Chaitra Seetharam
Quick Summary
Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) on time is both a civic obligation and a critical financial responsibility, with clear penalties for delay. To promote compliance, the Income Tax Department of India has implemented a defined penalty structure for late filing. Missing the deadline leads to a serie
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FAQ :
The primary penalty for late filing is a late fee under Section 234F, which is ₹5,000. However, if your total income is ₹5 lakh or less, the fee is reduced to ₹1,000. You may also face interest charges on unpaid tax and restrictions on carrying forward losses.
For most individuals and HUFs not requiring an audit, the due date for filing the Income Tax Return is July 31st. The deadline for late filing is December 31st of the same year, or before assessment completion if that is earlier.
Interest is charged at 1% per month (or part thereof) on the amount of unpaid tax. This is calculated from the day after the filing due date until the tax is paid or the return is filed.
Generally, no. Filing your ITR after the due date results in the forfeiture of your right to carry forward most losses, such as capital losses and business losses, to offset future income. The only exception is loss from house property.
Yes, if your ITR is filed more than one year after the original due date and you have a tax payable exceeding ₹5,000, an additional penalty under Section 271H can be imposed by the Assessing Officer, ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000.
A belated return is the initial return filed after the original due date, attracting a late fee. A revised return is filed to correct an already submitted return before the belated return deadline (December 31st) and does not incur a new late fee if the original return was filed on time.
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