₹ TaxSetu 2025
New Act — Section 263 (Old 139)

Section 263 of Income Tax Act 2025 (Old 139): Return-Filing Rules

Old Sec 139 family = New Sec 263. Same deadlines: 31 July non-audit, 31 Oct audit, revise/belated per the current rules. File late and you lose carry-forward + new-regime choice stays default.

  • 139(1)/263: due-date filing — 31 July (non-audit), 31 Oct (audit).
  • 139(4)/139(5): belated + revised returns — same 31-Dec / 31-Mar rhythm.
  • 139(9): defective returns — fix within 15 days of notice.
  • 139(8A)/ITR-U: updated return — 48 months with graded extra tax.
All deadlines + fees → · Which ITR form →

The 263 deadline trio (old 139 family)

FilingDeadlineCost of delay
On-time — 139(1)31 July (non-audit), 31 Oct (audit)₹0 + all choices open
Belated — 139(4)31 DecFee 428 (₹5k/₹1k) + interest + no loss c/f
Revised — 139(5)31 MarFree till 31 Dec, then conditions
Updated — ITR-U48 monthsGraded extra tax (25% → 60%+)

Which return fixes which mess? (decision table)

Your situationFile…DeadlineCost
Haven't filed at all this yearBelated 139(4)31 DecFee ₹5k/₹1k + interest
Filed, then spotted a mistakeRevised 139(5)31 MarFree (usually)
Old year's income never reportedUpdated ITR-U48 monthsGraded extra tax
Got a defective-return noticeFix + re-file 139(9)15 days*Free if quick

*139(9) gives 15 days, extendable on request — but treat it as urgent; ignore it and the return turns invalid.

Our honest take: taxpayers fear 'revised' like an admission of guilt — it's not. The department PREFERS a self-corrected revised return over a notice-driven correction. Found an error in October? Revise in October; don't wait for March.

📌 Remember: filed ≠ processed — watch the 143(1) intimation
After verification, CPC sends an intimation u/s 143(1) comparing your numbers with theirs. Refund slightly less than claimed? The intimation shows exactly which line they adjusted — usually an AIS mismatch or arithmetic slip. Read it within 30 days; if they're wrong, file a rectification u/s 154. Ignore it and the intimation becomes final. Filing is step one; the intimation is the receipt — always check receipts.

Bottom line: Sec 263 rewards the early filer with choices (regime, losses, revisions) and punishes delay with fees — the section number changed in 2025, but that logic is fifty years old.

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

The new 139 family: 31 July non-audit, 31 Oct audit filing; 15-day defective-return fix; 31 Dec belated; 31 Mar revise; 48-month ITR-U.

₹5,000 fee (₹1,000 under ₹5L), interest, lost loss carry-forward — and the new regime stays default. Late options.

Salary-only: ITR-1; shares/MF/property: ITR-2; business: ITR-3; presumptive: ITR-4. Form picker.