Getting ready for ITR e filing
While filing your ITR online, you are expected to:
- Honestly disclose full information and fulfill your compliance obligations
- Be aware of your compliance obligations under the tax law and seek the help of the Department, if needed.
- Keep accurate records.
- Know what the representative does on your behalf.
- Make submissions in a timely manner.
- Pay the due amount in a timely manner.
It is recommended that you calculate your income tax liability and refer to your Form 26AS to get a summary of your TDS payments before you start the ITR e filing process.
Documents required for e filing of income tax
- Income tax login ID and password
- PAN card
- Aadhar card
- Bank statement/bank passbook
- Form 16
- Form 26AS
- Salary slips
- Statement related to home loan
- Tax-saving proofs
- Capital gains proof
Income tax e filing: Step-wise process
When you start e filing your income tax, remember to keep clicking the ‘Save Draft’ button from time to time, to ensure that the entered ITR details are saved. The draft that is saved will be available for 30 days from the date on which it was saved or till the date of filing the IT return or until there is no further change in the XML schema of the notified ITR (whichever is earlier).
Step 1: Go to https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ which is the income tax e-filing portal.
Step 2: New users can register themselves by clicking on the ‘Register’ button. Once registered, log in to the e-Filing portal by entering your user ID (PAN), password, and Captcha code and click on the ‘Login’ option.
Step 3: Click on the menu ‘e-File’ and then on ‘Income Tax Return’.
Step 4: Your PAN will be auto-populated on the income tax return page. Select the assessment year, ITR form number, filing type, and submission mode and click on ‘Continue’.
Step 5: Read all the instructions carefully and fill all the applicable and mandatory fields of the online ITR form.
Step 6: Choose the appropriate verification option in the ‘Taxes Paid and Verification’ tab.
Step 7: Choose any one of the following options to verify the income tax return:
- I would like to e-verify.
- I would like to e-verify later within 120 days from the date of filing.
- I do not want to e-verify and would like to send the signed ITR-V through normal or speed post to Centralized Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru – 560500 within 120 days from the date of filing.
On choosing option 1, e-verification can be done through any of the following methods by entering the EVC/OTP:
- EVC generated through bank ATM
- Generate the EVC option under My Account
- Aadhaar OTP
- Pre-validated bank account
- Pre-validated Demat account
Note that the EVC/OTP should be entered within 60 seconds, or else the income tax return will be automatically submitted. The submitted ITR should be verified later by using the ‘My Account > e-Verify Return’ option or by sending a signed ITR-V to CPC.
On choosing options 2 or 3, the ITR will be submitted but the process of filing the ITRs will not be complete till it is verified. The submitted ITR must be e-verified later by using the ‘My Account > e-Verify Return’ option or by sending the signed ITR-V to CPC, Bengaluru.
Step 8: Click on ‘Preview and Submit’ and then verify the data entered in the ITR form.
Step 9: Press the ‘Submit’ button.
Step 10: To view the uploaded ITR, go to the e-filing portal.
E filing helpdesk number
In case of any queries or issues with e filing of income tax, you can call 1800 180 1961.
Who is required to file ITR?
The following individual taxpayers in India do not have to file ITR:
| Taxpayer age bracket | Annual income |
| Individuals below 60 years | Rs 2.50 lakhs |
| Individuals above 60 but below 80 years | Rs 3 lakhs |
| Individuals above 80 years | Rs 5 lakhs |
Those earning more than this amount annually have to file ITR.
Income tax e filing: Is it mandatory?
E filing of taxes is not mandatory but optional in certain cases. In other cases, one has the option to file income tax returns only electronically. Your return of income has to be furnished in the manner specified by the I-T Department.
| Taxpayer type | Conditions | Manner of income tax filing |
| Individual or Hindu undivided family | 1. Accounts are required to be audited under section 44AB of the I-T Act. | 1. Electronically under digital signature |
| 2. A super senior citizen (whose age is 80 years or more) at any time during the previous year, who furnishes either ITR-1 or ITR-4. | 2. Electronically with a digital signature or by transmitting the data electronically in the ITR under electronic verification code or by submitting the data in the return electronically and submitting the verification of the return in Form ITR-V or paper form. | |
| 3. In any other case | 3. Electronically with a digital signature or by transmitting the data electronically in the return under electronic verification code or by transmitting the data in the ITR electronically and submitting the verification of the return in Form ITR-V. | |
| Company | In all cases | Electronically |
| Firm or limited liability partnership (LLP) or any person (other than a person mentioned above) who is required to file a return in Form ITR-5 | 1. Accounts are required to be audited under Section 44AB. | 1. Electronically |
| 2. In any other case | 2. Electronically with a digital signature or by transmitting the data in the return electronically under electronic verification code or by transmitting the data in the ITR electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the tax return in Form ITR-V. |
Precautions while filing the return of income
1. File the income tax on or before the due date. Listed below are the consequences of delay in filing the return:
- Losses cannot be carried forward.
- Levy of interest under Section 234A.
- Late filing fees under Section 234F. (A late filing fee of Rs 5,000 will be payable if the return is furnished after the due date. Late filing fees will be Rs 1,000 if the total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakhs.)
- Exemptions under Section 10A and Section 10B are not available.
- Deductions under 80-IA, 80-IAB, 80-IB, 80-IC, 80-ID, and 80-IE will not be available.
- Deductions under 80IAC, 80IBA, 80JJA, 80JJAA, 80LA, 80P, 80PA, 80QQB, and 80RRB will not be available.
See also: All you need to know about ITR filing last date
2. Check Form 26AS to confirm actual TDS. Get any discrepancies corrected.
3. Read all your documents carefully, like bank statement/passbook, interest certificate, investment proofs, etc., before filing the return of income.
4. Ensure that other details like PAN, address, e-mail address, bank account details, etc., are correct.
5. No documents need to be attached with the return of income.
6. Identify the correct return form applicable in your case.
7. In case the IT return is filed electronically without a digital signature and without an electronic verification code, ensure that you post the acknowledgment of filing the return of income to the CPC Bangalore, within 120 days of filing the return of income.
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