Revised IT Return Explained: How to Correct Mistakes in Your ITR and File Before the Deadline

Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) correctly is crucial for every taxpayer. However, mistakes can happen — whether it’s a missed income disclosure, incorrect data entry, or forgetting to declare foreign assets. The good news is, if you realize an error after submitting your return, you don’t need to panic. The Income Tax Department allows taxpayers to file a Revised Return, which lets you correct any mistakes made in the original ITR without paying any penalty or additional fee.

Here’s everything you need to know about what a revised ITR is, how to file it, and the deadline for submission.

What Is a Revised Income Tax Return?

A Revised ITR is essentially a corrected version of your previously filed tax return. According to tax experts, if a taxpayer finds any error in their filed return — such as missing income details, incorrect deductions, or other mistakes — they can simply file a revised version.

If you fail to revise your return after discovering an error, you might receive a notice from the Income Tax Department. In some cases, taxpayers forget to mention foreign income or foreign assets, which can result in significant penalties later. Filing a revised return helps you avoid such complications and ensures your income disclosure remains accurate and compliant.

Who Can File a Revised Return?

Any individual or entity that has filed an original ITR within the prescribed time can file a revised return. This facility is available to salaried employees, self-employed professionals, business owners, and pensioners alike. Even if your refund has already been processed, you can still file a revised return.

You can revise your ITR multiple times, as long as it is done within the allowed deadline.

Deadline to File a Revised Return

As per Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act, a taxpayer can file a revised return three months before the end of the relevant assessment year or before the assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.

For the Assessment Year 2025–26, this means that if you filed your original ITR before September 16, 2025, and later notice an error, you can revise your return until December 31, 2025.

It’s important to note that December 31, 2025 is also the last date to file a belated return, so taxpayers should ensure timely corrections to avoid any inconvenience.

No Penalty or Additional Fee

One of the biggest advantages of filing a Revised ITR is that it involves no penalty or additional fee. The process is completely free.

Just like the original return, the revised return must also be verified within 30 days of submission. Verification can be done online via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or digital signature. Without verification, your revised return will be considered invalid.

Revised vs. Updated Return: What’s the Difference?

Many taxpayers confuse Revised Return with Updated Return, but both are very different.

• Revised Return (Section 139(5)):
  Filed within the same assessment year to correct any mistake in the original return. No penalty applies.

• Updated Return (Section 139(8A)):
  Filed within 24 to 48 months after the end of the assessment year to disclose omitted income or fix major errors. However, this requires the taxpayer to pay additional tax and penalty.

In short, if you realize your mistake early, revising your ITR is a hassle-free and cost-effective option.

Why Filing a Revised Return Is Important

Filing a revised return ensures your tax records are accurate and protects you from unnecessary scrutiny or penalties from the Income Tax Department. Even minor errors — like wrong bank details, misreported TDS, or unreported savings interest — can trigger a notice if left uncorrected.

Moreover, it demonstrates transparency and good tax compliance, which strengthens your credibility as a taxpayer.

Key Takeaways

• You can revise your ITR multiple times within the allowed period.

• The deadline to file a revised return for AY 2025–26 is December 31, 2025.

• No penalty or late fee applies to revised returns.

• Always verify your revised return within 30 days of filing.

• Don’t confuse revised return with updated return, which attracts extra tax and penalty.

Correcting an error in your income tax return is simple, fast, and penalty-free — as long as you do it within the given time frame. So, if you’ve discovered any inaccuracies in your filed ITR, make sure to revise it before December 31, 2025, to stay compliant and stress-free.