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Belated and revised return, Sec 263(4) and 263(5) (old 139(4) and 139(5))

  • Missed the ITR deadline or made a mistake in the return you filed?
  • Deadline: AY 2026-27: belated return by 31 December 2026; revised return by 31 March 2027 (fee after 31 December 2026), in both cases only before assessment is completed.
  • Done in 1 to 2 working days after documents
  • Prepared by your Savvy, checked by a CA
  1. Original return acknowledgement and date
  2. Was any return filed for this year
  3. Decide route
  4. Acknowledgement of belated or revised return
The law and the stepsPay and start · ₹1,499As needed, + 18% GST

Answer in brief

Missed the ITR deadline or made a mistake in the return you filed? We file the late return with the right fee, or revise your return to fix the error, before the window shuts. After these dates only an updated return with extra tax is possible.

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From the official sources

What the law says, and what trips people up

From the official portal's manuals and FAQs, with the source for each point.

The law

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 139(4) (now Sec 263(4))

    Belated return for AY 2026-27 by 31 December 2026 or before assessment completion, whichever is earlierSource

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 139(5) (now Sec 263(5)), as substituted by Finance Act 2026 from 1 March 2026

    Revised return before the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of assessment, whichever is earlierSource

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 234-I (inserted by Finance Act 2026 from 1 March 2026)

    Revised return filed after nine months but before twelve months: fee ₹1,000 if total income up to ₹5 lakh, else ₹5,000Source

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 234F (now Sec 428)

    Belated return fee ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000Source

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 234A (now Sec 423)

    Interest of 1% a month or part on unpaid tax from the day after the due dateSource

  • Income-tax Act 1961, Sec 139(3) (now Sec 263) and loss carry forward conditions

    Business, speculation and capital losses of a late return cannot be carried forward; house property loss and unabsorbed depreciation canSource

  • Income-tax Act 2025, Sec 263(4) and 263(5)

    From tax year 2026-27: belated within 9 months and revised within 12 months of the end of the tax yearSource

  • Government fee

    Belated: Sec 428 (old Sec 234F) fee, ₹1,000 if total income does not exceed ₹5,00,000, else ₹5,000 (source: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/%20income%20tax%20returns-faq). Revised: no fee up to 31 December 2026; Sec 234-I fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 for revision from 1 January to 31 March 2027 (source: https://incometaxindia.gov.in/Budgets%20and%20Bills/2026/Finance_Bill-2026.pdf, https://calcguru.in/?p=5503).

  • Late fee or penalty

    Sec 423 (old Sec 234A) interest at 1% a month on unpaid tax for a belated return; both fees can apply together where a belated return is later revised after 31 December. After 31 March 2027 no belated or revised return is possible for AY 2026-27; only ITR-U (ITR-COR-02). Source: https://calcguru.in/belated-return-after-due-date/ and https://cleartax.in/s/section-234i-fee-on-revised-return

On the portal

  1. Login > e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return
  2. Select AY 2026-27 and the correct ITR form
  3. In filing type select 139(4) belated or 139(5) revised
  4. For a revised return enter the acknowledgement number and date of the original return
  5. Refile the complete return with corrections; the Sec 234F or 234-I fee shows in tax paid or payable
  6. Pay Now if tax or fee is payable, then validate and e-verify

What trips people up

  • Waiting till after 31 December to fix a small mistake

    Revisions up to 31 December 2026 carry no fee; from 1 January to 31 March 2027 the Sec 234-I fee appliesSource

  • Return processed under Sec 143(1) before revision

    Processing can be treated as completion and may cut the window short; file the revision earlySource

  • Capital loss in a late return

    Business and capital losses of a belated return cannot be carried forward; file on time when there are lossesSource

  • Trying to revise a return filed in response to a Sec 142(1) notice

    Only Sec 139(1) and 139(4) returns can be revisedSource

  • Unclear reading of Sec 234-I time periods

    The fee periods read literally run from the end of the assessment year; practitioners apply 1 January to 31 March 2027. Check the portal behaviourSource

People ask

Can I revise a belated return?

Yes. A belated return can be revised until 31 March 2027 for AY 2026-27.Source

What is the fee for a revised return?

Nothing up to 31 December 2026. From 1 January to 31 March 2027, ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh, else ₹5,000.Source

What does a belated return cost?

Sec 234F fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 plus 1% a month interest on unpaid tax.Source

What if I miss 31 March 2027 too?

Only an updated return (ITR-U) with additional tax is possible after that.Source

Does the new Income-tax Act 2025 change this for AY 2026-27?

No. AY 2026-27 is under the 1961 Act; from tax year 2026-27 Sec 263(4) and 263(5) apply.Source

IDFD

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  • Original return acknowledgement and dateOptional
  • What was omitted or wrong
  • AIS, TIS and Form 168 (old Form 26AS)
  • Form 130 (old Form 16) and income documents
  • Tax, interest and fee challans
  • Any notice or intimation receivedOptional
  • Validated bank account

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As needed. Delivered in 1 to 2 working days after documents. Due: AY 2026-27: belated return by 31 December 2026; revised return by 31 March 2027 (fee after 31 December 2026), in both cases only before assessment is completed.

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