Missed the ITR Deadline? Belated, Revised & Updated Returns

By the MyTaxLocker Team · Updated 19 June 2026

Missed the 31 July deadline, or spotted a mistake after filing? You still have options. Indian tax law gives you three after-the-deadline routes — a belated return, a revised return, and an updated return (ITR-U) — each with its own window, cost, and limits. Here's which one fits.

Belated return — Section 139(4)

If you missed the original due date, you can still file a belated return, generally up to 31 December of the assessment year (or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier). The catches:

• A late fee under Section 234F: ₹5,000, reduced to ₹1,000 if your total income is up to ₹5 lakh.
• Interest under Section 234A on any tax still unpaid.
• You lose the right to carry forward most losses (business and capital losses) — house-property loss is the exception.

Revised return — Section 139(5)

Already filed, but realised you got something wrong — a missed deduction, income left out, the wrong bank account? File a revised return to replace it. Same window: up to 31 December of the AY, or before the assessment is completed. You can revise more than once, and you can even revise a belated return.

Updated return (ITR-U) — Section 139(8A)

The longest lifeline. An updated return lets you come forward and report additional income well after the other windows close — currently up to 48 months from the end of the assessment year. But it's only for paying more tax: you cannot use ITR-U to claim or increase a refund, report a loss, or reduce your tax. It also costs extra on top of the tax and interest due:

Not tax advice; verify current rules on the official portal.

Which one do you need?

• Just late, nothing wrong → belated return (139(4)).
• Already filed, need to fix it, still within the year → revised return (139(5)).
• Window closed and you need to declare extra income → updated return / ITR-U (139(8A)).

The simplest rule

File on time. A belated return incurs a late fee and forfeits loss carry-forward; ITR-U adds 25–70% to the tax. None of that applies if you file by the due date — check the dates in our ITR due-dates guide and give yourself a buffer.