Belated and Revised ITR for AY 2026-27: Last Date, Fee and Steps

If you missed your income tax return deadline for FY 2025-26, you can still file a belated return for AY 2026-27 until 31 December 2026, with a late fee of Rs 5,000 (or Rs 1,000 if your total income is up to Rs 5 lakh). If you filed but made a mistake, you can file a revised return, now allowed until 31 March 2027. This guide explains both, the step-by-step filing process on the e-filing portal, what you lose by filing late, and how the updated return (ITR-U) works if even 31 December slips past.

Updated October 2026. Tax rules and portal steps change. Check the official Income Tax e-filing portal or a chartered accountant before acting, especially if your case involves business income, capital gains or a pending notice.

Quick answer: AY 2026-27 deadlines at a glance

Return type	Who it is for	Last date for AY 2026-27	Cost
Original return (non-audit, ITR-1 / ITR-2)	Salaried, pensioners, capital gains without business	31 July 2026 (passed)	No fee if on time
Original return (non-audit business, ITR-3 / ITR-4)	Small business and professionals not under audit	31 August 2026, as reported for AY 2026-27 (passed)	No fee if on time
Original return (audit cases)	Businesses needing tax audit	Extended by CBDT to 21 November 2026 (as reported on 28 September 2026)	No fee if on time
Belated return, section 139(4)	Anyone who missed their due date	31 December 2026	Rs 1,000 or Rs 5,000 + interest
Revised return, section 139(5)	Anyone correcting a filed return	31 March 2027	Free until 31 Dec 2026; Rs 1,000 or Rs 5,000 after
Updated return (ITR-U), section 139(8A)	Those who missed all of the above or under-reported income	31 March 2031 (48 months from end of AY)	25% to 70% of extra tax and interest

Due dates for audit cases and extensions are notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). If you are in an audit case, confirm the current date on the e-filing portal, as extensions are sometimes announced close to deadlines.

What is a belated return?

A belated return is simply an income tax return filed after the due date under section 139(1). The Income-tax Act, 1961 allows it under section 139(4). For AY 2026-27 (the financial year April 2025 to March 2026), the window runs until 31 December 2026, unless your assessment is completed earlier.

A new Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026, but it applies from the tax year 2026-27 onward. Returns for FY 2025-26 are still filed under the 1961 Act, so the section numbers in this guide remain correct for this year’s late filing.

You should file a belated return if:

• Your income was above the basic exemption limit and you did not file
• TDS was deducted and you want a refund
• You need an ITR acknowledgement for a loan, visa or tender application
• You have foreign assets or income, which must be reported regardless of the amount
• You meet other mandatory filing conditions, such as high electricity bills or large deposits, as set out in the rules

Late fee and interest: what filing late costs

Late fee under section 234F

If you file after the due date, a fixed fee applies:

• Rs 1,000 if your total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh
• Rs 5,000 if your total income is above Rs 5 lakh

If your total income is below the basic exemption limit and you were not otherwise required to file, the fee generally does not apply, but the portal may still ask you to confirm this. Pay the fee before filing, through the e-Pay Tax service on the portal.

Interest under section 234A

If tax is still payable after TDS and advance tax, simple interest of 1% per month (or part of a month) runs from the day after the due date until you pay. On top of that, interest under sections 234B and 234C may apply if advance tax was short or late.

A worked example (illustrative)

Say Ritu, a salaried employee in Indore, has total income of Rs 9 lakh for FY 2025-26, including fixed deposit interest and some mutual fund gains, and missed the 31 July deadline. After TDS, Rs 20,000 tax is still due. If she pays and files on 20 November 2026:

• Late fee under 234F: Rs 5,000 (income above Rs 5 lakh)
• Interest under 234A: 1% per month on Rs 20,000 for August through November (4 months) = Rs 800
• Possible interest under 234B and 234C for advance tax shortfall, calculated by the utility

The longer she waits, the more interest builds up. The fee itself does not increase between August and December, which is why many people delay. That is a mistake, because the interest keeps running and the 31 December cliff is hard.

Freelancers and small business owners usually file ITR-3 or ITR-4 and had a different original due date, but the belated deadline and fee work the same way.

What else you lose by filing late

The fee is the visible cost. These are the hidden ones:

• Old 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 original due date. In a belated return you are generally taxed under the new regime, so deductions such as 80C, 80D and HRA are lost. Those with business income must have filed Form 10-IEA by the due date to opt out, as the department’s help page on returns and regimes explains.
• Carry forward of losses: Business losses, speculative losses and capital losses cannot be carried forward if the return is belated. Loss from house property is an exception.
• Some business deductions: Under section 80AC, deductions such as those under sections 80-IA, 80-IAC and 80-IB are allowed only if the return is filed by the due date. These mainly affect businesses and eligible startups.
• Slower refunds: Refunds are processed after filing, so filing late delays your money.

Step by step: how to file a belated return online

1. Collect documents. Form 16 (from your employer), Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) from the portal, bank interest certificates, capital gains statements from your broker or mutual fund, and rent or business income records.
2. Check AIS carefully. Compare AIS with your own records. If something is wrong, submit feedback on AIS before filing.
3. Pay the late fee and any tax due. On the portal, go to e-File, then e-Pay Tax, and create a challan for self-assessment tax (minor head 300) for AY 2026-27. Include the 234F fee and interest. Pay by net banking, UPI or card.
4. Start the return. Go to e-File, then Income Tax Returns, then File Income Tax Return. Select AY 2026-27 and online mode.
5. Choose the filing section. Select “139(4) – Belated” as the filing type. Pick the correct ITR form (ITR-1 for simple salaried cases within the limits, ITR-2, ITR-3 or ITR-4 as applicable).
6. Review pre-filled data. Salary, TDS, interest and other details are pre-filled from AIS and Form 26AS. Add anything missing.
7. Enter challan details. Make sure the self-assessment tax and fee you paid appear in the taxes paid schedule.
8. Validate and submit. Fix any errors the portal flags, then submit.
9. E-verify within 30 days. Use Aadhaar OTP, net banking or a bank account EVC. A return not verified within 30 days of filing may be treated as filed on the date of verification, or invalid, so do not skip this step.

Keep the acknowledgement (ITR-V) and challan receipts in one folder. You will need them if you receive a notice.

Revised return: correcting a return you already filed

If you filed on time or late and later find an error, such as a missed interest income, wrong bank account or incorrect deduction, file a revised return under section 139(5). Reported changes made by the Finance Act, 2026 extend the window: for AY 2026-27 a return can be revised until 31 March 2027.

• Up to 31 December 2026: no fee for revising
• 1 January to 31 March 2027: a fee under the new section 234-I applies, reported as Rs 1,000 if total income is up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5,000 above that

These figures are as reported by tax publishers after the Finance Act, 2026. Confirm the current rule on the e-filing portal or with a CA before you rely on the free window.

A belated return can also be revised. You can revise more than once, but the last revised return replaces all earlier ones, so each revision must be complete.

To file, follow the same steps as above, but choose “139(5) – Revised” and enter the acknowledgement number and date of the original return.

Missed 31 December? The updated return (ITR-U)

If both windows close, an updated return under section 139(8A) is the remaining route. Since the Finance Act, 2025, it can be filed up to 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year. For AY 2026-27, the assessment year ends on 31 March 2027, so ITR-U can be filed up to 31 March 2031.

The cost is an additional tax on the extra tax and interest payable:

Filed within (from end of AY)	For AY 2026-27, by	Additional tax
12 months	31 March 2028	25%
24 months	31 March 2029	50%
36 months	31 March 2030	60%
48 months	31 March 2031	70%

Important limits on ITR-U:

• It cannot be used to claim a refund, increase a refund or report a loss.
• It cannot reduce your tax liability compared with an earlier return.
• It is not allowed in certain cases, such as where a search has been initiated or an assessment is pending or completed for that year.

So if you are owed a refund, ITR-U will not help you. File the belated return before 31 December.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring AIS mismatches. Interest, dividend and share sale data in AIS often trigger notices if left out.
• Choosing the wrong form. ITR-1 cannot be used if you had capital gains beyond the permitted limits, business income or foreign assets.
• Forgetting to pay before filing. A return showing tax payable without a matching challan is treated as defective.
• Not e-verifying. An unverified return is as good as not filed.
• Waiting for the last week. The portal slows down around 31 December. Aim to file by mid-December.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to file a belated ITR for AY 2026-27?

31 December 2026, or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier. After that, only an updated return (ITR-U) is possible, with additional tax.

How much is the late fee for filing ITR after the due date?

Rs 5,000 under section 234F, reduced to Rs 1,000 if your total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh. Interest at 1% per month under section 234A also applies on any unpaid tax.

Can I choose the old tax regime in a belated return?

Generally no, for individuals without business income. The old regime option must be exercised in a return filed by the original due date. Belated returns are taxed under the default new regime.

Can I get a refund through a belated return?

Yes. A belated return can claim a TDS refund. An updated return (ITR-U) cannot, so do not wait past 31 December if you are due a refund.

What is the deadline for a revised return for AY 2026-27?

As reported after the Finance Act, 2026, 31 March 2027. Revising by 31 December 2026 is free; a fee is reported to apply between 1 January and 31 March 2027.

Can I file ITR for previous years now?

Only through ITR-U, within 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year, and only if it results in additional tax. Older belated return windows have closed.

Do it this week, not on 30 December

Download your AIS today, pay any tax due and file. Every extra month adds interest, and the 31 December deadline is firm. If your case involves business income, foreign assets or a notice, spend a little on a CA rather than guessing. For simple salaried cases, the portal’s pre-filled forms make a belated return a one-evening job.