Before You Start Your ITR
- Keep your PAN and Aadhaar details ready.
- Check Form 16 if you are salaried.
- Review Form 26AS and AIS for reported income and TDS.
- Keep bank interest, capital gains, rent and other income details ready.
- Choose the ITR form that matches your sources of income.
Choose the Correct ITR Form
For AY 2026-27, ITR-1 is available to eligible resident individuals with total income up to ₹50 lakh and qualifying income sources. ITR-2 covers individuals/HUFs without business or professional income who have income such as capital gains or more than two house properties. Other taxpayers may need ITR-3 or ITR-4 depending on their circumstances.
| Return | Common use |
|---|---|
| ITR-1 | Eligible resident individuals with salary/pension, qualifying house property and other sources, subject to conditions. |
| ITR-2 | Individuals/HUFs without business/professional income, including many capital-gains cases. |
| ITR-3 | Individuals/HUFs with business or professional income. |
| ITR-4 | Eligible taxpayers using specified presumptive taxation provisions, subject to conditions. |
Online Filing Process
- Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
- Select the relevant assessment year and return type.
- Review pre-filled information.
- Enter or correct income, deductions and tax details.
- Preview and validate the return.
- Submit and complete e-verification.
After Filing
Save the acknowledgement and monitor your return status. If a refund is due, ensure your bank account details are correct and validated where required.
ITR Filing Checklist Before You Start
Filing an income-tax return becomes much easier when your information is ready before you open the filing form. Start with your PAN, Aadhaar and e-filing login details. Then collect salary documents, bank interest information, investment proofs, capital-gain statements and tax-credit records.
How to Choose the Correct ITR Form
Do not choose an ITR only because you are salaried. Your sources of income, residential status, assets and business or professional income can change the applicable form. ITR-1 is intended for eligible individuals with specified income types, while ITR-2 covers a wider range of non-business situations. Individuals with business or professional income may need another form such as ITR-3, depending on the facts.
Reconcile AIS, TIS and Form 26AS Before Filing
One of the most useful checks before filing is comparing the information in your return with the tax and financial information available to the department. Look for salary, interest, dividends, securities transactions, TDS/TCS and other reported items. A mismatch does not always mean the department is wrong; it can reflect timing, duplicate reporting or a transaction that needs explanation.
Choosing the Tax Regime While Filing
For eligible non-business taxpayers, the new regime is the default for AY 2026-27, while the old regime remains an option under the applicable rules. Compare the final tax after considering eligible deductions and exemptions rather than choosing solely from your salary level.
Filing the ITR Is Not the Final Step
After submitting the return, complete e-verification within the applicable time. A return that is filed but not properly verified may not be treated as a completed return in the same way as a successfully verified return. Keep the acknowledgement and verification confirmation for your records.
What Happens After ITR Filing?
- Return is submitted and verified.
- The department processes the return.
- Tax credits and reported information are considered.
- A refund may be issued if excess tax was paid.
- If a discrepancy or further action arises, the taxpayer may receive a communication through the applicable channel.
Common ITR Filing Mistakes
- Choosing the wrong ITR form
- Forgetting bank interest or dividend income
- Ignoring capital gains
- Claiming deductions without checking eligibility
- Not reconciling TDS with Form 26AS/AIS
- Entering the wrong bank account for refund
- Submitting the return without completing e-verification
ITR Filing FAQs
Before You Press Submit
Read the return from start to finish. Check that salary, interest, dividends, rent, capital gains and other income have been considered. Compare TDS with Form 16, Form 26AS and AIS. Confirm bank details and make sure the selected tax regime matches your planning.
Common ITR Filing Mistakes
- Choosing ITR-1 when capital gains or foreign assets require another form.
- Reporting only salary while ignoring bank interest or other income.
- Claiming deductions without meeting the underlying conditions.
- Ignoring AIS/26AS mismatches.
- Submitting the return but forgetting verification.
- Using the wrong assessment year.
Keep Records After Filing
Save the acknowledgement, computation, Form 16, tax statements and supporting evidence. A clean record makes future notices, loan applications and tax queries easier to handle.