For most salaried filers with TDS fully deducted, the honest answer is: ₹5,000 under 234F, ₹0 under 234A. The complication is current-year capital losses — those expire if you file after 31 July. Worked examples below.
AY 2026-27 · due date 31 July 2026 (non-audit cases) · figures as published in June 2026.
A flat fee charged for filing after 31 July (non-audit cases) for AY 2026-27.
Charged once. Independent of how late you file or how much tax is owed.
1% per month, or part thereof, on tax still unpaid after 31 July. Crucially: only on the shortfall after TDS, TCS and advance tax credit.
Part-of-a-month means even one day into August counts as a full month of interest.
Under section 80, current-year capital losses (and most other losses, excluding house-property loss) can only be carried forward to next year if the return is filed by the 139(1) due date — 31 July for non-audit cases. File on 1 August and a ₹2L LTCG loss permanently expires; you cannot use it to shield a future gain. Often a much larger economic cost than the ₹5,000 fee.
None of these is tax advice for your particular case. The point is to show the shape of the math, especially that 234A is often ₹0.
Total exposure ₹5,000
Total exposure ₹5,400
Total exposure ₹5,000 cash + ~₹25,000 hidden cost (LTCG loss that would have shielded a future ₹2L gain at 12.5% lost)
Total exposure ₹1,000
The honest answer depends on your TDS, advance tax and current-year losses. Forward your AIS and Form 16 to a private inbox; the workbench reconciles the exact shortfall (if any) and shows it line-by-line. No signup needed to see the worked examples above; signup needed only when you want the answer for your own PAN.
Reference page only. Section 234F, 234A and section 80 references are to the Income-tax Act, 1961. These examples are illustrative; check the latest rules at incometax.gov.in and confirm your specific position with a qualified Chartered Accountant.