Fiscal Year 2082/83 closed at Ashadh end (mid-July 2026), which means the clock is now running on one of the most important dates on the Nepali tax calendar: your annual income tax return deadline. Whether you're a salaried employee, a business owner, or a freelancer, missing this date triggers daily penalties that add up faster than most people expect. Here is every date you need, in one place.
What Is FY 2082/83? (BS-to-AD Conversion)
Nepal's fiscal year runs on the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar, from Shrawan 1 to Ashadh end. FY 2082/83 corresponds approximately to 17 July 2025 through 16 July 2026 in the Gregorian (AD) calendar. This is the income year that has just closed, and it is the year for which your upcoming annual return needs to be filed, using the tax slabs and rates that were in effect during that period, not the revised FY 2083/84 slabs that took effect afterward.
Individual Return Deadline: Ashwin End
For individual taxpayers, the standard annual income tax return deadline is the end of Ashwin, roughly mid-October, which falls three months after the Ashadh-end close of the fiscal year. This is the date by which salaried employees, self-employed professionals, and other individual taxpayers need to submit their complete annual return for FY 2082/83, reconciling the TDS already withheld during the year against their actual final tax liability.
Corporate Return Deadline
Companies and other entities generally follow a longer window than individuals, typically required to file their annual return within a set period after fiscal year end, subject to any audit requirements that need to be completed first. Since a company's return often depends on a completed statutory audit, businesses should coordinate their audit engagement well ahead of the closing date to avoid a last-minute scramble, and should confirm their specific entity-type deadline directly with IRD or their auditor, since this can vary based on registration type and any extension approvals in place.
Advance Tax Installment Dates: Poush, Chaitra, Ashadh
Separate from the annual return deadline, businesses and self-employed individuals with an estimated tax liability generally need to pay advance tax in three installments throughout the fiscal year, under Section 94(3) of the Income Tax Act. These installments apply to the fiscal year in progress (now FY 2083/84, since FY 2082/83 has already closed), and follow this structure:
- Poush end (mid-January): 40% of the estimated annual tax liability must be paid by this point.
- Chaitra end (mid-April): A cumulative 70% of the estimated annual tax liability must be paid by this point.
- Ashadh end (mid-July): The full 100% of the estimated annual tax liability must be paid by the close of the fiscal year.
Taxpayers should ensure that at least 90% of their actual annual tax liability has been paid through these installments to avoid interest charges, since underpaying advance tax attracts interest under Section 118, separate from any penalty tied to the annual return itself.
Extension Process: How to Apply for +3 Months
If you genuinely cannot meet the Ashwin-end deadline, Nepal's tax framework does allow for an extension of up to three additional months, subject to IRD's approval. To apply:
- Submit a written extension request to your jurisdictional Inland Revenue Office before the original deadline passes, explaining the reason additional time is needed.
- Don't wait until the deadline has already passed, since an extension request submitted after the fact is far less likely to be granted, and penalties may already have started accruing.
- Continue paying any known tax liability even if the return itself is delayed, since an extension on filing the return does not automatically extend the deadline for the underlying tax payment in every case; confirm this distinction with IRD or your tax advisor.
Penalty for Missing the Deadline
Missing the filing deadline without an approved extension triggers a specific penalty structure under Section 117 of the Income Tax Act:
- Daily late filing fee: NPR 100 per day for individuals, and NPR 200 per day for entities, calculated from the day after the deadline until the return is actually filed.
- Interest on unpaid tax: A separate 15% per annum interest charge applies to any tax amount that remains unpaid past its due date, under Section 118.
- Additional penalty for underreporting: If IRD determines that a late filing was also accompanied by underreporting of income, an additional penalty of up to 50% of the unpaid tax amount can apply, on top of the daily fee and interest.
These charges compound quickly. A business that files just two months late, for example, can accumulate tens of thousands of rupees in daily fees alone, before interest or any underreporting penalty is even factored in.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Nepal's tax deadline in 2026?
For FY 2082/83, the individual annual income tax return deadline falls at the end of Ashwin, which corresponds to approximately mid-October 2026, three months after the fiscal year closed at Ashadh end (mid-July 2026).
Can I still pay tax after the deadline if I file late?
Yes, you can still pay and file after the deadline, but doing so triggers the daily late filing fee and interest charges described above; the longer you wait, the more these charges accumulate, so filing as soon as possible minimizes the penalty even if you've already missed the original date.
Does the extension apply automatically?
No. An extension of up to three months is not automatic; it requires a written request to IRD and formal approval before it takes effect, ideally submitted before the original deadline passes.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Deadlines, extension procedures, and penalty rates can change; please consult an ICAN-registered Chartered Accountant or the Inland Revenue Department directly for advice specific to your filing situation.
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