Guide
Advance Tax Q1 for FY 2026-27: 15 Percent by 15 June 2026
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from official government portals
What Advance Tax Is
Advance tax is the pay-as-you-earn version of income tax. Instead of waiting until ITR filing time and paying everything in one shot, the law requires taxpayers to pay tax in four instalments through the year, matched roughly to the pace of earning income. The triggering threshold is Rs 10,000: if your total tax liability (after deducting TDS and TCS already credited to you) is expected to exceed Rs 10,000 in a year, advance tax kicks in.
From FY 2026-27 onwards, advance tax is governed by Section 404 of the Income Tax Act 2025 (successor to Section 208 of the 1961 Act). The Rs 10,000 threshold and the 15/45/75/100 schedule carry forward unchanged.
Who Has To Pay
Most taxpayers with non-salary income end up paying advance tax. The salaried with no other income are typically covered by their employer's TDS and don't need to pay advance tax separately, though large bonuses or stock vests can change that mid-year.
- •Individuals and HUFs with total tax liability above Rs 10,000 after TDS / TCS.
- •All companies, regardless of profit level (the threshold doesn't apply to companies).
- •All firms, LLPs, AOPs, and BOIs.
- •Resident senior citizens (60+) without business or professional income are exempt.
- •Salaried employees with only TDS-covered salary income don't usually need to pay advance tax separately.
The 15-45-75-100 Schedule
Advance tax is paid in four cumulative instalments. The percentages are cumulative, not incremental: Q2 means 45 percent total paid by then, not an additional 45 percent on top of Q1.
| Quarter | Due Date | Cumulative Target | FY 2026-27 Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 15 June | 15% of annual tax | 15 June 2026 |
| Q2 | 15 September | 45% of annual tax | 15 September 2026 |
| Q3 | 15 December | 75% of annual tax | 15 December 2026 |
| Q4 | 15 March | 100% of annual tax | 15 March 2027 |
Presumptive taxpayers (Section 44AD or Section 44ADA) get a single-instalment shortcut: pay 100 percent in one shot by 15 March. They don't have to follow the quarterly schedule.
Section 425 Interest For Q1 Shortfall (formerly 234c)
If you pay less than 15 percent of your annual tax by 15 June, Section 425 (IT Act 2025, formerly Section 234C) charges interest at 1 percent per month or part thereof on the shortfall. The interest runs until the next instalment date or until the shortfall is paid, whichever is earlier. Example: Annual tax target Rs 1,00,000, Q1 target Rs 15,000, you paid Rs 9,000. Shortfall Rs 6,000. Interest at 1 percent for 3 months (June to September) = Rs 180.
Income Tax Act 2025 Bridge
The Income Tax Act 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026. For FY 2026-27 advance tax, the new section numbers apply.
| 1961 Act (legacy) | 2025 Act (current) | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Section 208 | Section 404 | Liability to pay advance tax (Rs 10,000 threshold) |
| Section 211 | Same framework, tabular form | Quarterly schedule (15/45/75/100) |
| Section 234B | Section 424 | Interest for default in payment of advance tax |
| Section 234C | Section 425 | Interest for deferment of advance tax instalments |
Substantive rates and thresholds are unchanged. Only the section number on any order or notice you receive will be the new one. CBDT confirmed the transition framework in its March 2026 FAQ.
Capital Gains Relief
If your Q1 shortfall is caused by a capital gain or other income that wasn't reasonably anticipated at the start of the year, you can pay the related tax in the next instalment without 425 interest, provided you pay it by year-end. The relief is conditional and is well-litigated, so document the basis for the unanticipated gain (e.g., stock vest in May not known in April, property sale closed in late June).
Presumptive Taxpayers
Section 44AD (small business presumptive scheme) and Section 44ADA (professionals presumptive scheme) filers don't have to follow the four-quarter schedule. They pay 100 percent of advance tax in a single shot by 15 March. Q1, Q2, and Q3 don't apply to them.
Under the IT Act 2025, presumptive taxation is at Section 60 (44AD equivalent) and Section 61 (44ADA equivalent). Substantive rules including the single-instalment payment carry forward.
How To Pay
Advance tax is paid through Challan ITNS-280 on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal. The flow is: log in, go to e-Pay Tax, select 'Advance Tax (100)', enter the assessment year (AY 2027-28 for FY 2026-27), enter the amount, choose your bank, and confirm. The challan acknowledgement (BSR code, challan serial number, date) becomes your proof of payment and gets reflected in your 26AS within 3 to 5 working days.
- •Log in to https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
- •Navigate to e-Pay Tax under the e-File menu.
- •Select 'Advance Tax (100)' as the type of payment.
- •Pick the correct Assessment Year: AY 2027-28 for FY 2026-27 advance tax.
- •Enter the amount, choose net banking or RTGS, and confirm.
- •Save the challan acknowledgement; it becomes your audit trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we reviewed this page
The penalty amounts, deadlines, and regulatory requirements on this page are sourced directly from official government portals. We do not use secondary sources. When regulations change, we update the page.
- Income Tax Act 2025, Sections 404 to 425↗
Renumbered advance tax and interest provisions applicable from FY 2026-27 onwards.
- Income Tax e-Filing Portal↗
e-Pay Tax module and Challan ITNS-280 for advance tax payments.
- CBDT FAQ on Advance Tax under IT Act 2025↗
Official transitional clarification on advance tax obligations under the new Act.
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