September 2026 Tax Compliance Checklist For Indian Companies, LLPs and Businesses

September is a high-pressure compliance month for Indian businesses. Companies with a 31 March financial year-end may be preparing for their AGM and statutory audit, while businesses and professionals track tax-audit requirements, the second advance-tax instalment, TDS/TCS payments, and regular GST filings. This checklist separates the obligations by taxpayer type so you can identify what applies to you and prepare before the deadline.

The dates below are general statutory dates and may be changed or extended by notification. Verify the applicable date on the MCA, income-tax, GST, or other relevant official portal before filing or making a payment.

Why September Requires Early Planning

Most Indian companies close their books on 31 March. By September, the previous financial year may still require final audit, AGM, and related filings, while the current financial year has already reached its second advance-tax checkpoint. This creates an overlap between closing the previous year and managing current-year tax and GST obligations.

The practical solution is to identify the obligations that apply to your entity, assign responsibility for each filing or payment, and prepare the supporting records before the final week of the month.

TDS and TCS Payment — Generally by 7 September

If your company, LLP, or other entity deducted or collected tax during August 2026, the related TDS or TCS payment is generally due by 7 September, subject to the applicable statutory rules and exceptions.

• Reconcile the amount deducted or collected with the payroll, vendor, rent, professional-fee, contractor, and other payment records.
• Verify the correct challan, payment status, and reporting details.
• Delayed remittance may attract interest at the applicable statutory rate. For TDS, the interest calculation depends on whether the deduction or the deposit was delayed.
• Retain challans and reconciliation records for the relevant quarterly TDS or TCS statement.

Second Instalment of Advance Tax — 15 September

By 15 September 2026, taxpayers to whom the advance-tax provisions apply should generally have paid cumulative advance tax equal to at least 45% of the estimated annual advance-tax liability. The calculation should consider current-year income, eligible tax credits, and tax already paid.

Do not rely automatically on last year’s figures. Update the estimate for changes in revenue, margins, receivables, expenses, capital gains, dividends, interest, bonuses, ESOP income, and other one-off items. A revised estimate should be prepared before the payment date if business performance has changed materially.

The applicable interest provisions depend on the tax year, the governing law, the taxpayer’s final assessed tax, payment history, and the nature of the shortfall. The consequences should therefore be reviewed on the taxpayer’s facts rather than described as automatic in every case.

GST Returns — Track the Filing Category

GST deadlines continue alongside the corporate and tax deadlines. The exact obligation depends on whether the taxpayer is a monthly filer or is registered under the QRMP scheme.

• Monthly filers should generally track the August GSTR-1 date of 11 September and the August GSTR-3B date of 20 September, subject to notified changes and applicable rules.
• QRMP filers generally file quarterly returns after the July–September quarter ends. The quarterly GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B should not be treated as September filings merely because the quarter ends in September.
• QRMP filers may still need to deposit tax for the relevant month through PMT-06, depending on the applicable payment method and state or category requirements.
• Reconcile outward supplies, input tax credit, e-invoices, credit notes, and cash payments before filing.

Check the GST portal for the taxpayer’s exact return and payment schedule because dates can be notified or changed.

AGM for Companies — Generally by 30 September

A company with a 31 March financial year-end will generally need to hold its Annual General Meeting by 30 September, subject to the company’s incorporation date, applicable exemptions, the financial year followed by the company, and any approved extension.

Before the AGM, ensure that the audited financial statements, Board’s Report, AGM notice, agenda, statutory registers, and other required records are ready. Auditor appointment or reappointment should be addressed where applicable. The meeting, resolutions, attendance, and minutes should be documented in accordance with the Companies Act and the company’s circumstances.

DIR-3 KYC — Check Each DIN or DPIN Holder

The relevant individual DIN or DPIN holders should check whether their KYC filing is due for the applicable compliance year. This is not a filing made by a company or LLP as an entity in the same way as an AGM or annual return.

Verify the applicable MCA form, authentication requirements, filing status, fee, and deactivation rules before submission. Complete the filing before the applicable deadline to avoid additional fees or disruption to the individual’s DIN or DPIN status.

Statutory Audit and Tax-Audit Report

Three separate matters should be tracked: completion of the statutory audit, holding the AGM, and filing the tax-audit report. They are connected, but they are not the same deadline.

For a company, the statutory audit should be completed in time for the audited financial statements to be considered at the AGM. Separately, a tax-audit report may be required where the taxpayer meets the applicable turnover or receipts conditions and other statutory requirements. The income-tax-return due date may be different from the tax-audit-report due date.

For businesses, the commonly cited tax-audit threshold is ₹1 crore, increasing to ₹10 crore where the applicable cash-receipt and cash-payment conditions are satisfied. For professionals, the commonly cited threshold is ₹50 lakh. These thresholds are subject to the law applicable to the relevant tax year and the taxpayer’s facts; confirm applicability with the tax adviser before relying on them.

A Note for LLPs

LLPs do not conduct an AGM under the Companies Act, but they continue to have LLP-specific annual filing and accounting obligations. They may also have TDS, advance-tax, GST, tax-audit, and income-tax-return obligations depending on their activities and thresholds.

• Check the LLP’s Statement of Account and Solvency and annual filing obligations under the LLP Act and applicable rules.
• Confirm whether the LLP is carrying on business or profession and whether the tax-audit conditions are satisfied.
• Track GST, TDS/TCS, advance-tax, and income-tax-return obligations separately from company-specific AGM requirements.
• Ask each designated partner or other relevant DIN/DPIN holder to check the applicable KYC requirement individually.

Quick Reference Table

Use this table as a starting point, then confirm the exact obligation and date for your entity.

How ValuGenius Can Support the September Close

September compliance marks the time when valuation-related matters are generally finalized prior to the audit as well as when financial statements are prepared. ValuGenius is helping businesses, startups, capital investors, and other financial professionals with the valuation of companies, work on the identification of fair value of the assets under IFRS, valuation of employee share option plans, FDI and FEMA valuations, intangible-asset valuation, and transaction valuation related to M&A and restructuring.

Your September close might include a valuation report or fair-value analysis. You should then engage the statuary auditors, tax adviser, and the finance team early to make sure the assumptions, documents, and reporting methods are aligned between the parties.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not tax, legal, accounting, or valuation advice. Deadlines, thresholds, forms, fees, and filing requirements may change by notification. Confirm the applicable requirement on the relevant official portal or with a qualified professional before acting.