Did you make a mistake in filing ITR in a hurry on September 16? Here's how to correct it

Meeting the Income Tax Return deadline to file ITR is a huge challenge especially when you are facing glitches on the Income Tax Department’s (I-T) website. However, if you were the lucky one and completed the ITR filing on due date of 16 September despite all the hurdles, but realised that there were some errors, then what are your options now.

Can you rectify your ITR, or you have to file a fresh one? See what experts say about the options you have-

Option 1: You have filed and submitted the ITR on or before the due date and didn’t e-verify it

You have filed and submitted the ITR on or before the due date and didn’t e-verify it, then you have the option to discard (delete) the filed ITR and file a fresh ITR.

Chartered Accountant (CA) Manas Chugh from Osgan Consultants Pvt. Ltd. said that the choice depends on the status of e-verification of a taxpayer’s ITR filing.

“If the return has not been e-verified, the taxpayer may ignore it and file afresh. But once it is e-verified, it is treated as validly filed, and the only way to correct errors or omissions is through a revised return under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.”

Chugh says that you file a revised ITR for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26) on or before December 31, 2025.

Mayank Mohanka, Partner, SM Mohanka & Associates & Founder TaxAaram.com, added further details to it, saying, “Those who have filed their returns with the 'tax payable' option, or even entering notional CRNs for their tax payments, can now discard their filed returns, if they have not e-verified the same yet. This facility of discarding the return is available alongside the facility of e-verifying in the Income Tax portal.”

Option 2: You have filed and submitted the ITR on or before the due date and also e-verified it

When revised return is the option

Chugh says that tax laws permit a taxpayer to file a revised return any time up to three months before the end of the relevant assessment year, or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier.

“For instance, for AY 2025–26 (FY 2024–25), the revision window is open until 31 December 2025 unless the assessment is concluded earlier. Timely filing of a revised return is the legally compliant and practical route to rectify mistakes and avoid exposure to notices or penalties.”

Abhishek Soni, CEO & Co-founder, Tax2win, said if the ITR has been filed and e-verified, they have to file a belated return. “If you have e-verified your ITR, you cannot discard it. In this case, file a Revised Return under section 139(5) with the correct details.”

Mohanka agreed with Soni and Chugh and said that after discarding the ITR, already filed returns will be deleted from the portal, and fresh returns can be filed incorporating complete and correct details of their tax payment challans now.

He says: “Those who have already e-verified their returns, may file their revised returns now in order to rectify their defects in the filed return."

How taxpayers can check tax payment challan status

Mohanka, says that one-day extension in the return filing deadline is a lifeline for those return filers who had deposited their self-assessment tax in the last 2-3 days, and their tax payment challans didn't get generated at the time of making such payments.

“In such cases, those who couldn't file their return yesterday, can check their challan status in e-pay tax utility, and can accordingly file their return incorporating the details of now reflecting challans in the system.