ITR Filing AY 2025-26: Missed The September 16 Deadline? You Can Still File A Belated ITR

The deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2024-25 (assessment year 2025-26) officially ended on September 16, 2025. Following complaints of technical glitches and repeated appeals from professionals, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had given taxpayers a one-day breather by extending the ITR filing due date by one day to September 16, 2025.

With that window now closed, many are asking the same question, what are the options available to taxpayers if they couldn’t file your return on time?

The short answer is: you can still file your ITR, but with conditions.

Belated Returns

If you missed the original deadline, you can file a belated return under Section 139(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. For this year, the last date to do so is December 31, 2025. The process is the same as a regular ITR filing, but it comes at a cost.

A late fee under Section 234F applies: Rs 1,000 if your income is below Rs 5 lakh, and Rs 5,000 if it is above that threshold. On top of this, interest may be charged under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C on any outstanding tax dues you may have.

Taxpayers should know that belated returns also come with some limitations, such as:

• Losses from business or capital gains cannot be carried forward to future years, though house property losses are exempt from this restriction.

• Another important catch is that you can no longer opt for the old tax regime even if it would have been more beneficial for you.

What If You Miss The December 31, 2028 Deadline Too

If you still don’t file your return by December 31, all is not lost. You can make use of the updated return (ITR-U) facility, which allows filing within 48 months, essentially four years, from the end of the relevant assessment year. For FY 2024-25, this window remains open until March 31, 2030.

However, updated returns are meant for specific cases and usually involve additional tax liability rather than refunds.

Penalties And Risks For Not Filing ITR

In case you do not file your ITR, then other than the late fee charges and interest mentioned above, the tax authorities could also issue a notice under Section 271F of the Act and ask the concerned taxpayer to either furnish their return or pay the penalty.

In serious cases, they can even initiate prosecution with penalties which may include imprisonment. While such extreme action is rare, ignoring compliance entirely can trigger unnecessary stress.

Different ITR Filing Deadlines

The due date of filing ITRs is different for different categories of taxpayers. For non-audit filers, the deadline has already passed - September 16, 2025. The Income Tax Department has extended the ITR filing deadline twice this year, first from the usual July 31 to September 15, and then gave taxpayers one more day to file their ITR.

The extension came through because of the delays in the release of ITR forms and utilities by the department, which came with updates that incorporated the changes announced in Budget 2024 and 2025.

The other deadlines are as follows:

For businesses the timeline varies - those requiring audit can file their return till October 31, 2025. The companies with transfer pricing reports have time till November 30, 2025 to file their returns.

Revised returns and belated returns share the same due date - December 31, 2025.

Key Takeaways

Filing late is still better than not filing your return at all. Even with the added penalties and restrictions, a belated return keeps you compliant and protects you from legal trouble. If you missed the September deadline, use the time until December wisely and file your return.