Short answer: The third instalment of advance tax for tax year 2026-27 is due on 15 December 2026. By this date you should have paid at least 75% of your estimated tax for the year. The dates and percentages are the same as before. Only the section numbers have changed under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Who has to pay advance tax
Advance tax applies when your tax for the year, after reducing TDS and TCS, is Rs 10,000 or more. This covers business owners, professionals, landlords, investors with capital gains, and salaried people with large income outside salary.
A resident senior citizen (60 years or more) who has no income from business or profession does not have to pay advance tax.
Due dates for tax year 2026-27
| Due date | Total paid by this date (cumulative) |
|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | At least 15% |
| 15 September 2026 | At least 45% |
| 15 December 2026 | At least 75% |
| 15 March 2027 | 100% |
If you are under the presumptive scheme for small businesses or professionals (old Sections 44AD and 44ADA), you can pay the whole advance tax in one instalment by 15 March 2027.
Old and new section numbers
The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from tax year 2026-27, which started on 1 April 2026. The rules are the same, the numbers are new:
| What it covers | Old Act (1961) | New Act (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Instalment dates | Section 211 | Section 408 |
| Interest if less than 90% paid by 31 March | Section 234B | Section 424 |
| Interest for a short or late instalment | Section 234C | Section 425 |
What it costs if you miss 15 December
- Section 425 (old 234C): simple interest at 1% a month for 3 months on the shortfall below 75%.
- Section 424 (old 234B): if you have paid less than 90% of your tax by 31 March 2027, a further 1% a month from 1 April 2027 until you pay.
Example: your estimated tax for the year is Rs 4,00,000 and you had paid Rs 1,80,000 by 15 December. The 75% mark is Rs 3,00,000, so the shortfall is Rs 1,20,000. Interest for this instalment alone is Rs 1,20,000 x 1% x 3 = Rs 3,600.
Quick checklist before 15 December
- Estimate income up to March 2027 from your books for April to November, plus a fair estimate for the rest of the year.
- Add other income: interest, rent, capital gains already booked, and dividends.
- Check TDS and TCS already credited in Form 26AS and AIS, and reduce it from the tax.
- Work out 75% of the net tax, less what you paid in June and September, and pay the balance.
- Pay online on the e-filing portal through e-Pay Tax, choosing advance tax as the payment type and the correct tax year, and keep the challan.
Capital gains or lottery income that arises after a due date does not attract interest for the earlier instalments, as long as tax on it is paid in the next instalments.
Already missed a date? Use our free advance tax interest calculator to see the interest under Sections 424 and 425.
How we can help
Our CA-led team in Gurugram works out advance tax from your books, checks 26AS and AIS, and tells you the exact amount to pay before each date. Send us a message on WhatsApp before 15 December.
WhatsApp us for advance tax help | See all due dates for 2026-27
Law as on 14 November 2026, under the Income-tax Act, 2025. Please confirm your figures before paying.