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Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) can sometimes lead to unintentional mistakes, such as entering incorrect income details, selecting the wrong ITR form, or missing eligible deductions. To help taxpayers fix genuine errors, the Income Tax Department allows individuals to file a revised return under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act.

A revised return enables taxpayers to correct mistakes made in the original ITR without having to file an entirely new return, provided the correction is made within the prescribed time limit.

What Is a Revised Return?

A revised return is a corrected version of an already filed Income Tax Return. If you discover an omission or mistake after submitting your original return, you can file a revised return under Section 139(5). Once accepted, the revised return replaces the original return for assessment purposes.

This facility is intended to correct genuine errors and should not be used to conceal income or evade taxes.

Common Mistakes That Can Be Corrected

You can file a revised return to rectify issues such as:

• Incorrect reporting of salary or other income.
• Omission of interest earned from savings accounts or fixed deposits.
• Missing deductions under sections such as 80C, 80D, or other eligible provisions.
• Selecting the wrong ITR form.
• Mismatch in TDS details with Form 26AS or the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
• Providing incorrect bank account details for tax refunds.

Time Limit for Filing a Revised Return

As per the provisions announced in Budget 2026, taxpayers can now file a revised return up to March 31 of the relevant assessment year, extending the earlier deadline of December 31.

If this deadline is also missed, taxpayers may still have the option to file an Updated Return (ITR-U), subject to applicable conditions. An ITR-U can generally be filed within the permitted time limit under the law by paying the additional tax, interest, and any other applicable charges.

How to File a Revised Return

The process is simple and can be completed online:

Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal.

Select the relevant Assessment Year.

Choose the option to file a Revised Return under Section 139(5).

Enter the acknowledgement number of the original ITR.

Correct the errors or update the required information.

Submit the revised return and complete e-verification.

Revised Return vs. Rectification

Many taxpayers confuse a revised return with rectification, but the two serve different purposes.

• Revised Return (Section 139(5)): Filed by the taxpayer to correct mistakes or omissions in the original return.
• Rectification (Section 154): Used to correct mistakes apparent from the record, usually after the Income Tax Department issues an intimation or order.

Why You Should Correct Errors Promptly

Ignoring mistakes in your ITR can result in delayed refunds, additional interest on unpaid taxes, notices from the Income Tax Department, penalties, or even detailed scrutiny in some cases.

Taxpayers are allowed to revise their return multiple times within the prescribed deadline, with each revised return replacing the previous one. However, experts recommend reviewing all information carefully before filing, as repeated revisions may invite additional scrutiny.