Income Tax Return (ITR), Deadline extended for FY 2025-26.

When filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), several factors should be carefully considered to ensure accuracy and maximize benefits. First, selecting the correct ITR form is crucial based on your income type—salaried individuals, business owners, and professionals must use the appropriate form, such as ITR-1, ITR-2, or ITR-4.

Next, all income sources must be reported, including salary, rental income, interest earnings, dividends, and capital gains, ensuring they align with Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) to avoid discrepancies. Verifying TDS deductions and ensuring any advance tax payments are made on time helps prevent interest penalties.

Tax deductions and exemptions under Section 80C (investments), 80D (health insurance), and HRA/home loan benefits should be correctly claimed to minimize tax liability. It’s also important to compare the old and new tax regimes to determine which provides the best benefits based on your financial situation.

How to Filing Income Tax Return online for FY 2025-26

Online Filing (E-Filing)

Visit the Portal
- Go to the official Income Tax e-filing website: incometax.gov.in.
Login/Register
- Use your PAN as the User ID.
- If new, register with PAN, Aadhaar, and contact details.
Select ‘File Income Tax Return’
- Choose Assessment Year (AY 2025-26).
- Select Filing Mode: Online (recommended) or Offline (XML upload).
Choose the Correct ITR Form
- ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salaried individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh.
- ITR-4 (Sugam): Businesses under presumptive taxation.
Pre-fill & Validate Details
- Auto-filled data from Form 26AS & AIS can be reviewed.
- Verify income, deductions, and tax credits.
Complete Filing & Submit
- Verify using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, DSC, or bank account EVC.
- Submit the return.

Offline Filing (Excel Utility)

Download Utility
- Visit Income Tax Portal → Downloads → Select AY 2025-26.
- Download Excel utility for ITR-1 or ITR-4.
Enable Macros & Fill Details
- Open Excel, enable macros, and enter details.
- Refer to Form 16, 26AS, AIS for accuracy.
Validate & Generate JSON
- Click ‘Validate’ to check for errors.
- Generate JSON file after validation.
Upload JSON & Submit
- Login to Income Tax Portal → Upload JSON.
- Verify using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, DSC, or EVC.