Income Tax Return filing: Less than 2 weeks to go for ITR filing (ITR), taxpayers are advised to file their taxable income before September 15. Missing the deadline doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road—returns can be filed later but with penalties.
Belated Return Filing Explained
If September 15 deadline is missed, taxpayers can file belated return on or before December 31 of the applicable assessment year, as per Income Tax Department guidelines. For AY 2025-26, belated return can be filed on or before December 31, 2025. Belated return can be filed under Section 139(4) of the Income Tax Act after paying the penalty.
Penalties for Late Filing
Taxpayers should note that penalties are levied for filing belated returns under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act. The fines vary based on income. Individuals earning above ₹5 lakh have to pay penalty up to ₹5,000 for late return filing and those with net taxable income of ₹5 lakh or less have to pay maximum penalty of ₹1,000.
Filing your tax return this year? Head to our detailed ITR Guide for everything you need to know.
Deadline Extended Due to System Readiness
The last date to file ITR for Assessment Year 2025-26 (i.e. FY 2024-25) has been extended to September 15, 2025 from July 31, 2025. This extension was announced as “extensive changes were introduced in the notified ITRs and considering the time required for system readiness and rollout of ITR utilities for AY25-26”, CBDT said in a notification issued in May this year
Conclusion
In short, file your ITR by September 15. If you miss the deadline, you can file belated return before December 31. While penalties will apply for late filing, timely compliance is the way to go.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information and current provisions under the Income-tax Act. If a taxpayer misses the ITR filing deadline, they can still file a belated return within the prescribed timeline, but this may attract a late filing fee under Section 234F—up to ₹5,000 for higher-income taxpayers and ₹1,000 for those with income up to ₹5 lakh.
Late filing may also result in interest on unpaid taxes (typically 1% per month), delay in refunds, and loss of certain benefits such as carry-forward of losses (except in specific cases). The exact implications may vary depending on individual circumstances and compliance status.
Readers are advised to refer to official Income Tax Department notifications and consult qualified professionals before taking any action. The publication does not take responsibility for any decisions taken based on this information.