Belated, Revised & Updated Return (ITR-U): Fees, Deadlines & Rules
Missed 31-Jul-2026? File belated by 31-Dec-2026 (₹1,000/₹5,000 fee). Filed with errors? Revise by 31-Mar-2027 (Budget 2026 extension). Missed everything? ITR-U gives 48 months with graded extra tax.
Right now: FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) windows
| Return type | Last date | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Belated (missed the due date) | 31-Dec-2026 | 234F fee: ₹1,000 (income ≤₹5L) / ₹5,000 + 234A interest |
| Revised (fix a filed return) | 31-Mar-2027 | Free till 31-Dec-2026; ₹1,000/₹5,000 u/s 234I after (new) |
| Updated (ITR-U) (last resort) | 31-Mar-2031 | Extra tax 25% → 50% → 60% → 70% by year + interest |
What belated filing costs you (beyond the fee)
- Interest u/s 234A (1%/month) on unpaid tax from the due date.
- No loss carry-forward (except house-property loss) — painful for F&O/capital-loss traders.
- Old-regime lock-out for business-income filers — miss the due date and you're stuck with the new regime that year.
- Delayed refunds — belated returns are processed after timely ones.
ITR-U rules in brief
File ITR-U only to admit extra income — you cannot reduce liability, claim a bigger refund, or file it after a search/survey/notice proceeding begins. Voluntary correction before any notice is always cheaper than waiting. Under the 2025 Act, the 234F late fee lives in Section 428 (same ₹1,000/₹5,000).
Tax Year 2026-27 deadlines (file in 2027)
| Category | Due date |
|---|---|
| Salaried / non-audit | 31-Jul-2027 |
| Audit cases | 31-Oct-2027 |
| Belated return | 31-Dec-2027 |
| Revised return (fee-free) | 31-Dec-2027 (till 31-Mar-2028 with 234I fee) |
By TaxSetu Editorial Team · Last reviewed: 7 October 2026
Based on the Income-tax Act 2025, Income Tax Rules 2026 and CBDT notifications; sections per the Income-tax Act 1961 (as amended) with 2025-Act mappings where notified · Verify on the official portal: incometax.gov.in
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Frequently Asked Questions
31 December 2026, with a Section 234F fee of ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5L) or ₹5,000, plus 234A interest on unpaid tax.
31 March of the following year — Budget 2026 extended it from 31 December. Revising after 31 December attracts a ₹1,000/₹5,000 fee under new Section 234I.
Up to 48 months from the end of the tax year, with graded extra tax: 25%, 50%, 60%, 70% by year of delay, plus interest. It can only admit extra income.
Beyond the fee: 234A interest, no loss carry-forward (except house property), old-regime lock-out for business filers, and slower refunds.