Staying updated with compliance deadlines is essential for every business in India. Missing GST, TDS, PF, or advance tax due dates can lead to penalties, interest, and unnecessary stress. As the financial year end approaches in March, businesses and accountants must be extra careful with filings, tax planning, and statutory payments.

This March 2026 compliance calendar helps business owners, accountants, and finance teams track all important due dates in one place. From GST returns and TDS payments to advance tax and updated ITR deadlines, here are the key compliance dates you should not miss.

This guide covers all major GST due dates March 2026, TDS payment due date, GSTR-1 due date, GSTR-3B filing date, and advance tax due date for Indian businesses.

Important Compliance Due Dates – March 2026

2 March 2026 – TDS Payment (Form 26QB, 26QC, 26QD, 26QE) for Jan 2026

Businesses and individuals must deposit TDS for January 2026 deducted under:

• Form 26QB – Property purchase
  
  
  

• Form 26QC – Rent payments
  
  
  

• Form 26QD – Contractor payments
  
  
  

• Form 26QE – Crypto transactions
  
  

Timely payment avoids interest and late fees under the Income Tax Act.

7 March 2026 – TDS / TCS Payment for Feb 2026

All businesses must deposit TDS/TCS deducted in February 2026.
This is one of the most important TDS payment due dates each month.

Late payment may attract interest and penalties.

10 March 2026 – Professional Tax (PT) on Salaries for Feb 2026

Employers must deposit professional tax deducted from employee salaries for February 2026.
Note: Due dates for PT may vary slightly depending on the state.

11 March 2026 – GSTR-1 Due Date (Monthly) for Feb 2026

Businesses filing monthly GST returns must submit GSTR-1 for February 2026 by this date.
GSTR-1 contains details of outward supplies and sales invoices.

Filing on time ensures proper ITC reflection for customers.

13 March 2026 – GSTR-1 IFF (Optional) for QRMP Scheme

Taxpayers under the QRMP scheme can upload sales invoices using the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) for February 2026.
This allows buyers to claim input tax credit without waiting for quarterly GSTR-1.

15 March 2026 – Advance Tax Payment for FY 2025-26

This is the final advance tax due date for FY 2025-26.
Businesses and professionals must pay 100% of their advance tax liability by this date.

Delayed payment can result in interest under Sections 234B and 234C.

15 March 2026 – Tax Planning & Book Closure for FY 2025-26

March is the last month of the financial year.
Businesses should:

• Finalise expenses and investments
  
  
  

• Review tax-saving options
  
  
  

• Reconcile books
  
  
  

• Prepare for year-end closing
  
  
  

Proper planning helps reduce tax liability and ensures clean financial records.

15 March 2026 – PF & ESI Returns and Payment

Employers must deposit:

• Provident Fund (PF)
  
  
  

• ESI contributions
  
  

for February 2026.
Timely payment ensures compliance with labour laws and avoids penalties.

15 March 2026 – Form 13 (Nil/Lower TDS) for FY 2025-26

Businesses or professionals seeking lower or nil TDS deduction must submit Form 13 before the financial year ends.

This helps manage cash flow and avoid excess TDS deductions.

20 March 2026 – GSTR-3B Filing Date for Feb 2026

All monthly GST filers must submit GSTR-3B for February 2026 by this date.
This return includes tax payment and summary of sales and ITC.

Missing the GSTR-3B filing date results in late fees and interest.

20 March 2026 – Composition Scheme (CMP-02) for FY 2026-27 Begins

Businesses opting for the GST composition scheme for FY 2026-27 can start filing CMP-02 from this date.

25 March 2026 – GST Challan Payment for Quarterly Filers

QRMP taxpayers must deposit GST liability if input tax credit is insufficient.
This ensures timely GST compliance and avoids interest.

30 March 2026 – TDS Payment for Feb 2026 (Property, Rent, Contractor, Crypto)

TDS deducted in February 2026 under:

• Form 26QB
  
  
  

• Form 26QC
  
  
  

• Form 26QD
  
  
  

• Form 26QE
  
  
  

must be deposited by this date.

31 March 2026 – Composition Scheme (CMP-02) Last Date

This is the last date to opt for the GST composition scheme for FY 2026-27.

Businesses planning to shift must file CMP-02 before this deadline.

31 March 2026 – Last Date for Updated ITR for FY 2020-21

Taxpayers can file updated returns for FY 2020-21 till this date.
After this deadline, updated return filing for that year will not be allowed.

Why Tracking Compliance Dates Is Important

Missing compliance deadlines can lead to:

• Late fees and interest
  
  
  

• GST penalties
  
  
  

• Blocked input tax credit
  
  
  

• Compliance notices
  
  
  

• Cash flow issues
  
  
  

Maintaining a proper compliance calendar in India ensures smooth business operations and avoids unnecessary penalties.

How hisabkitab Helps Businesses Stay Compliant

Managing multiple compliance deadlines manually can be difficult for growing businesses. Cloud-based accounting software helps track GST, TDS, and tax deadlines in one place.

hisabkitab helps businesses:

• Track GST, TDS, and tax due dates
  
  
  

• Generate GST-ready reports
  
  
  

• Maintain real-time books
  
  
  

• Get reminders for important filings
  
  
  

• Reduce manual accounting work
  
  
  

With automated accounting and compliance tracking, businesses can focus more on growth and less on deadline stress.

Final Thoughts

March is one of the most important months for financial compliance in India. From advance tax payments to GST returns and year-end tax planning, staying organised is essential.

Use this March 2026 compliance calendar to keep track of all important deadlines and ensure your business stays compliant, penalty-free, and financially organised throughout the year.