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NGO Compliance Calendar 2026-27

Updated September 2026 · By the Donexia team · 7 min read

Indian NGOs run on deadlines: audit reports, income tax returns, Form 10BD, FCRA returns and TDS statements all land in the same few months. Missing one can mean penalties and, worse, donors losing deductions. This calendar lists the recurring compliance deadlines most Indian trusts, societies and Section 8 companies face, so you can plan the year instead of surviving it.

Important: Deadlines below are the commonly applicable statutory dates. The government frequently extends dates, and your NGO's exact obligations depend on its registrations and income. Always confirm with your Chartered Accountant.

September 2026 – March 2027 at a glance

DeadlineWhat is dueWho it applies to
30 Sep 2026Audit report for NGOs whose accounts must be audited (commonly those crossing income thresholds or with foreign funding)NGOs requiring audit before ITR filing
15 Sep / 15 Dec / 15 Mar 2027Advance tax instalmentsNGOs with estimated tax liability
31 Oct 2026Income tax return (ITR-7) for most NGOsTrusts, societies, Section 8 companies
31 Dec 2026FCRA annual return (FC-4) for FY 2025-26NGOs with FCRA registration or prior permission
31 Jan 2027TDS statement for Q3 (Oct–Dec)NGOs deducting TDS
31 Mar 2027Fourth advance tax instalment; year-end TDS depositsAll applicable NGOs
31 May 2027Form 10BD statement + Form 10BE certificates for FY 2026-27Institutions approved under 80G that received donations

The deadlines that hurt NGOs most

1. Form 10BD — 31 May

Late filing costs ₹200 per day under Section 234G, and delayed 10BE certificates directly block your donors' deductions. The only reliable way to hit May comfortably is keeping donation records clean all year. See our Form 10BD filing guide.

2. FCRA FC-4 — 31 December

NGOs receiving foreign contributions must file the annual FC-4 return by 31 December for the preceding financial year. Expired FCRA registrations and missed renewals are among the most common and most damaging compliance failures.

3. ITR-7 — 31 October

Most NGOs file ITR-7. Filing requires audited accounts where audit is applicable, which makes the 30 September audit deadline the real gate. Start the audit conversation with your CA by July, not October.

How to never miss a deadline again

  1. Maintain records continuously. A donation recorded today with donor details and PAN is one less row to reconstruct at filing time.
  2. Reconcile monthly. Match gateway payouts and bank statements to your donation register every month; breaks found in October are cheap, breaks found in May are expensive.
  3. Calendar your renewals. 12A/80G approvals and FCRA registration have validity windows — diarise them nine months before expiry, not nine days.
  4. Use reports, not spreadsheets. Donexia's audit-ready reports give your CA donor-wise statements, receipt registers and campaign summaries on demand, so filing season stops being a rebuild.

Related reading: 80G receipt rules · Form 10BD records in Donexia

Frequently Asked Questions

31 May following the end of the financial year — for FY 2026-27, that means 31 May 2027. Late filing attracts a fee of ₹200 per day under Section 234G.

The FCRA annual return (FC-4) is due by 31 December for the preceding financial year, for NGOs holding FCRA registration or prior permission.

Most trusts, societies and Section 8 companies file ITR-7. Where an audit is applicable, the audit report must generally be completed before filing, which makes the 30 September audit deadline the practical first gate.

It keeps donation and donor records complete throughout the year, reconciles receipts against bank and gateway payouts, and produces donor-wise reports your CA can work from — turning filing season from a rebuild into an export.

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