The Revised ITR deadline December 31, 2025 has become a critical cut-off for taxpayers, especially those expecting refunds or needing to correct mistakes in their income tax returns for Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26. Chartered accountants are warning that if an Income Tax Return (ITR) is processed after this date and errors are found, taxpayers may lose the option to file a revised return and could face limitations in claiming refunds.
Why the Revised ITR Deadline December 31, 2025 Matters
Under Section 139(5) of the Income-tax Act, a revised ITR for AY 2025–26 can only be filed up to December 31, 2025. This date is also the last date for filing a belated return. Once this deadline passes, no revised return can be filed, even if the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) processes your original return later and points out an apparent error.
This situation is especially concerning because many ITRs are still pending processing. As of December 16, 2025, about 7.68 crore ITRs had been processed out of 8.34 crore returns filed and verified.
What Happens If CPC Processes Your ITR After December 31, 2025?
If your ITR is processed after the Revised ITR deadline December 31, 2025 and CPC issues an intimation under Section 143(1) highlighting a mistake, you cannot revise your return to correct that error. According to tax experts, taxpayers then have to rely on alternative remedies rather than a revised ITR.
Chartered Accountant has cautioned that in such cases, filing an ITR-U (Updated Return) may be the only option—but this comes with serious limitations, especially for refund claims.
Legal Time Limit for CPC to Process ITR
Chartered Accountant explains that CPC has nine months from the end of the financial year in which the ITR is filed to process the return and issue an intimation under Section 143(1).
For AY 2025–26:
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Even if the ITR is filed on July 31, September 16, or December 31, 2025
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CPC can legally process it up to December 31, 2026
If CPC fails to process the ITR within this statutory period, it loses the authority to make adjustments under Section 143(1).
Refund Rights If ITR Remains Unprocessed
If your return remains unprocessed beyond December 31, 2026:
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The ITR attains finality as filed
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No adjustments or demands can be raised by CPC
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If a refund is due as per the return, the taxpayer becomes entitled to the refund along with interest under Section 244A
Taxpayers can also take proactive steps such as:
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Raising an online grievance through the e-Filing Portal or CPGRAMS
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Submitting follow-up requests for processing of the return
These steps are advisable if a refund is stuck due to non-processing.
Options After Revised ITR Deadline December 31, 2025
Once the Revised ITR deadline December 31, 2025 has passed, taxpayers have only two possible remedies if an error is pointed out later:
1. Rectification Application (Section 154)
A rectification request can be filed online against the CPC intimation if the mistake is apparent from the record, such as:
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Arithmetical errors
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Incorrect tax or interest calculation
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Mismatch of TDS credits
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Clerical or computational mistakes
However, rectification cannot be used to:
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Make fresh claims
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Introduce new deductions
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Reduce tax liability or increase refunds beyond what was originally claimed
Rectification must generally be filed within four years from the end of the financial year in which the intimation is issued.
2. Filing ITR-U (Updated Return)
An ITR-U under Section 139(8A) can be filed up to 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment year. However, this option has major drawbacks:
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It cannot be filed to claim a refund
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It cannot reduce tax liability
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It cannot be a loss return
In addition, filing an ITR-U requires payment of additional tax, which increases with time, going up to 70% of tax and interest in later years.
Key Takeaway for Taxpayers
The Revised ITR deadline December 31, 2025 is not just a procedural date—it can directly affect your ability to correct errors and claim refunds. Taxpayers should:
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Review their filed ITRs immediately
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Ensure all income, TDS, and deductions are accurate
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File a revised return before December 31, 2025, if needed
Waiting for CPC processing after this deadline may leave you with limited and costly options. Acting proactively is the best way to safeguard your refund and remain compliant.
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