Belated and revised returns: fixing a missed or wrong ITR for AY 2026-27
If you missed the return deadline or filed with a mistake, there are three ways back: a belated return, a revised return, and, for later corrections, an updated return. Each has its own deadline and cost.
Reviewed by Vijay Dhawan, Managing Partner, LexVerge LLP · Published
Quick answer
For AY 2026-27, a belated return can be filed until 31 December 2026 with a late fee of ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh). A revised return can be filed until 31 March 2027, with a fee after 31 December. After that, an updated return (ITR-U) is possible within 48 months.
- Belated returns lose business and capital loss carry-forward
- ITR-U costs 25% to 70% extra tax
- Revise as many times as needed within the window
The three options
| Belated return | Revised return | Updated return (ITR-U) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When | You missed the due date | You filed, then found a mistake | After the belated or revised window has closed |
| Deadline for AY 2026-27 | 31 December 2026 | 31 March 2027 | Up to 48 months from the end of the assessment year |
| Late fee or cost | ₹5,000; ₹1,000 if income up to ₹5 lakh | None up to 31 December; fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 after that | Additional tax of 25% to 70% of tax and interest, depending on delay |
| Can claim a refund or lower tax? | Yes | Yes | No, only increase income or tax |
| Earlier completion of assessment | Deadline ends if assessment completes first | Same | Barred in some cases, such as after a search or notice |
Return due dates for AY 2026-27 were 31 July for most individuals and 31 August for non-audit business cases; see our ITR due dates guide.
What a belated return costs you
- Late fee: ₹5,000, or ₹1,000 if total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh. No fee if income is below the basic exemption limit and you are filing only to claim a refund.
- Interest at 1% a month on unpaid tax from the due date.
- Losses: business losses and capital losses of the year cannot be carried forward; house property loss can.
- Regime: people with business income lose the ability to opt out of the new regime for the year.
- Refund interest runs from the date of filing rather than from 1 April.
When and how to revise
- Revise when you missed income, claimed a wrong deduction, picked the wrong ITR form, or entered wrong bank details. A revised return replaces the original entirely.
- You can revise more than once within the window; the last one counts.
- A belated return can also be revised.
- From 1 January 2027, revising a return for AY 2026-27 carries a fee of ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000.
- If you received an intimation that your return has a defect, respond to the defect notice instead; that is a different process.
In the ITR form, choose the filing section for revised return and quote the acknowledgement number and date of the original. The steps are otherwise the same as filing online.
Missed even 31 December?
- Updated return (ITR-U) can be filed for up to 48 months after the end of the assessment year, only to report more income or pay more tax. The additional tax is 25% within 12 months, 50% within 24 months, 60% within 36 months, and 70% within 48 months, on top of tax and interest.
- Condonation of delay: for genuine hardship, you can apply to the tax authorities to allow a late return claiming a refund or carrying forward a loss.
- If a notice has arrived, reply to it rather than filing on your own; see our guide to income tax notices.
A quick decision guide
| Your situation | What to file |
|---|---|
| Did not file by 31 July or 31 August, it is now before 31 December | Belated return, with late fee |
| Filed on time, found a mistake, before 31 December | Revised return, no fee |
| Filed on time, found a mistake, between 1 January and 31 March 2027 | Revised return, with fee |
| Found unreported income after 31 March 2027 | Updated return (ITR-U), with additional tax |
| Want a refund or to carry forward a loss, but missed every deadline | Condonation of delay application |
| Received a defective return notice | Respond to the notice with a corrected return |
| Received a notice for unreported income | Reply to the notice; do not file ITR-U without advice |
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to file a belated return for AY 2026-27?
31 December 2026, or earlier if the assessment is completed before that.
What is the last date to revise ITR for AY 2026-27?
31 March 2027. Revisions after 31 December 2026 attract a fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 depending on income.
What is the late fee for a belated return?
₹5,000, reduced to ₹1,000 if total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh.
Can I carry forward losses in a belated return?
Not business or capital losses. House property loss can still be carried forward.
What if I miss the belated return deadline?
You can file an updated return (ITR-U) within 48 months if you owe more tax, or apply for condonation of delay for a refund or loss claim.
Missed the deadline or filed with an error?
A FilingBase CA files the belated, revised or updated return and handles any notice, from ₹499.
Keep reading.
ITR Refund Status: How to Check It, What Each Status Means, Why Refunds Get Stuck, and How to Get a Failed Refund Reissued
Where to see the status, what each status means, the seven reasons refunds stall, the reissue request, and interest at 6% a year on delayed refunds.
Read guide→GuideITR Filing Due Dates for AY 2026-27
Who filed by 31 July or 31 August, who gets until 31 October, why there is no extension this year, and what the belated route costs.
Read guide→GuideWhich ITR Form Should You File for AY 2026-27? ITR-1, 2, 3 or 4, Decided in Six Questions
Six questions, one answer. The ITR-1 to ITR-4 rules for AY 2026-27, the ₹1.25 lakh LTCG change, and what a wrong form costs you.
Read guide→Official references
The statutory sources behind this page. We keep our guidance aligned to them — verify anything time-sensitive directly.
- Ministry of Corporate AffairsCompanies Act filings, forms and fee schedules
- Income Tax DepartmentReturns, forms, rates and e-filing utilities
- GST PortalRegistration, returns and rate notifications
Content on this page is reviewed by a chartered accountant or advocate at LexVerge LLP. It is general guidance, not advice on your specific facts.