How to File ITR Online?

How to File ITR Online?

In case you are questioning yourself on “how to file the income tax return online”, here is how you can go about online ITR filing using the Income Tax online portal run by the government. This is an easy process as it is paperless, it is free of cost, and it does not take very long, provided you have your documents ready when you file. Below are steps that can help one have an easier filing process:

Step 1: Go to the Income Tax E-Filing Website

Check out https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/, which is the official hub of all the information you need in regards to tax in India. Check that you are at the right place and not visiting a fake website. Specifically, you should check whether the URL has the “.gov.in” in it.

Step 2: Register/Login

• Visit the official e-filing website for Income Tax and click on ‘Register’ if you are a first-time user, and follow the instructions to set up your account.
• You will need your PAN number, name, and date of birth for this.
• If you are already registered, just click on ‘Login’ and enter your PAN details as the User ID and click ‘Continue’.
• Tick the security message box, enter your password, captcha, and proceed.

Step 3: Go to ‘File Income Tax Return’

Click on the ‘e-File’ tab, then select ‘Income Tax Returns’, and then click on ‘File Income Tax Return’.

Step 4: Enter the Required Details

You need to then enter the following information:

Assessment Year

Select the Assessment Year for which you are filing. For income earned in 2025-26, the assessment year will be 2026-27.

ITR Form Number

Choose the appropriate ITR form. Most salaried people go with ITR 1 or ITR 4.

Filing Type

Choose ‘Original’ if you are filing it for the first time. If you are correcting a previously filed return, choose ‘Revised’.

Submission Mode

Select ‘Online’ as the mode of filing unless you are a CA or a professional who wants to upload JSON files.

Step 5: Select the Status

At this step, you will be asked to choose your filing status. You will see three main options:

• Individual: This is for regular people like you and me. Whether you are salaried, self-employed, a student, or even a senior citizen, if you’re filing for yourself, this is the right choice.
• HUF (Hindu Undivided Family): This is for a family that wants to file taxes together as one unit. It applies to families with a common ancestor, usually led by the eldest male member, and includes spouses and unmarried daughters. HUFs need their own PAN and file separately from individual members.
• Firm/LLP: This is for partnerships or businesses that are registered under the Indian Partnership Act or the LLP Act. These are legal entities separate from the people running them.

Step 6: Select ITR Type

Determine the correct ITR form based on your income type.

If you select ITR 1

Go with ITR 1 (Sahaj) if:

• You are a salaried employee
• Your total income is below ₹50 lakhs
• You earn income from only one house property
• You do not have income from business, capital gains, or lottery

In ITR 1, you will be filling 5 key sections:

• Personal Details: Name, PAN, Aadhaar, contact, and bank info
• Gross Total Income: Salary, house property, or interest (such as savings) income
• Total Deductions: Claim allowing special deductions under different sections such as 80C, 80D, 80TTA, and others.
• Tax Paid: All the information about previously paid taxes (TDS, Advance Tax, Self-Assessment)
• Total Tax Liability: This is your total liability or refund that you will get

If you select ITR 4

Choose ITR 4 (Sugam) if:

• You earn income from a business or profession (freelancers, consultants)
• Your income is below ₹50 lakhs
• You opt for the presumptive taxation scheme

ITR 4 includes these main sections:

• Personal Information: Basic personal and bank details
• Gross Total Income: Income of business/profession or income belonging to one house property or interest
• Disclosures: Other financial information such as assets, liabilities etc.
• Total Deductions: Claim of deduction under (amongst others) section 80C and 80D, etc.
• Taxes Paid: Details of the taxes paid under TDS, Advance Tax and so on.
• Total Tax Liability: Final tax amount due or refund calculation

Step 7: Choose the Reason for Filing ITR

Select the reason applicable to you:

• Taxable income exceeds the exemption limit
• Mandatory filing due to specific criteria
• Other applicable reasons

Step 8: Validate Pre-filled Information

Now the system will show pre-filled that you need to carefully review.

• Verify pre-filled details like PAN, Aadhaar, contact, and bank details.
• Disclose income, exemptions, and deductions.
• Review and confirm the return summary before making any pending tax payments.

Step 9: E-Verify ITR

Once everything looks good, submit your ITR and e-verify it. This step is super important since without e-verification, your ITR will not be processed.

Here are 3 ways to e-verify:

• Through OTP on Aadhaar-linked mobile
• Using net banking
• With a bank account-based EVC

Which Documents are Needed to File the ITR?

Before knowing how to fill income tax return online, it is important to gather all the necessary documents that will be needed to make the process easier. Here is a list of documents that will be needed for how to file tax return online:

Form 16

In case, you are a salaried tax payer, Form 16 is a TDS certificate given to an employee by his/her employer which contains salary earned by the employee and TDS that has been deducted on that salary. This form is divided into two; Part A and Part B. The former contains information of tax deducted by your employer, your PAN number and your employer TAN number.

Interest Certificates from Banks and Post Offices

This certificate can be procured from banks or the post office to specify interest income, such as savings accounts, fixed deposits, etc. Apart from this, you will also need to have the details of all the accounts you have held in the given financial year.

Tax-Saving Investment Proofs

You need to reveal all the tax-saving investments you have made and the expenditures you have incurred under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The most common exemptions under Section 80C are:

• Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF)
• Public Provident Fund (PPF)
• Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS)
• Life Insurance Premiums
• National Pension Scheme (NPS), etc.

Apart from these, you will also need the following:

• Form 26AS: Consolidated annual TDS statement that has the taxes that have been deducted at source and deposited under your PAN in any given year.
• Personal Identification: Basic information such as your PAN, Aadhaar, permanent address, etc.

Way Forward

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is an important part of taking charge of your financial life. It helps you report your income, claim deductions, and even get refunds if you have paid extra taxes. It also builds your financial credibility, which can be helpful when applying for loans or visas.

By understanding how to file ITR online, you are not only avoiding penalties but also staying on top of your personal finances. And the best part is that due to ITR filing online, the process has become much more convenient than it used to be.

So, don’t wait until the last minute. File your ITR on time, stay compliant, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your finances are in order.

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