New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- If you missed the July 31 income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, it does not mean that you lost the opportunity to recover excess tax deducted through TDS, self-assessment tax or advance tax. This is because the income tax law allows taxpayers file their return even if the deadline is gone.

Taxpayers who have not filed their return within the original due date can still file a belated return within December 31, 2026. If the return shows that excess tax has been paid, the income tax department can still process the refund after verifying the details given by the taxpayer.

The key point is that a refund claim is linked to filing a valid ITR. As long as you file the applicable return within the allowed time and provi...