What is the last date to file ITR with penalty? How to file, charges

The deadline for filing the income tax return (ITR) for FY 2023-24 remains July 31, 2024, and there has been no extension. If you haven't filed your ITR, there's no need to worry because you can still submit your tax return after this deadline. Even if you incur a penalty, you have the option to file your tax returns after the deadline – this is referred to as a belated return.

ITR filing deadline: 5 consequences of not filing your income tax return today

What is a belated return? What is the last date

An assessment year's belated return is one that is filed after the deadline, on July 31. The last date to file a belated ITR is December 31 of the same year.


For instance, the deadline to file a late return for the AY 2024–25 is December 31, 2024, at the latest. You may file an ITR-U in certain specific circumstances if you miss the deadline for filing a delayed return.

Penalty for filing belated ITR

In addition to late fines, interest under sections 234A and 234B on the unpaid tax liability will be applied to the delayed return. If a taxpayer files an amended tax return, he may also miss the deadline for filing a delayed return.

Has the last date to file ITR been extended beyond July 31?

How to file belated return

You can still file your ITR, but you must pay a late filing fee of up to Rs 5,000. An ITR filed after the deadline is referred to as a belated ITR and is filed under section 139(4) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. An individual with no tax owed must pay a penalty before filing a late ITR.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to file belated ITR

• Step 1: Visit ITR e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.
• Step 2: Login using your user ID (PAN or Aadhaar) and password.
• Step 3: After logging in, click on ‘e-file’, then click on ‘income tax returns’ and then on ‘file income tax return’.
• Step 4: A new webpage will open on your screen. Select the assessment year (AY 2023-24). After this, select the mode of filing, i.e., online and offline. Here we have chosen the online method of filing a belated ITR. For the offline method, an individual is required to first download the utility (Excel or JSON) from the e-filing portal. Enter the details required and then upload the same on the e-filing portal. Select the type of ITR – 139(4) Belated ITR. Click on ‘Continue’.
• Step 5: A new webpage will open. Here, select ‘Start New filing’. If there is any saved ITR draft, it will be shown here as well.
• Step 6: Select your status as ‘Individual’ and click on ‘continue’.
• Step 7: Select the ITR form applicable to your income. Here we have selected ‘ITR-1’ as a reference guide. A new webpage will appear on your screen providing individual guidance regarding who can file using ITR-1 form, documents that must be kept handy for faster ITR filing, etc. Click on ‘Let’s get started’.
• Step 8: In the next step, select the reason for ITR filing. Here we have selected, ‘Taxable income more than exemption limit’ for reference.
• Step 9: A new webpage will open showing pre-filled data like your personal information, gross total income, taxes already paid and total tax liability.
• Step 10: Click on the personal information column to check your personal details such as name, address, contact details etc. While checking ensure that ‘Filing Section – 139(4)’ is selected.
• Step 11: The next step is to fill in the details related to gross taxable income. In the online method, most of the details are pre-filled. Hence, it is important to ensure that all the details of your income are pre-filled. If there is any income missing, then the individual will be required to enter such details.
• Step 12: Once the tax payment is done, an individual will be redirected to the ITR filing page. Click on the tax paid column and then click on ‘Advance and Self-Assessment’ tax payment column. Here enter the details from the tax challan and click on confirm.

Verify all the details, then select "preview return." Following this, a new page will load indicating that your validation was successful. At this point, you should check the overdue ITR that you filed. Keep in mind that the submitted ITR needs to be confirmed 30 days after it is filed. Income tax returns can be verified in six different ways.