What Happens If You File Your ITR After the Due Date But Before 31st December 2025?

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) on time is always recommended. However, many taxpayers miss the original due date (generally 31st July 2025 for individuals not requiring audit). The good news is that you can still file your return even after the due date, up to 31st December 2025, or the extended date notified by the Income Tax Department. This return is called a belated return.

But before you delay, let’s understand the practical impact of filing ITR after the due date.

1. What is a Belated Return?

A belated return is an ITR filed after the original due date but within the permitted time (generally 31st December of the assessment year). For FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26), the last date for filing a belated return is 31st December 2025.

2. Practical Impacts of Filing After the Due Date

✅ a) Late Filing Fee (Section 234F)

• If your total income exceeds ₹5 lakh → ₹5,000 late fee.
• If your total income is below ₹5 lakh → ₹1,000 late fee.
• If income is below the taxable limit → No late fee.

This fee has to be paid before filing the belated return.

 

✅ b) Interest on Tax Due (Section 234A, 234B, 234C)

• If you have any tax payable after TDS, advance tax, or self-assessment tax, you will be charged 1% interest per month on the outstanding amount till the date of payment.

 

✅ c) No Option to Revise Easily

Earlier, belated returns couldn’t be revised. But from AY 2020-21 onwards, even belated returns can be revised before the end of the assessment year. Still, if you delay, you reduce your time window for making corrections.

 

✅ d) Loss of Certain Benefits

• You cannot carry forward losses (except loss from house property).
• Business loss, speculation loss, capital loss etc. can’t be carried forward if you miss the due date.

 

✅ e) Refund Delay

If you are eligible for a refund, filing late will delay your refund processing.

 

✅ f) Increased Scrutiny Risk

Late filers often get flagged for mismatch in TDS, AIS/Form 26AS, or high-value transactions.

 

3. Can You File ITR After 31st December 2025?

• Yes, but only in special cases using Updated Return (ITR-U) under Section 139(8A).
• ITR-U can be filed within 24 months from the end of the relevant assessment year.
• However, filing ITR-U comes with an additional penalty of 25% to 50% of tax and interest payable.
• So, it’s always cheaper and safer to file before 31st December 2025.

 

4. Best Practices if You Missed the Due Date

• File your belated return at the earliest – don’t wait till December.
• Verify AIS and Form 26AS carefully to avoid mismatches.
• Pay self-assessment tax along with late fee before submission.
• Keep proof of tax payment and acknowledgement for future reference.

 

5. Final Words

Missing the original due date of ITR is not the end of the road. You can still file your return till 31st December 2025 and stay compliant. However, you will face late fees, interest, and restriction on carrying forward losses. If you miss even this deadline, you may still have an option through ITR-U, but at a much higher cost.

👉 Therefore, it’s always wise to file your ITR on or before the due date. And if you’ve already missed it, don’t wait till the last moment—file your belated ITR today through FileBob.in and stay stress-free.