Belated Return: Filing Your ITR After the Deadline
Missed the due date? You can still file a belated return — and if you've already filed but made a mistake, you can revise it. Here are your options, the deadlines, and what each one costs.
File my late return with a CAMissed the due date? File a belated return by 31 December 2026 with a late fee. Already filed but spotted a mistake? File a revised return by 31 March 2027. Missed everything, or have income to disclose? An updated return (ITR-U) is open up to 31 March 2031, with extra tax.
Your three options at a glance
Missing a deadline doesn't mean you lose the right to file. The law gives you three routes — each with its own window and cost.
The belated return, in detail
A belated return under Section 139(4) is simply your normal return, filed after the due date. For AY 2026-27, the window closes on 31 December 2026.
Late fee
₹5,000 under Section 234F — reduced to ₹1,000 if your total income is up to ₹5 lakh.
Interest
Interest under Section 234A on any unpaid tax, plus 234B/234C where they apply.
You lose loss carry-forward
Business, capital and speculative losses can't be carried forward in a belated return — a costly miss for traders.
That carry-forward loss is the real reason to file on time — see how it works on the ITR-3 page, and the full late-filing penalty.
The revised return, in detail
Filed your return and then spotted a missed deduction, wrong figure or forgotten income? A revised return under Section 139(5) replaces it — you can revise as many times as needed.
New, longer window. Budget 2026 extended the deadline from 9 to 12 months — for AY 2026-27 you can revise until 31 March 2027.
Free, then a small fee. No fee for revisions up to 31 December 2026. Revisions filed between 1 January and 31 March 2027 attract ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh).
Belated returns can now be revised too. Even a late-filed return can be corrected in that January-to-March window — a genuinely new relief.
Interest may apply. If the revision increases your tax, interest under Sections 234A/234B/234C applies on the extra amount.
The updated return (ITR-U)
Missed the belated deadline, or need to disclose income you left out? The updated return under Section 139(8A) stays open for 48 months from the end of the assessment year — until 31 March 2031 for AY 2026-27 — but it costs extra tax.
ITR-U has limits: you can't claim a refund or create a loss with it, it can't be revised, and any additional tax must be paid before filing. It's a way to come clean — not a substitute for filing on time.
Late, but not too late — let a CA handle it
Belated, revised or ITR-U — each has its own form, deadline and tax impact, and the wrong move can cost you a refund or a loss carry-forward. Send your details on WhatsApp and a Chartered Accountant files the right one, the right way, before the window closes.
Sort out my pending returnBelated & revised returns — FAQs
Can I file my ITR after the deadline?
Yes. If you miss the original due date you can file a belated return under Section 139(4) up to 31 December 2026 for AY 2026-27, with a late fee and interest.
What is the penalty for a belated return?
A late fee under Section 234F of ₹5,000, reduced to ₹1,000 if your total income is up to ₹5 lakh, plus interest under Section 234A on any unpaid tax.
What is the last date to file a revised return for AY 2026-27?
31 March 2027. Budget 2026 extended the revised-return window to 12 months from the end of the year. Revisions up to 31 December 2026 are free; after that a fee applies.
Can a belated return be revised?
Yes. Under the new rules, even a belated return can be revised — in the window between 1 January and 31 March 2027 for AY 2026-27.
What is an updated return (ITR-U)?
A return under Section 139(8A) to disclose missed income or correct omissions after the belated and revised deadlines pass — available for 48 months (up to 31 March 2031 for AY 2026-27), with additional tax of 25% to 70% and no refund.
Will I lose anything by filing late?
A belated return cannot carry forward business, capital or speculative losses, and your refund may be delayed — on top of the late fee and interest. Filing on time avoids all of this.
Pending or wrong return? Let's fix it
Whether you've missed the deadline or need to correct a filed return, send your details on WhatsApp — a Chartered Accountant picks belated, revised or ITR-U, files it correctly, and keeps the cost as low as the rules allow.
Fix my return with a CAThis guide to belated, revised and updated returns is for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26) and is for general information only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Deadlines, fees and additional-tax rates are governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961 (as amended) and may change. Verify the current position, or consult a Chartered Accountant, before filing.