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

Assessment Year Select the Assessment Year for which you are filing. For income earned in FY 2025-26, the Assessment Year will be 2026-27. This is the first Assessment Year that will be governed by the Income Tax Act, 2025 (effective April 1, 2026), which restructures several provisions including Section 80C (now Section 123). Ensure you are familiar with the applicable provisions under the new Act before filing.

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 applicable deductions based on your chosen tax regime. Under the Old Tax Regime, deductions are available under Section 80C (Section 123 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026) up to ₹1,50,000, Section 80D for health insurance premiums, and Section 80TTA for savings account interest up to ₹10,000, among others. Under the New Tax Regime (the default from FY 2025-26), most Chapter VI-A deductions are not available, but the standard deduction of ₹75,000 and the Section 87A rebate for income up to ₹12,00,000 apply. The ITR form will require you to explicitly declare your chosen tax regime before computing deductions.
• 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 applicable deductions based on your chosen tax regime. Under the Old Tax Regime, deductions are available under Section 80C (Section 123 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026) up to ₹1,50,000, Section 80D for health insurance premiums, and other Chapter VI-A deductions. Under the New Tax Regime (the default from FY 2025-26), most deductions under Chapter VI-A are not available. However, the employer’s NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2) remains deductible under both regimes. Note that taxpayers opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under Section 44AD or 44ADA must declare their tax regime choice when filing ITR 4. The presumptive income limit under Section 44AD has been revised to ₹3 crore (where cash receipts do not exceed 5% of total turnover) and under Section 44ADA to ₹75 lakh (where cash receipts do not exceed 5% of gross receipts).
• 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 basic exemption limit — ₹4,00,000 under the New Tax Regime (default from FY 2025-26) or ₹2,50,000 under the Old Tax Regime for individuals below 60 years. Mandatory filing due to specific criteria such as foreign assets, capital gains, deposits exceeding ₹1 crore in a bank account, or electricity bills exceeding ₹1 lakh. Filing to claim a refund for excess TDS deducted. Other applicable reasons. Note: Even if your income falls within the Section 87A rebate limit of ₹12,00,000 under the New Tax Regime, you may still be required to file an ITR if your gross income exceeds the basic exemption limit.

Step 8: Validate Pre-filled Information

Now the system will show pre-filled that you need to carefully review: Now the system will show pre-filled information that you need to carefully review. Verify pre-filled details like PAN, Aadhaar, contact, and bank details. Confirm your chosen tax regime — Old or New. The New Tax Regime will be pre-selected as the default from FY 2025-26. If you wish to opt for the Old Tax Regime, explicitly select it at this stage and submit Form 10-IEA. Disclose income, exemptions, and deductions applicable under your chosen regime. 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

If you are filing under the Old Tax Regime, you need to declare all the tax-saving investments you have made under Section 80C (Section 123 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026) of the Income Tax Act, up to ₹1,50,000. The most common investments under Section 80C are:

• Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF)
• Public Provident Fund (PPF)
• Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS)
• Life Insurance Premiums
• National Savings Certificate (NSC)
• National Pension Scheme (NPS)
• 5-year tax-saving fixed deposits
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana contributions

If you are filing under the New Tax Regime (the default from FY 2025-26), Section 80C deductions are not available. However, keep your NPS contribution records ready, as the employer’s contribution under Section 80CCD(2) is deductible under both regimes.

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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