A single annual checklist covering everything an Indian business must complete each year — income tax, GST, TDS, ROC filings and labour law returns — with the dates for FY 2026–27 and what each one costs if missed.
Annual compliance is a small number of tasks spread across four regulators, and the reason it goes wrong is almost never difficulty. It is that no single person holds the whole list. This checklist is that list, in the order the year runs.
Income Tax
| Task | Due for FY 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Advance tax, first instalment, 15% | 15 June 2026 |
| Advance tax, second instalment, 45% cumulative | 15 September 2026 |
| Advance tax, third instalment, 75% cumulative | 15 December 2026 |
| Advance tax, fourth instalment, 100% | 15 March 2027 |
| Complete the statutory or tax audit, where applicable | Before the report date below |
| Furnish the audit report under section 63 | 30 September 2027 |
| File the return — individuals and non-audit cases | 31 July 2027 |
| File the return — companies and audit cases | 31 October 2027 |
| File the return — transfer pricing cases under section 172 | 30 November 2027 |
TDS and TCS
- Deposit tax deducted by the 7th of the following month, and by 30 April 2027 for tax deducted in March 2027.
- File the four quarterly statements by 31 July 2026, 31 October 2026, 31 January 2027 and 31 May 2027.
- Issue the annual salary certificate to employees by 15 June 2027.
- Issue quarterly certificates to other deductees within fifteen days of each statement.
- Reconcile deductions to challans and to each deductee's information statement, every quarter rather than at year end.
GST
- File GSTR-9, the annual return, by 31 December following the financial year, where your turnover requires it.
- File GSTR-9C, the reconciliation statement, alongside it where applicable.
- Renew the letter of undertaking for zero-rated exports before 1 April, for the new year.
- Reconcile input tax credit claimed against the auto-populated statement for the whole year, and settle differences before the annual return.
- Check that credit notes and amendments for the year were made within the time limit allowed.
The input tax credit deadline is not the annual return deadline. Credit for a financial year must be claimed by the earlier of the return for a specified month following the year end, or the date of filing the annual return. Waiting until you prepare GSTR-9 to discover unclaimed credit is usually waiting too long.
ROC and MCA
- Hold at least four board meetings, with no gap longer than 120 days.
- Complete the statutory audit.
- Hold the annual general meeting by 30 September 2026 for a 31 March year end.
- File ADT-1 within 15 days of the AGM, where an auditor was appointed.
- File AOC-4 within 30 days of the AGM.
- File MGT-7 or MGT-7A within 60 days of the AGM.
- File DIR-3 KYC for every director by 30 September 2026.
- File DPT-3 by 30 June 2026.
- File MSME-1 by 31 October 2026 and 30 April 2027, where dues to micro and small suppliers are outstanding beyond 45 days.
- For an LLP: Form 11 by 30 May and Form 8 by 30 October.
Labour and Employment
- Deposit provident fund and state insurance contributions by the 15th of each month.
- File the annual returns due under each Act that applies to you.
- Submit the annual report of the internal complaints committee to the District Officer, where the workplace has ten or more employees.
- Pay statutory bonus within eight months of the close of the accounting year.
- Review minimum wage notifications, which are revised periodically by each State.
- Keep gratuity nominations current.
Records to Close Out
- Stock count and valuation as at 31 March.
- Fixed asset register updated, with depreciation recorded.
- Confirmation of balances from major debtors and creditors.
- Provision for doubtful debts reviewed.
- Bank reconciliations completed for every account.
- Statutory registers updated and available at the registered office.
Set the calendar once, in April. Nearly every date above is knowable on the first day of the financial year. The two that are not — AOC-4 and MGT-7 — become fixed the moment you decide the AGM date. Choosing that date early, and working backwards from it, converts the whole year into a schedule rather than a series of surprises.
Related Guides
- Business Compliance Calendar 2026–27
- ROC & MCA Compliance Calendar 2026–27
- Income Tax Compliance Calendar 2026–27
- GSTR-9 annual return and reconciliation
Key Facts About Annual Business Compliance Checklist
- Applies in: All states across India, under the relevant central law.
- Mode: Mostly online via the official government portal.
- Typical timeline: Ranges from a few days to a few weeks depending on the case.
- Non-compliance: May attract penalties, interest or late fees.
- Expert help: TaxClue completes the entire process end to end for you.
What must every Indian business file annually?
At minimum an income tax return, and where registered, a GST annual return, four quarterly TDS statements, and — for companies and LLPs — the MCA annual filings. Employers add provident fund, state insurance and other labour returns. Which of these apply depends on your entity type, turnover and headcount.
When is GSTR-9 due?
31 December following the end of the financial year, for taxpayers whose turnover requires it. GSTR-9C, the reconciliation statement, is filed alongside where applicable.
Over 90% of compliance penalties in India arise from missed due dates — timely handling can save businesses thousands of rupees each year.
Annual Business Compliance Checklist: a key compliance topic in Indian tax and corporate law that businesses and individuals must understand to remain compliant.