Missed the ITR due date for FY 2025-26, or spotted a mistake after filing? The Income-tax law gives you two remedies — the belated return and the revised return. Understanding the belated return revised return rules helps you act in time, keep costs low and avoid losing valuable benefits.
Returns for FY 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27) are still governed by the Income-tax Act, 1961, even though the Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026. This guide covers the key dates, fees, the benefits you may lose by filing late, and practical tips for both situations.
Key takeaways
- A belated return for FY 2025-26 can be filed up to 31 December 2026, or before assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.
- A revised return can be filed up to 31 March 2027, or before assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.
- A late fee of up to ₹5,000 applies to belated returns (₹1,000 where total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh), along with interest on unpaid tax.
- From 2026, a revised return filed after 31 December attracts a separate fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000.
- Business and capital losses cannot be carried forward in a belated return, and the old tax regime is generally not available.
Belated return vs revised return at a glance
| Point | Belated return (s. 139(4)) | Revised return (s. 139(5)) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Filing after the original due date | Correcting a return already filed |
| Last date for FY 2025-26 | 31 December 2026 | 31 March 2027 |
| Fee | Up to ₹5,000 under section 234F | Nil up to 31 Dec 2026; ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 after that under section 234I |
| Interest | Section 234A on unpaid tax | As applicable to the corrected tax |
| Can it be revised? | Yes, within the revised return time limit | Yes, more than once, within the time limit |
| Losses | Most losses cannot be carried forward | Same as the original return |
Original due dates for FY 2025-26
For context, the original due dates for AY 2026-27 were:
- 31 July 2026 — individuals and HUFs filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 without a tax audit.
- 31 August 2026 — ITR-3 and ITR-4 cases not requiring a tax audit.
- 31 October 2026 — taxpayers requiring a tax audit, and partners of such firms.
- 30 November 2026 — cases requiring a transfer pricing report.
If you missed your due date, the belated return is your next step. Our tax audit checklist for FY 2025-26 covers the audit-linked timelines.
What you lose by filing a belated return
Filing late is always better than not filing, but a few benefits are lost:
- Carry forward of losses: business losses, speculation losses and capital losses of the year cannot be carried forward. Unabsorbed depreciation and house property loss remain available.
- Choice of tax regime: the new tax regime is the default. Individuals without business income can choose the old regime only in a return filed by the due date, and those with business income must have filed the option form by the due date. A belated return therefore generally follows the new regime.
- Certain deductions: some profit-linked deductions require the return to be filed by the due date.
- Interest on tax: interest under section 234A runs at 1% per month or part of a month on the unpaid tax from the due date.
When and how to revise a return
A revised return is the right tool when you discover an omission or a wrong statement in a return already filed — for example, a missed deduction, a wrong bank account, an unreported interest credit or an incorrect TDS claim.
Useful points:
- You can revise an original or belated return.
- You can revise more than once; the latest valid revised return replaces the earlier ones.
- The revised return must be complete in itself, not just the change.
- Select “revised” in the filing section and quote the acknowledgement number and date of the original return.
- E-verify within 30 days, or the return may be treated as not filed.
If the revision window has passed and you need to report more income, the updated return (ITR-U) may help, at the cost of additional tax.
Late fee and fee on revised return
Section 234F (belated returns):
- ₹5,000 where total income exceeds ₹5 lakh.
- ₹1,000 where total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh.
Section 234I (revised returns, inserted in 2026): a revised return filed after 31 December 2026 but by 31 March 2027 attracts a fee of ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000 (other cases). The practical message is to revise before the calendar year ends where you can.
Any tax due must be paid with interest before filing; the return will not be complete otherwise.
Practical tips for a smooth filing
- Reconcile AIS, TIS and Form 26AS before filing so the return matches the department’s data.
- Pay self-assessment tax first and enter the challan details carefully.
- Double-check bank details and pre-validate the refund account.
- Keep working papers for deductions and exemptions claimed.
- Respond promptly to intimations — see our guide on section 143(1) intimations if you receive one.
- Do not wait for the last week of December or March; portal traffic is heavy and small errors become hard to fix.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a belated return after 31 December 2026?
No. After that date, the only route to file for FY 2025-26 is an updated return (ITR-U), which carries additional tax and cannot be used to claim a refund.
Can I claim a refund in a belated return?
Yes. A refund can be claimed in a belated return, and interest on the refund is generally computed from the date of filing rather than from 1 April.
Can I change from the new regime to the old regime in a revised return?
Only if the original return was filed by the due date with the old regime available to you. A belated return generally cannot opt for the old regime, and revising it does not change that.
Will a revised return trigger scrutiny?
Revising a return is a normal, legitimate correction. Scrutiny depends on risk parameters, not on the fact of revision alone. Keeping clear records supports your position either way.
If you need help filing a belated or revised return for FY 2025-26, our team is happy to guide you through it quickly and carefully.
This article is general information based on the law as of September 2026, and is not legal or tax advice. Please check the facts of your own case with a professional before acting.
