Deductors should make sure their software is updated before filing.
- After filing, Form 16A should be issued to deductees within 15 days of the statement due date.
4. GST: New Multistate Registration Facility
GSTN has introduced a Multistate Registration facility on the GST portal through an advisory dated 1 October 2026. Businesses that need GST registration in more than one State or UT under the same PAN can now use it.
- The applicant selects all the required States/UTs and a single Master TRN is generated.
- Common details such as business details, promoters/partners, authorised signatory and goods/services are entered only once. The Master TRN must be submitted within 15 days.
- Individual TRNs are then generated for each State. State-specific details, place of business and Aadhaar authentication are completed separately.
- The facility is currently available only to Normal Taxpayers. A separate GSTIN is still issued for each State, as required under Section 25 of the CGST Act.
5. DSC and Accounting: Get Ready for the Filing Season
- Directors and authorised signatories should check the validity of their Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) before AOC-4, MGT-7 and ITR filings. An expired DSC is one of the most common reasons for last-minute delays.
- Businesses should complete their books of accounts and reconciliations (GST, TDS and bank) well before the ITR due date for audit cases.
Upcoming Due Dates at a Glance
| Compliance | Period / Applicability | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly TDS/TCS statements | Q2 (July–September 2026) | 31 October 2026 |
| TDS/TCS deposit | Deductions made in October 2026 | 7 November 2026 |
| GSTR-1 (monthly filers) | October 2026 | 11 November 2026 |
| GSTR-3B (monthly filers) | October 2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Income Tax Return (audit cases) | AY 2026-27 | 21 November 2026 |
| AOC-4 and its variants | FY 2025-26 financial statements | 31 December 2026 (extended) |
| MGT-7 / MGT-7A | FY 2025-26 annual return | 31 January 2027 (extended) |
How North West Consultancy Can Help
North West Consultancy (NWC) assists companies, LLPs, firms, trusts and individuals with ROC filings, income tax returns, TDS statements, GST compliance, DSC issuance and renewal, and accounting. For help with any of the above filings, contact us.
Office: 210, Vitthal The Mall, Koba Gandhinagar Road, Near Vishwakarma Engineering College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 382424
Raviraj Upadhyay (Partner): +91 90338 52145
Prashant Joshi (Partner): +91 97146 56484
Email: fca.raviraj@gmail.com
Official Sources
- MCA – General Circular No. 05/2026
- CBDT – Circular No. 07/2026
- Income Tax Department – News & Updates (Notification No. 134/2026)
- GSTN – Advisory on Multistate Registration Facility (1 October 2026)
Disclaimer: This update is for general information only and should not be treated as professional advice. Please refer to the relevant notifications and circulars, or consult us, before taking any decision.
