Up to Rs 5,000 Penalty: What Happens If You Don't File Your ITR Today?:

If you haven’t filed your Income Tax Return (ITR) yet, do so, first thing today. The deadline to submit your ITR for FY 2026-27 is 31st July. Missing the deadline can mean penalties and other issues.

The Income Tax Department has been trying to motivate taxpayers to file their returns on time through social media posts and messages on registered mobile numbers. Latest data shows over 5.5 crore taxpayers have already filed their ITR for AY 2026-27. Out of these, around 42 lakh returns were filed on July 30 alone. If you have not filed yours yet, you should do it without delay.

⏳ Less than 24 hours to go!

Over 5.5 crore ITRs have already been filed for AY 2026-27 (with over 42 lakh filed on July 30 alone!).
File now, File calmly!
👉 Visit: https://t.co/GYvO3mStKf@nsitharamanoffc @officeofPCM @FinMinIndia @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/GlUAHZ6V3p

— July 31, 2026

Penalties and Consequences

If you miss the deadline, you may have to pay a late filing fee under Section 234F of the Income Tax Act. Taxpayers with an annual income of Rs 5 lakh or more can be charged a penalty of up to Rs 5,000. Those with an income below Rs 5 lakh may have to pay a penalty of Rs 1,000.

There are some other problems which can be faced due to late filing of ITR. If you are expecting an income tax refund, the delay in filing may mean that your refund is processed later than normal. In some cases you may also have to pay some additional interest if any tax remains unpaid.

The Income Tax Department warns taxpayers not to hide income or give wrong information in their returns. Where there is serious intentional non-compliance or repeated non-compliance, legal action can be taken. The law provides, depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence, for imprisonment from three months to two years.