Missed ITR Filing Deadline? Know Penalty, How To File Belated Income Tax Return

Missed ITR Filing Deadline: Taxpayers who have missed the ITR filing deadline will now face penalties and other consequences under the Income Tax Act. Those who failed to file the income tax return by September 16 can now file a belated return along with penalties.

The last date for filing an ITR for the assessment year 2025-26, was supposed to be September 15, but it was extended for one more day as taxpayers were unable to file their returns due to technical glitches on the income tax site. Despite heavy demand from taxpayers and professional associations, the Income Tax Department confirmed that there would be no further extension.

Normally, the ITR filing deadline for non-audit taxpayers is July 31. However, this year the due date had been extended to September 15 due to the late release of ITR forms and changes in tax rules. There were also technical adjustments on the income tax portal, such as fixing glitches and errors.

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Who needed to file the ITR by September 16?

The deadline for filing the ITR applied to salaried individuals, pensioners, NRIs with taxable income in India, freelancers, and small taxpayers whose accounts do not require an audit.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Taxpayers who could not file their ITR by September 16 will now have to submit a belated return along with penalties. The late fee under Section 234F is Rs 5,000 if filed between September 17 and December 31, 2025. For taxpayers whose income is below Rs 5 lakh, the fine is Rs 1,000.

The government charges 1 per cent monthly interest for different delays: filing your return late (Section 234A), paying too little advance tax for the whole year (Section 234B), or missing the quarterly advance tax payment deadlines (Section 234C).

If the return is filed late, certain losses (such as business, trading, and property-related losses) cannot be carried forward.

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There would be delays in any refunds and higher chances of scrutiny. Since you have filed late, you might be sent a notice from the Income Tax Department.

How can one file a belated return?
If you missed the ITR filing deadline of September 16 for the Assessment Year 2025-26, you can still file a belated return under Section 139(4) of the Income Tax Act.

However, this must be done before December 31, 2025, to avoid higher tax penalties and legal consequences.

Here are the steps to file a belated ITR online:

Step 1: Visit incometax.gov.in

Step 2: Log in to e-filing portal using your PAN (User ID) and password

Step 3: Click on 'e-File', then select 'Income Tax Returns'

Step 4: Click on 'File Income Tax Return'

Step 5: Select Assessment Year 2025-26 (for FY 2024-25).

Step 6: Choose Filing Type 'Belated Return' under Section 139(4).

Step 7: Choose the correct ITR form based on your income sources, as listed below:

- ITR-1 (Sahaj) is for salaried individuals with an income of up to Rs 50 lakh
- ITR-2 is for individuals with income from multiple sources or capital gains
- ITR-3 is for individuals whose income comes from businesses or other professions

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Step 8: Enter income and tax details (deductions, taxes paid)

Step 9: Calculate and pay any due taxes along with applicable interest and penalties

Step 10: Once you have completed the return, click on 'e-verify'

Step 11: Complete e-verification using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or other available methods