What is the story about?
If you missed the December 31 deadline to file a revised or belated income tax return (ITR) for the financial year 2024–25 (assessment year 2025–26), the window to revise your return is now closed. However, that does not automatically mean you lose your tax refund. The route to claiming it has simply changed.
Here’s an explainer on what options remain available in 2026 and what taxpayers should do next.
What changed after December 31?
Until December 31, taxpayers could file:
From January 1, both these options are no longer available for AY 2025–26, even if the income tax department has not yet processed your return.
Can you still get your refund?
Yes — if you already filed your ITR on time and are eligible for a refund, you can still receive it. The income tax department has time to process returns and issue refunds, even after December 31.
However, how you correct mistakes now depends on the nature of the error.
Option 1: Rectification under Section 154 (most common route)
If your return has been processed and you received an intimation under Section 143(1), but the refund amount is wrong or denied due to an error, you can file a rectification request.
This option applies if the issue is due to:
Rectification requests can be filed online through the income tax e-filing portal and remain available even after the December 31 deadline.
This is the primary route to claim or increase a refund in 2026.
Option 2: Wait if your return is still under processing
If your ITR status shows “under processing”, you do not need to take immediate action. The Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has a statutory timeline to process returns and issue intimation.
If the refund is due and no discrepancies are found, it will be issued automatically along with applicable interest.
If processing gets delayed beyond the permitted period, taxpayers can raise a grievance through the e-filing portal or CPGRAMS.
Option 3: Updated Return (ITR-U) — but with limits
Taxpayers can still file an Updated Return (ITR-U) from January 1 onwards, but this option comes with important restrictions.
ITR-U can be used only to:
In fact, filing an ITR-U usually involves paying additional tax and interest. It is not a refund-friendly option.
What you can no longer do
After December 31, taxpayers cannot:
Any such corrections are now restricted to rectification (if applicable) or will require departmental approval in exceptional cases.
What taxpayers should do now
Here’s an explainer on what options remain available in 2026 and what taxpayers should do next.
What changed after December 31?
Until December 31, taxpayers could file:
- A belated return if they had missed the original filing deadline, or
- A revised return to correct errors or omissions in an already filed ITR
From January 1, both these options are no longer available for AY 2025–26, even if the income tax department has not yet processed your return.
Can you still get your refund?
Yes — if you already filed your ITR on time and are eligible for a refund, you can still receive it. The income tax department has time to process returns and issue refunds, even after December 31.
However, how you correct mistakes now depends on the nature of the error.
Option 1: Rectification under Section 154 (most common route)
If your return has been processed and you received an intimation under Section 143(1), but the refund amount is wrong or denied due to an error, you can file a rectification request.
This option applies if the issue is due to:
- TDS or TCS mismatch
- Incorrect tax or interest calculation
- Arithmetical or clerical errors
- Incorrect carry-forward of losses
Rectification requests can be filed online through the income tax e-filing portal and remain available even after the December 31 deadline.
This is the primary route to claim or increase a refund in 2026.
Option 2: Wait if your return is still under processing
If your ITR status shows “under processing”, you do not need to take immediate action. The Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has a statutory timeline to process returns and issue intimation.
If the refund is due and no discrepancies are found, it will be issued automatically along with applicable interest.
If processing gets delayed beyond the permitted period, taxpayers can raise a grievance through the e-filing portal or CPGRAMS.
Option 3: Updated Return (ITR-U) — but with limits
Taxpayers can still file an Updated Return (ITR-U) from January 1 onwards, but this option comes with important restrictions.
ITR-U can be used only to:
- Report additional income
- Correct under-reported income
- It cannot be used to:
- Claim a new refund
- Increase an existing refund
In fact, filing an ITR-U usually involves paying additional tax and interest. It is not a refund-friendly option.
What you can no longer do
After December 31, taxpayers cannot:
- Revise deductions or exemptions to increase refunds
- Correct errors that reduce tax liability through a revised return
- File a belated return for AY 2025–26
Any such corrections are now restricted to rectification (if applicable) or will require departmental approval in exceptional cases.
What taxpayers should do now
- Check your ITR status on the income tax portal
- Review the intimation notice once issued
- File a rectification request promptly if there is a mismatch
- Ensure bank account details are verified to avoid refund delays
