Submitted wrong ITR form? Know how many times you can revise return

Representative image

Choosing an incorrect ITR form—filing ITR-1 when you should have filed ITR-3, say—will make your return defective under Section 139(9) of the Income Tax Act. This means that the income tax department will ask you to correct the return, or else it could be canceled if not corrected.

But even if the department does not flag it later, your return may not be processed properly, and there may be delay in refunds or future hassles in assessments.

Can you make changes in your ITR after filing it?

Yes. In case you discover your mistake later when the first return is filed, you can submit an amended return under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act. In this manner, you can rectify income information, deductions, or even the form type—even though the original return was within the timeline (i.e., before the deadline).

How frequently can you modify your return?

There is no number to the number of times you can revise your ITR—as long as you do it within the time limit. You may revise your return multiple times if you continue discovering mistakes or making corrections. A re-submission replaces the previous one.

What is the last date to revise your return?

For Assessment Year (AY) 2024–25 (Financial Year 2023–24), you have till December 31, 2024—extendable by the government—to revise your ITR if you're correcting errors, revising information, or switching to the correct ITR form.

How to file a revised return

1. Visit the Income Tax e-filing portal and log in.

2. Select 'File Income Tax Return' and proceed with 'Revised Return' under Section 139(5).

3. Give the Acknowledgement Number and date of the original ITR.

4. Submit the correct ITR form with new data.

5. Submit and validate the return as you submitted the original.

Don't stress—edit carefully

Making an ITR filing mistake, like filing the wrong form, is simple. The tax law allows you to make several changes to your return before the due date. Just ensure that each amended return is full, accurate, and submitted on time.