So you missed July 31
If it is August and you have not filed, do not panic. The law gives a second chance: a belated return under Section 139(4).
How it differs from a normal return
Same forms, same portal, but with consequences.
A belated return carries a Section 234F fee (Rs 1,000 up to Rs 5 lakh income, Rs 5,000 above) plus 1% per month interest under Section 234A on any unpaid tax (Source: Income Tax Act, Sections 234F and 234A).
| Consequence | Detail |
|---|---|
| Late fee (234F) | Rs 1,000 / Rs 5,000 |
| Interest (234A) | 1% per month on dues |
| Lost benefit | Cannot carry forward most losses |
File it step by step (portal path)
- Calculate income using Form 16 and AIS.
- Add the Section 234F late fee to your computation.
- Pay total tax plus fee via e-Pay Tax.
- While filing, select Section 139(4) - Belated.
- Submit and e-verify within 30 days.
The final cutoff
The absolute last day for a belated return is December 31 of the assessment year. Miss it and you generally lose the voluntary filing window.
What you should do
File as soon as you can, because interest under 234A keeps adding up every month you wait.
Common mistake
Filing belated but skipping e-verification. An unverified return is treated as never filed, fee paid or not.
How LastMinute ITR helps
LastMinute ITR helps you organise belated-filing data and calculate the fee so your portal submission is error-free. Start at /file, import at /file/import/documents, and reconcile at /file/import/mismatch.
LastMinute ITR is a companion tool, not affiliated with the Income Tax Department. You file and e-verify your return yourself on incometax.gov.in.