Can I File ITR in January?
Can I File ITR in January?
Complete Guide for Filing Income Tax Return After the Deadline | FY 2024–25 & AY 2025–26
Many taxpayers miss the initial ITR deadline and wonder—
“Can I file my income tax return in January?”
The short answer is yes, but it depends on which financial year you're referring to and whether you're still within the legal filing window. In this article, we’ll help you understand when you can file in January, what form to use, the penalty you may face, and your options if you’re too late.
📌 Which ITR Deadline Are We Talking About?
• Financial Year (FY): 2024–25
• Assessment Year (AY): 2025–26
• Original ITR due date: 31st July 2025 (for most individuals)
• Belated ITR deadline: 31st December 2025
So if you're asking "Can I file ITR in January 2026?" for income earned in FY 2024–25—then the answer is no, because you’ll have missed the belated return deadline.
But if you’re asking, "Can I file ITR in January 2025?", here’s what depends:
✅ 1. Filing ITR in January (Before 31st Dec Deadline)
If it is January 2025 and you are filing ITR for FY 2023–24 (AY 2024–25):
• You can still file a belated return
• A late filing fee under Section 234F will apply
| Income Level | Late Filing Fee (234F) |
| Up to ₹2.5 lakh | Nil |
| ₹2.5L – ₹5 lakh | ₹1,000 |
| Above ₹5 lakh | ₹5,000 |
💡 You can also revise your ITR if you filed earlier and made a mistake—January is still within the window for revised returns too (until 31st Dec).
❌ 2. What If You Miss the 31st December Deadline?
If you fail to file your ITR by 31st December of the assessment year, you cannot file a regular or belated return after that.
But you can still use the Updated Return (ITR-U) facility under Section 139(8A).
🔄 3. Filing an Updated Return After December
You can file an Updated Return:
• For income not reported earlier
• Even if no original return was filed
• Up to 2 years after the end of the assessment year
Penalty for Updated Return:
| When Filed | Extra Tax Payable |
| Within 12 months of the AY end | 25% of tax + interest |
| Between 12–24 months from AY end | 50% of tax + interest |
🔔 Note: You cannot use ITR-U to claim a refund or reduce your taxable income.
📝 Which Scenarios Allow You to File ITR in January?
| Scenario | ITR Filing in January? | Notes |
| Filing for the previous FY (within the deadline) | ✅ Yes | File a belated or revised return with a penalty |
| Missed the 31st Dec deadline | ❌ No (regular return) | File ITR-U (Updated Return) with penalty |
| Filing for future FY | ❌ Not allowed | You can only file after FY ends (post 31 March) |
Final Words
Yes, you can file your ITR in January, but only if you're within the allowed timeline (usually before 31st December of the assessment year).
If you're past that, your option is to file an Updated Return, which involves paying extra tax and penalties.
Want to file your ITR in January but unsure if it’s allowed?
Our experts will check your eligibility, guide you through late filing, and help you avoid penalties.
👉 https://callmyca.com/business-tax-filing
