Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) online in India has become more streamlined and user-friendly, especially with the enhancements to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process for the Financial Year 2024–25 (Assessment Year 2025–26)
Step-by-Step Guide to E-Filing Your ITR
1. Gather Necessary Documents
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- PAN and Aadhaar Cards: Your Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Aadhaar are essential for identification and verification.
- Form 16: Provided by your employer, it details your salary and tax deductions.
- Bank Statements: To report interest income and other financial transactions.
- Form 26AS: A consolidated tax statement showing TDS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax paid.
- Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS): These provide a detailed view of your financial transactions and are available on the e-filing portal.
- Investment Proofs: Documents related to deductions under sections like 80C, 80D, etc.
2. Access the Income Tax E-Filing Portal
- Visit: https://www.incometax.gov.in
- Login: Use your PAN as the User ID. If you’re a new user, click on ‘Register’ and follow the prompts to create an account.
3. Initiate the ITR Filing Process
- Navigate: After logging in, go to the ‘e-File’ menu and select ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘File Income Tax Return’.
- Assessment Year: Choose ‘2025–26’ for the current filing.
- Mode of Filing: Select ‘Online’ for a guided, step-by-step process.
4. Select the Appropriate ITR Form
Choose the form that matches your income sources:
- ITR-1 (Sahaj): For individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh from salary, one house property, and other sources.
- ITR-2: For individuals with income from salary, more than one house property, capital gains, etc.
- ITR-3: For individuals with income from business or profession.
- ITR-4 (Sugam): For individuals, HUFs, and firms (other than LLPs) with income up to ₹50 lakh and opting for presumptive taxation.
5. Provide Income and Deduction Details
- Pre-filled Data: Review the auto-populated information from your Form 26AS and AIS.
- Income Details: Enter details of all income sources, including salary, interest, rental income, etc.
- Deductions: Claim deductions under relevant sections by providing accurate information and supporting documents.
6. Review and Submit
- Validation: Use the portal’s validation feature to check for errors or omissions.
- Preview: Review the entire form to ensure accuracy.
- Submit: Once satisfied, submit your ITR.
7. E-Verification
After submission, verify your return within 30 days to complete the process:
- Aadhaar OTP: Receive a one-time password on your registered mobile number linked to Aadhaar.
- Net Banking: Use your bank’s net banking facility to e-verify.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Applicable for certain taxpayers.
- Physical Verification: If unable to e-verify, send a signed copy of ITR-V to the CPC, Bengaluru.
Important Deadlines
- Filing Deadline: The due date for filing ITR for AY 2025–26 has been extended to September 15, 2025.
- E-Verification: Must be completed within 30 days of filing the return.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect ITR Form: Ensure you select the form that matches your income sources.
- Mismatched Information: Cross-verify details with Form 26AS and AIS to avoid discrepancies.
- Omitting Income Sources: Report all income, including interest from savings accounts, fixed deposits, etc.
- Incorrect Bank Details: Ensure your bank account details are accurate for refund processing.
- Missing E-Verification: Failure to e-verify within the stipulated time can render your return invalid.
For a detailed walkthrough, you can refer to the official ITR-1 Filing Guide.
If you need assistance with selecting the correct ITR form or have questions about specific deductions, feel free to ask!
