Digital Gold Sold in FY 2025–26: Which ITR and Filing Deadline Apply?

By CA Nikhil Gupta · 23 July 2026

Scope: FY 2025–26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), filed for AY 2026–27

Finin2min Summary

Likely return: ITR-2
Normal filing date: 31 July 2026; business cases use the business deadline
Starting income head: Capital gains unless the metal is held as trading stock
Core control: classify the transaction, reconcile gross figures, preserve evidence and only then choose the ITR.
Transition point: FY 2025–26 income is filed for AY 2026–27 under the Income-tax Act, 1961 despite filing after 1 April 2026.

The Answer in One Table

Question	Finin2min answer
Income period	FY 2025–26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026)
Assessment year	AY 2026–27
Likely head	Capital gains unless the metal is held as trading stock
Likely ITR	ITR-2
Alternative	ITR-3 for business stock
Normal deadline	31 July 2026; business cases use the business deadline
Audit point	No audit issue in an investment case.

The Two-Minute Answer

Digital gold is not a separate ITR product and is not automatically a virtual digital asset. Identify what the platform sold, the legal ownership of metal, quantity, gross sale value, spread and whether redemption or jewellery conversion constituted a transfer.

This page targets the frequent search intent—which return, which deadline, which schedules and which documents? It does not treat a broker, bank, app or platform label as the legal answer.

Step 1 — Classify the Income

The return form follows the legal head and taxpayer profile. The starting classification is Capital gains unless the metal is held as trading stock and the likely form is ITR-2. The final form applies to the taxpayer as a whole: salary, rent, gains, business and other income are combined in one correct return rather than split into separate returns.

Classification should be documented before tax is calculated. Review ownership, intention, contracts, frequency, funding, books, services, foreign status and consistency with earlier years. The same product may be an investment for one person and stock-in-trade for another.

Step 2 — Compute the Taxable Amount

Use transaction-level data wherever lots, dates, fees, refunds, foreign currency or TDS matter. Reconcile gross receipt or sale consideration to platform settlement, bank movement, AIS, Form 26AS and GST. TDS is a credit, not an expense or proof that income was correctly computed.

Rate and holding-period note: Ordinary gold and silver capital assets generally use a 24-month long-term threshold; post-23 July 2024 long-term gains are generally examined at 12.5% without indexation, subject to enacted law and facts.

Step 3 — Apply the Filing Calendar

The normal filing timing is 31 July 2026; business cases use the business deadline. For AY 2026–27, ITR-1 and ITR-2 individual cases remain on the 31 July track; non-audit business or professional cases move to 31 August; ordinary audit cases remain 31 October and transfer-pricing cases 30 November. A belated return is generally available to 31 December 2026, subject to earlier assessment completion, but it does not preserve every loss or procedural right.

Income earned during FY 2025–26 remains governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961. The official transition FAQ confirms that the old forms and proceedings continue for AY 2026–27.

Step 4 — Build the Evidence File

platform purchase and sale invoices
quantity ledger
GST invoice
bank trail
wallet statement and holding-period working

The file should allow another reviewer to reproduce the number from source statement to ITR schedule. Record the download date because platform reports can later change layout or aggregation.

Worked Indian Example

An investor buys digital gold for ₹3 lakh and sells for ₹3.75 lakh after more than 24 months. The app credits ₹3.68 lakh after spread and charges. The return does not show ₹3.68 lakh as income: the investor reconstructs gross consideration, eligible cost and transfer expenses, reports capital gains in ITR-2 and follows the 31 July non-business calendar.

What Viral Posts Usually Miss

The due date follows the return category and audit status, not the product’s marketing name.
TDS is a tax credit, not the final computation.
Net bank settlement is often not gross income, turnover or sale consideration.
A belated return does not preserve every loss, option or procedural right.
The same product can require ITR-2 for an investor and ITR-3 for a business.

Common Mistakes

treating digital gold as crypto
reporting only net bank credit
ignoring platform spread or a redemption event

Finin2min Decision Checklist

Confirm that FY 2025–26 / AY 2026–27 is the correct filing scope.
Identify the legal income head before selecting the ITR.
Reconcile gross figures to bank, AIS, Form 26AS and source statements.
Compute cost, expenses and tax credits separately.
Run audit only where business or professional income exists.
File loss returns by the original due date where carry-forward is required.
Reopen every official source immediately before filing.

Finin2min Q&A

Which ITR should I use for Digital Gold Sold in FY 2025–26?

The starting answer is ITR-2. The alternative is ITR-3 for business stock where those facts apply.

What is the AY 2026–27 filing deadline?

The normal deadline is 31 July 2026; business cases use the business deadline. Audit, transfer-pricing, belated or correction facts can change the calendar.

Which income head applies?

The starting classification is Capital gains unless the metal is held as trading stock. Contracts, ownership, records, intention and consistency can alter the result.

Does a small amount still need reporting?

A small amount does not create a general exemption and can make a simplified return ineligible.

Which documents should I preserve?

Preserve platform purchase and sale invoices, quantity ledger, GST invoice, bank trail, wallet statement and holding-period working. Keep downloaded source files, not only screenshots.

What is the main filing risk?

Key risks are treating digital gold as crypto; reporting only net bank credit; ignoring platform spread or a redemption event. Classify first, reconcile gross figures and then select the form.

Primary Sources

Editorial and Risk Note

This guide is educational and scenario-based. The final return depends on complete facts, residential status, audit position, other income, losses, foreign assets and the law on the filing date. Dynamic deadlines and portal procedures must be rechecked immediately before submission.