Compliance Calendar March 2026 – GST, TDS, PF, ESI & Advance Tax Deadlines

March 2026 Compliance Calendar for Startups, Businesses & Founders in India

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Plan your March filings in one place. Figures and forms are mapped for monthly GST filers, QRMP taxpayers, TDS deductors, PF and ESI registrants, and businesses closing the financial year. Use this single-page tracker to plan all India statutory filings and deposits for March 2026.

The March 2026 Compliance Calendar provides a comprehensive, date-wise checklist of statutory compliances applicable during the month, helping businesses remain compliant and financially prepared before the financial year closes.

At a Glance:

• When is GSTR-1 due? – 11 March 2026 for February 2026 (monthly filers).
• When are GSTR-7 and GSTR-8 due? – 10 March 2026 for February 2026.
• When is GSTR-3B due? – 20 March 2026 for February 2026 (monthly filers).
• When to deposit TDS/TCS? – 7 March 2026 for February deductions and collections.
• PF and ESI deadlines? – 15 March 2026 for February 2026 contributions. Since the due date falls on Sunday, complete payments by Friday, 13 March.
• Advance Tax deadline? – 15 March 2026 4th instalment (100% of FY 2025–26 tax liability).
• Month-end compliance? – Challan-cum-statements (Forms 26QB, 26QC, 26QD, 26QE) due 28 March 2026.
• Year-end reminder? – 31 March 2026 marks the close of FY 2025–26 reconcile books, close invoices, and complete pending filings.

Who is this Calendar for

• Founders, CFOs, finance and compliance teams managing GST, TDS, PF, ESI
• MSMEs and startups on monthly GST or QRMP
• Accounting firms handling multi-client calendars across India
• Listed entities tracking SEBI timelines
• Companies with FEMA reporting (e.g., ECB)
• Private companies/LLPs tracking Companies Act filing timelines

Key Statutory Compliance Due Dates – March 2026

Here is a tabular compliance calendar for March 2026.

Compliance Calendar Table (Date-wise)

Date	Law	Form or Action	For Period	Who must do this	What to do now
7 Mar 2026 (Sat)	Income Tax	Deposit TDS / TCS	Feb 2026	All deductors / collectors	Verify challan details and section mapping immediately after payment.
10 Mar 2026 (Tue)	GST	GSTR-7	Feb 2026	GST TDS deductors	Reconcile deductee entries before filing.
10 Mar 2026 (Tue)	GST	GSTR-8	Feb 2026	E-commerce operators	Match collections with marketplace payouts.
11 Mar 2026 (Wed)	GST	GSTR-1 (Monthly)	Feb 2026	Monthly GST filers	Freeze outward supplies and validate invoices.
15 Mar 2026 (Sun)	PF	Contribution + ECR filing	Feb 2026	EPFO registered employers	Complete payments before Friday due to weekend banking cut-offs.
15 Mar 2026 (Sun)	ESI	Contribution + return	Feb 2026	ESIC registered employers	Reconcile payroll wages and challans.
15 Mar 2026 (Sun)	Income Tax	Advance Tax – 4th Instalment	FY 2025–26	All eligible taxpayers	Pay 100% of tax liability after final estimation.
20 Mar 2026 (Fri)	GST	GSTR-3B	Feb 2026	Monthly GST filers	Reconcile ITC before filing to avoid mismatches.
20 Mar 2026 (Fri)	GST	GSTR-5A	Feb 2026	OIDAR providers	Confirm forex conversions and supply location.
28 Mar 2026 (Sat)	Income Tax	26QB / 26QC / 26QD / 26QE	As applicable	Specified deductors	Match PAN, property and transaction details carefully.
31 Mar 2026 (Tue)	Year-End	Financial Year Closing Activities	FY 2025–26	All businesses	Close books, reconcile GST and complete pending entries.

GSTR-3B Due Date Note (State-wise / Group-wise)

For monthly filers, GSTR-3B is due on 20 March 2026 for February transactions.

Taxpayers should reconcile input tax credit thoroughly before filing to prevent notices or reversals during year-end assessments.

Note on Professional Tax

If your state mandates monthly Professional Tax, align payments with payroll processing. Due dates remain state-specific and must be verified locally.

Actionable planning checklist

Two weeks before due dates

• Lock February outward supplies before filing GSTR-1
• Prepare TDS payment files and approvals
• Reconcile payroll with PF and ESI calculations
• Estimate final advance tax liability for FY 2025–26
• Begin financial year-end reconciliations

Filing week workflow

• 7th: Deposit TDS/TCS and verify challan status
• 10th: File GSTR-7 and GSTR-8 after reconciliation
• 11th: File GSTR-1 and confirm invoice accuracy
• 15th: Complete PF, ESI and Advance Tax payments before weekend cut-offs
• 20th: File GSTR-3B and GSTR-5A
• 28th: Submit challan-cum-statements for applicable TDS sections
• 31st: Finalise books and close financial year entries

Year-End Corner Cases to Watch

• March is the financial year closing month, increasing reconciliation risks.
• Ensure all TDS deductions are recorded before year end.
• Clear pending GST amendments before closing books.
• Verify advance tax computations to avoid interest under Sections 234B and 234C.
• Complete audit preparation and documentation early.

This calendar applies to:

• Private Limited Companies & OPCs
• Startups & MSMEs
• LLPs, Firms & Proprietorships
• GST-registered businesses
• TDS/TCS deductors
• Employers registered under PF, ESI & Professional Tax
• OIDAR service providers & non-resident taxpayers
• NBFCs and Ind-AS compliant entities

Summary of Key Forms & Their Purpose

Form	Law	Applicability	Purpose
GSTR-1	GST	Monthly filers	Statement of outward supplies
GSTR-3B	GST	Registered taxpayers	Monthly tax payment return
GSTR-7	GST	GST TDS deductors	TDS reporting under GST
GSTR-8	GST	E-commerce operators	TCS reporting
GSTR-5A	GST	OIDAR providers	Cross-border digital services reporting
TDS/TCS Challan	Income Tax	Deductors/collectors	Monthly tax remittance
Advance Tax	Income Tax	Eligible taxpayers	Final instalment of annual tax liability
26QB/26QC/26QD/26QE	Income Tax	Specified transactions	Combined payment and statement filing
PF ECR	PF	Employers	Monthly PF contribution filing
ESI Return	ESI	Employers	Employee insurance contributions

Other Compliance & Corporate Reminders

• File pending board resolutions or ROC items from February if applicable.
• Review financial statements before year closing.
• Ensure GST reconciliations match accounting records.
• Prepare audit documentation for FY 2025–26.

Corporate compliance timelines may vary depending on entity structure and event-based triggers. Confirm applicability before filing.

Official Portals to Monitor for Updates

Track any extensions or clarifications on the portals of Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), Income Tax Department, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). We however track all updates from these portals and keep you posted.

Conclusion

March 2026 is one of the most critical compliance months of the year as it coincides with the financial year closing. Advance planning, accurate reconciliations, and timely filings help businesses avoid penalties while entering the new financial year with clean books.

For startups and growing businesses, working with experienced compliance professionals ensures accuracy, audit readiness, and uninterrupted operations.

Why Choose Treelife?

Treelife has been one of India’s most trusted legal and financial firms for over 10 years. We are proud to be trusted by over 1000 startups and investors for solving their problems and taking accountability.

Our team ensures:

• Zero missed deadlines
• Clean audit trails
• Investor-ready compliance
• Full statutory coverage across GST, Income Tax & MCA