Belated and Revised Returns for AY 2026-27
The dates that remain for FY 2025-26 income: a belated return by 31 December 2026, a revised return by 31 March 2027, the fees for each, and what is left after that.
Published by SKAG and Associates · Page maintained by CA Gaurav Singh (ICAI M.No. 539050) · Last updated: 30 October 2026
Note: General information on the law as at 30 October 2026. Check the current Act, CBDT circulars and the e-filing utility before filing; this is not a substitute for professional advice.
Income earned from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 is assessed in AY 2026-27 under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The original due dates for that year have passed for most taxpayers, but two routes remain open: a belated return for anyone who has not filed, and a revised return for anyone who has filed and found an error. The Finance Act 2026 changed the revision window, so the dates are not the same as in earlier years.
The dates for AY 2026-27
| Return | Section (1961 Act) | Last date | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original, most individuals | 139(1) | 31 July 2026 | — |
| Original, business or profession without audit | 139(1) | 31 August 2026 | — |
| Original, audit cases and companies | 139(1) | 21 November 2026 (extended from 31 October by CBDT Circular 07/2026) | — |
| Original, transfer pricing cases | 139(1) | 30 November 2026 | — |
| Belated | 139(4) | 31 December 2026 | 234F: ₹1,000 / ₹5,000 |
| Revised, up to 31 Dec 2026 | 139(5) | 31 December 2026 | None |
| Revised, 1 Jan to 31 Mar 2027 | 139(5) | 31 March 2027 | 234-I: ₹1,000 / ₹5,000 |
The lower fee applies where total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh. Belated and revised returns are also cut off if the assessment is completed earlier.
Belated return: what it costs beyond the fee
- Interest: 1% a month or part of a month under Section 234A on tax unpaid after the due date, in addition to Section 234B interest where advance tax fell short.
- Losses: a business loss or capital loss for the year cannot be carried forward if the return is filed late; a loss from house property can.
- Tax regime: the option to use the old regime is tied to the return filed by the due date (and, for business income, to the form filed by that date). A belated return is therefore generally under the new regime. Check your position on incometax.gov.in before filing.
- Refunds: are still allowed in a belated return, with interest on refund calculated under the rules for that case.
Revised return: what changed in 2026
Until AY 2025-26 a return could be revised only up to 31 December, the same day the belated window closed, so a person who filed late in December had no time to correct it. The Finance Act 2026 substituted Section 139(5) with effect from 1 March 2026. A return filed under Section 139(1) or Section 139(4) can now be revised at any time before the end of the assessment year, or before the assessment is completed, if earlier. The new Section 234-I charges a fee for a revision made after nine months, that is, after 31 December 2026 for AY 2026-27.
A revised return replaces the earlier one completely, so it must include all income, not only the correction. It can increase or reduce income, and it can claim a refund, unlike an updated return. There is no limit on how many times a return can be revised within the window, but each revision after 31 December attracts the fee.
Worked examples
1. A missed deadline. Ravi is salaried, with total income of ₹9,00,000 for FY 2025-26. Under the new regime his tax is nil after the Section 87A rebate, but he did not file by 31 July 2026. If he files a belated return on 20 December 2026, the Section 234F fee is ₹5,000, because his total income exceeds ₹5 lakh. No interest arises, since no tax is due. If he waits until January 2027, he can no longer file a belated return.
2. A correction after 31 December. Meena filed her return on time showing total income of ₹4,60,000. In February 2027 she finds a missed interest certificate of ₹20,000, which takes her income to ₹4,80,000. She revises the return on 15 February 2027. The Section 234-I fee is ₹1,000, because total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh. Had she revised by 31 December 2026, there would have been no fee.
The late fee and interest calculator works out the Section 234F fee and Section 234A and 234B interest for a belated return.
From Tax Year 2026-27
Income from 1 April 2026 falls under the Income-tax Act, 2025, where the original, belated, revised and updated returns are all in Section 263: belated in Section 263(4), revised in Section 263(5), updated in Section 263(6). The revision window under the 2025 Act is 12 months from the end of the tax year, with a fee for revisions after nine months, and the late filing fee is in Section 428. See the Income Tax Act 2025 transition guide for the full mapping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date for a belated return for AY 2026-27?
A belated return for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26) can be filed under Section 139(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 up to 31 December 2026, or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier. It attracts the late filing fee under Section 234F and interest on any unpaid tax.
Until when can an AY 2026-27 return be revised?
After the Finance Act 2026 substituted Section 139(5), a return for AY 2026-27 can be revised at any time before 31 March 2027, or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier. A revision made after 31 December 2026 attracts a fee under the new Section 234-I.
What is the fee for a revised return filed after 31 December 2026?
Under Section 234-I, the fee is ₹1,000 if total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh and ₹5,000 in any other case. There is no fee for a revision made by 31 December 2026.
What is the late fee for a belated return?
Under Section 234F, the fee is ₹5,000, reduced to ₹1,000 where total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh. It is payable along with interest under Section 234A on any tax not paid by the due date.
Can a belated return be revised?
Yes. The substituted Section 139(5) allows revision of a return furnished under Section 139(1) or Section 139(4), so a belated return for AY 2026-27 can be revised up to 31 March 2027, subject to the Section 234-I fee after 31 December 2026.
What if I miss these dates?
After 31 December 2026 a return for AY 2026-27 that was never filed can only be filed as an updated return (ITR-U) under Section 139(8A), which must increase the tax payable and carries additional tax of 25% to 70% of the tax and interest. Revised and belated returns for AY 2025-26 and earlier can no longer be filed.