Can I still invest to save tax for FY 2025-26 now?

No. The window to make tax-saving investments for FY 2025-26 closed on 31 March 2026. What you can still do at filing time is make sure you claim everything you already did during the year, and choose the cheaper regime.

So what is left to do before I file?

Plenty. Claim deductions for amounts you actually paid during FY 2025-26 but never declared to your employer — 80C top-ups, NPS under 80CCD(1B), 80D premiums, home-loan interest, 80G donations — and compare old vs new regime on your numbers.

What about saving tax for this year (FY 2026-27)?

Start now, not next March. Spreading your 80C and NPS across the year is cheaper on cash flow and avoids a last-minute scramble. The DrishtiTax Planner lays out a month-by-month schedule.

Does a higher refund mean I planned well?

Not necessarily — a large refund means too much tax was deducted through the year. Good planning means the right tax was paid and the right deductions claimed, not a big refund.

Filing season · FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)

Last-minute tax saving: what still counts

The investment window for FY 2025-26 has closed, but there is still real money on the table at filing time — if you claim everything you are owed and choose the right regime.

Find what I can still claim Tax saving before filing

Be clear about the two deadlines

There are two different cut-offs and they get confused constantly. The deadline to make tax-saving investments for FY 2025-26 was 31 March 2026 — that has passed. The deadline to file your return for FY 2025-26 is 31 July 2026. Between now and then you cannot create new FY 2025-26 deductions, but you can make sure you claim every one you already earned.

What still counts at filing

Any amount you actually paid during FY 2025-26 but did not declare to payroll can still be claimed when you file — 80C investments, NPS under 80CCD(1B), 80D premiums, home-loan interest, and 80G donations. The right regime choice still counts too, and it is free.

Last-minute moves that genuinely help

Compare old vs new regime on your numbers — the single biggest lever, with no investment required
Claim 80C amounts you paid but never declared to your employer
Claim the ₹50,000 NPS deduction under 80CCD(1B) if you contributed during the year
Claim 80D premiums for self and parents, and any 80G donations made during FY 2025-26
Reconcile your AIS so nothing is missed and nothing triggers a notice

And set up next year while you are here

When you file you are closing FY 2025-26 and already living in FY 2026-27. The cheapest tax saving is the kind you plan early. DrishtiTax's Combo gives you both: the look-back that recovers what you missed, and a forward plan so next year is not last-minute.

Frequently asked questions

Educational information

This page is general information for salaried taxpayers in India, not legal, financial or chartered-accountancy advice. Tax outcomes depend on your full, individual circumstances. Figures use FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) rules and may change. Verify against official sources or a qualified professional before acting.

Claim everything, then plan ahead

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Be clear about the two deadlines

Last-minute moves that genuinely help

And set up next year while you are here

Frequently asked questions

Claim everything, then plan ahead

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