Complete guide to filing your Income Tax Return for FY 2025-26: ITR form selector, key deadlines, document checklist, step-by-step online process, e-verification methods, and common mistakes that trigger notices.
ITR Quick Reference — Dates & Penalties
Which ITR Form to Use?
Documents Required
Form 26AS & AIS — Reconcile First
Step-by-Step Online Filing
e-Verification Methods
Belated, Revised & Defective Returns
Common Mistakes & Consequences
FAQs on ITR Filing
Identity & Banking (All Filers)
These are mandatory for every ITR regardless of income source.
PAN card — your login ID on the e-filing portal
Aadhaar number — mandatory to link with PAN; used for e-verification via OTP
Bank account details — account number and IFSC of all accounts held during FY 2025-26 (one must be nominated for refund)
Mobile number linked to Aadhaar — required for OTP-based e-verification
Salaried Employees
Form 16 is the primary document. Reconcile it with Form 26AS before filing.
Form 16 (Part A + Part B) from your employer — TDS certificate with salary breakdown
Salary slips for the full year — use if Form 16 is delayed or employment changed mid-year
Form 12BA — perquisites statement (if employer provides car, accommodation, etc.)
Form 16 from previous employer if you changed jobs during FY 2025-26
Deductions & Investments
Gather proofs for every deduction you plan to claim.
80C investments: PPF passbook, ELSS statements, NSC certificates, LIC premium receipts, tuition fee receipts
80D health insurance: premium receipts (₹25,000 self/family; ₹50,000 if senior citizen parent)
80G donations: receipt with 80G registration number of NGO
Home loan: interest certificate from bank (Section 24B), principal repayment certificate (Section 80C)
HRA: rent receipts + landlord PAN (if annual rent > ₹1 lakh)
NPS: 80CCD(1B) contribution receipt for extra ₹50,000 deduction
Capital Gains
Required for ITR-2; capital gains of any amount must be reported.
Equity/mutual fund: capital gains statement from broker or AMC (available on Zerodha, Groww, CAMS, KFintech)
Property sale: sale deed, purchase deed, cost of improvement records, stamp duty value
Bonds/NCDs/gold: purchase and sale records with dates
ESOP: exercise and sale records; employer typically provides a statement
Other Income Sources
Do not miss any source — mismatch with AIS triggers scrutiny.
Bank interest: Form 16A from bank or interest certificate (savings account, FD, RD)
Rental income: rent agreement + receipts; municipal tax paid certificate
Freelance/consultancy: invoices raised, TDS Form 16A from clients
Dividends: annual statement from Zerodha/Groww or broker; dividend is now fully taxable
What Is Form 26AS?
Form 26AS is your tax credit statement — it shows all TDS deducted by employers, banks, and others, plus advance tax and self-assessment tax paid. Access it at incometax.gov.in → e-file → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS.
Part A: TDS on salary (from employer), interest, rent, professional fees
Part B: TDS on sale of immovable property (buyer deducts 1% TDS)
Part C: Self-assessment and advance tax payments with Challan numbers
Part D: Refund information from previous AYs
What Is AIS (Annual Information Statement)?
AIS (incometax.gov.in → Services → AIS) is a comprehensive statement of all financial transactions reported by third parties — more detailed than Form 26AS.
Salary, dividends, interest, rent, capital gains from stocks/MFs/property
High-value transactions: bank deposits > ₹10L, credit card payments > ₹1L/₹10L, property registrations
Foreign remittances via LRS
GST turnover data for business filers
How to Reconcile — Step by Step
Mismatches between your ITR and AIS are the most common trigger for income tax notices. Reconcile before filing.
Download Form 26AS (PDF) and AIS (JSON/PDF) from the e-filing portal
Compare each TDS entry in Form 26AS with your Form 16 / Form 16A — report credit only if it appears in 26AS
Check AIS for income sources you may have missed: dividends, high-value FD interest, property sale proceeds
If AIS shows incorrect data, use the "Feedback" option in AIS to mark it as incorrect — the IT Department will reconcile with the reporter (bank/broker)
Do not reduce income to avoid mismatch — it leads to scrutiny; instead raise feedback on wrong AIS entries
Step 1 — Log in to the e-Filing Portal
Visit incometax.gov.in and log in with PAN as user ID. First-time users must register.
PAN is your user ID; set a strong password on first registration
Link Aadhaar if not already done: Profile → My Profile → Link Aadhaar
Ensure the mobile number registered on the portal is active — OTPs go here
Step 2 — Navigate to File ITR
Go to e-file → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return → AY 2026-27 → Online mode.
Select Assessment Year 2026-27 (for FY 2025-26)
Select filing mode "Online" — JSON upload (offline) is for complex cases or ITR-3/5/6/7
Select "Individual" as your status unless you are filing for an HUF
Step 3 — Select the Correct ITR Form
The portal suggests a form based on your profile, but verify manually using the form-selector table above.
If ITR-1 is suggested but you have capital gains, switch to ITR-2
Reason for filing: choose "Taxable income exceeds basic exemption limit" (most common), "To claim refund", or applicable mandatory condition
Step 4 — Verify Pre-filled Data
The portal pre-fills data from Form 26AS, AIS, and employer TDS filings. Verify each section carefully.
Personal information: name, PAN, date of birth, address, residential status
Gross salary: cross-check with Form 16 Part B breakdown (basic, HRA, allowances, perquisites)
TDS credits: ensure all TDS entries from Form 26AS are reflected; add missing entries manually
Bank accounts: add all accounts; mark primary account for refund
Step 5 — Enter Income & Deductions
Fill in all income sources and claim eligible deductions under Chapter VI-A.
Schedule S (Salary): if pre-filled from Form 16, verify and edit as needed
Schedule OS (Other Sources): savings account interest, FD interest, dividends, family pension
Schedule HP (House Property): add rental income or claim Section 24B interest on self-occupied property
Schedule CG (Capital Gains): equity STCG/LTCG, property, gold — import from capital gains statement
Chapter VI-A deductions: enter 80C, 80D, 80G, 80TTA (₹10,000 savings interest), 80E (education loan) amounts with supporting details
Step 6 — Choose Tax Regime
You must explicitly choose old or new regime at filing. New regime is the default for FY 2025-26.
New regime (default): lower slab rates but no 80C/80D/HRA deductions; only 80CCD(2) employer NPS and standard deduction of ₹75,000 allowed
Old regime: higher slab rates but all deductions (80C ₹1.5L, HRA, 80D, etc.) available; must opt-in explicitly
Salaried without business income: can switch regime every year at filing time
Business/professional income: once old regime chosen, cannot switch back without discontinuing business
Step 7 — Compute Tax and Pay Balance
The portal calculates tax liability automatically. Pay any balance before submitting.
If tax payable > ₹0, pay self-assessment tax via Challan 280 (e-Pay Tax → Income Tax → Self-Assessment)
Copy the BSR code and challan serial number; enter in Schedule IT of the ITR
Section 234B applies if advance tax shortfall > 10% of total tax — interest is auto-calculated
If refund due, verify pre-validated bank account — refunds are issued within 20–45 days of processing
Step 8 — Preview, Submit and e-Verify
Final review before submission. e-Verify within 30 days to complete the filing.
Use Preview to check your full return; download draft ITR-1/2 PDF for records
Submit the return — you receive an ITR acknowledgement number immediately
e-Verify within 30 days (see e-Verification section below); ITR is invalid if not verified
Download ITR-V (acknowledgement PDF) and keep for 6 years
Belated Return (Section 139(4))
A return filed after July 31, 2026 but by December 31, 2026 is a belated return.
Section 234F penalty: ₹5,000 if income > ₹5 lakh; ₹1,000 if income ≤ ₹5 lakh
Cannot carry forward capital losses or business losses (house property loss can still be carried forward)
Section 234A interest applies on unpaid tax at 1% per month from August 1, 2026
You can still claim refunds in a belated return
Revised Return (Section 139(5))
If you discover a mistake in an already-filed (original or belated) return, file a revised return. Deadline: December 31, 2026.
No limit on number of revisions before the deadline
A revised return replaces the original — the original ITR acknowledgement number becomes void
Common reasons: forgot to report bank interest, wrong ITR form, missed deduction claim, incorrect bank details for refund
Revising to report additional income is always better than waiting for a notice — reduced penalty exposure
Updated Return (Section 139(8A) / ITR-U)
If both original and belated return deadlines (December 31, 2026) have passed, you can still file an ITR-U (Updated Return) within 2 years from the end of the assessment year (March 31, 2029 for AY 2026-27).
Available only to report income that was missed or understated — cannot reduce income or tax liability
Additional tax: 25% of tax + interest if filed within 12 months of AY end; 50% if filed in 13–24 months
Cannot be filed if an assessment or reassessment is pending, or if a search/survey has been conducted
Defective Return (Section 139(9))
The IT Department can declare a return defective for incomplete information and issue a notice giving you 15 days to rectify.
Common defects: schedule not filled, balance sheet missing for business, gross receipts not matching AIS
You must respond within 15 days of the notice; if not, the return is treated as invalid
Respond online: e-file → Compliance → Response to Outstanding Demands / Defective Return Notices
What is the last date to file ITR for FY 2025-26?
The deadline for filing ITR for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) without penalty is July 31, 2026. A belated return can be filed with penalty (₹5,000 or ₹1,000 under Section 234F) up to December 31, 2026. If you miss even this, an updated return (ITR-U) can be filed up to March 31, 2029, with additional tax of 25%–50%.
Which ITR form should a salaried employee with ELSS redemption use?
ITR-2. ELSS redemption generates capital gains (LTCG under Section 112A). Any capital gains — even small amounts — disqualify you from ITR-1. ITR-2 handles salary income plus capital gains from equity mutual funds. The LTCG amount goes in Schedule 112A.
Is it mandatory to file ITR if income is below ₹7 lakh under the new regime?
Not automatically — it depends on the basic exemption limit (₹3 lakh under new regime, ₹2.5 lakh under old). However, filing is mandatory if you have foreign assets, deposited ₹1 crore or more in bank accounts, spent ₹2 lakh or more on foreign travel, or paid electricity bills exceeding ₹1 lakh during the year, regardless of income level. Filing even when not mandatory preserves your tax credit record and is needed to carry forward capital losses.
Can I switch between old and new tax regime while filing?
Salaried individuals can switch every year at the time of filing — you are not locked in by your employer's TDS deduction. If your employer deducted TDS under the old regime but you want the new regime at filing time, simply select new regime in the ITR — the tax computation adjusts and either a refund or additional tax due is calculated accordingly. However, if you have business/professional income, once you have opted out of the new regime, you cannot switch back (except in the year you permanently discontinue business).
What if my Form 16 gross salary is different from my actual salary?
Form 16 is the authoritative document — your ITR salary must match Form 16. Differences arise if: you changed jobs (combine Form 16 from both employers), you received taxable perquisites (car, accommodation, ESOP — shown in Form 12BA), or HRA exemption was calculated differently. Always cross-check Form 16 Part B's 'Gross Salary' figure with Schedule S in the ITR.
I forgot to e-verify my ITR. What should I do?
If 30 days have passed without e-verification, your ITR is treated as not filed. You have two options: (1) File a condonation request on the e-filing portal (Services → Condonation Request) explaining the genuine reason for delay — if approved, you can e-verify the old ITR; (2) File a fresh ITR — if after July 31, it will be a belated return with Section 234F penalty. The IT Department has recently started processing such condonation requests more quickly.
How do I report capital gains from property sale in ITR?
Use ITR-2, Schedule CG. Short-term gains (held < 2 years) are taxed at slab rates. Long-term gains (held ≥ 2 years after Budget 2024) are taxed at 12.5% without indexation, or you can choose 20% with indexation for property sold between July 23, 2024 and March 31, 2025 under the grandfathering clause. Report sale consideration, full value of consideration (stamp duty value if higher), cost of acquisition, cost of improvement, and Section 54/54EC exemption if claimed. Attach the sale deed details.
What happens if I receive an ITR notice after filing?
Most initial notices are Intimation u/s 143(1) — a routine processing result showing refund or demand. If it shows a demand, check whether it is due to AIS mismatch or an incorrect computation. You can accept or disagree online. If you receive a scrutiny notice u/s 143(2), respond through the e-filing portal within the given timeframe. Do not ignore notices — the response window is typically 30 days and non-response leads to ex-parte assessment.
Can I file ITR for previous years now?
For FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26): yes, belated return was due December 31, 2025; if missed, file an ITR-U (Updated Return) by March 31, 2028 with 25%–50% additional tax. For FY 2023-24 and earlier: ITR-U is available up to 2 years from end of AY. You cannot file regular ITR for years beyond the belated deadline — only ITR-U. Check the portal for which AYs are currently active.
Does filing ITR affect credit score or loan eligibility?
Yes — ITR is the most accepted income proof by banks and NBFCs. Most lenders require 2–3 years of ITR for home loans, business loans, and high-value personal loans. It is also required for H1B and Schengen visa applications. A consistent filing record (even if refund-only) demonstrates financial stability. The IT Department also uses ITR data for government scheme eligibility verification.