Missed 31 July or 31 August? You can still file by 31 December 2026.
Missed your ITR due date for FY 2025-26? You can still file a belated return under Section 139(4) up to 31 December 2026 — same forms, same portal, just a Section 234F late fee and loss of capital-loss carry-forward. Here's exactly what changes and how to file now.
31 Dec 2026
Belated return deadline
₹5,000
Late fee (income > ₹5L)
₹1,000
Late fee (income ≤ ₹5L)
1% / month
Interest on unpaid tax
Forfeited
Capital loss carry-forward
48 months
After 31 Dec — ITR-U window
A belated return under Section 139(4) uses the same portal, the same ITR forms, and the same e-verification process as an on-time return. The only differences are the Section 234F late fee you pay when submitting, and any Section 234A interest on unpaid tax. There's no separate 'late filer' form or extra paperwork.
₹5,000 if your total income exceeds ₹5 lakh, or ₹1,000 if it's ₹5 lakh or below. This is a flat, non-negotiable fee paid once at filing — it doesn't increase the longer you wait within the belated-return window, so there's no benefit to delaying further once you've decided to file.
The biggest hidden cost: capital losses (STCL and LTCL) can only be carried forward for 8 years if the return is filed by the original due date. A belated return forfeits that right permanently for FY 2025-26 losses. If you owe tax after TDS and advance tax credits, Section 234A interest also applies at 1% per month from the original due date until you file.
If you haven't filed at all for FY 2025-26 yet and it's before 31 December 2026, file a belated return under Section 139(4) — it's simpler and lets you claim a refund if due. If 31 December 2026 has passed, or you already filed but need to add income you missed, an Updated Return (ITR-U) under Section 139(8A) is the route — available for 48 months from the end of the assessment year, but with 25%–60% additional tax and no refund claims allowed.
Some taxpayers assume that if they can't file by the original deadline, there's no point filing at all. That's the costliest mistake: non-filing risks a best-judgment assessment under Section 144 and, in serious cases, prosecution under Section 276CC. The IT Department's AIS cross-referencing makes non-filers easy to identify. Filing late with the fee is always better than not filing.
This income type requires ITR-1 / ITR-2
Filing the wrong form results in a defective return
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