Reducing time to file belated return and to revise original return

Sub-sections (4) and (5) of section 139 of the Act contain provisions relating to the
filing of belated and revised returns of income respectively. The belated or revised
returns under sub-sections (4) and (5) respectively of the said section at present
could be filed before the end of the assessment year or before the completion of the
assessment whichever is earlier. With the massive technological upgrade in the
Department where the processes under the Act are moving towards becoming
faceless and jurisdiction-less, the time taken to conduct and complete such
processes has greatly reduced. Therefore, it is proposed that the last date for filing of
belated or revised returns of income, as the case may be, be reduced by three
months. Thus the belated return or revised return could now be filed three months
before the end of the relevant assessment year or before the completion of the
assessment, whichever is earlier.

These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will accordingly apply to
the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment years. [Clause 32]

Clause 32

Amendment of section 139.

32. In section 139 of the Income-tax Act,––

(b) in sub-section (4), for the words “return for any previous year at any time before”, the words “a return for any
previous year at any time within three months prior to” shall be substituted;

(c) in sub-section (5), for the words “he may furnish a revised return at any time”, the words “he may furnish a
revised return at any time within three months” shall be substituted;