What is an Income Tax Return (ITR)? How to file an ITR online?

The Income Tax Department of India levies a tax on inidviduals' earnings according to the slab they fall under. Every citizen, whether they're an individual, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), or an association, has to pay a certain amount of tax based on their annual income. Taxpayers can claim rebates, deductions, and exemptions on taxable income and should pay tax on the rest of the amount for every financial year.

Taxpayers and applicable individuals are also required to file an income tax return (ITR) for their income before the last date as specified by the Central Government. As per Section 139 of the Income Tax Act, every person whose annual income is above ₹2,50,000 is obligated to file an income tax return.

We understand that filing an income tax return can be a challenging task, but doing so will be beneficial. You can claim certain refunds on tax deducted at the source, make visa or loan processing easier, and carry forward business losses to the subsequent year by filing an ITR. Learn what an income tax return is, why you should file an ITR, and how to file a return online and offline in this step-by-step guide, updated for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27).

Quick note before you start: This guide covers filing for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), which is governed entirely by the Income Tax Act, 1961. If you've been reading about the Income Tax Act, 2025, that's a separate, forward-looking transition; it takes effect for income earned from April 1, 2026 onward and won't apply to a return you file this year. Here's what it changes, and when.

What is an income tax return?

An income tax return, or ITR, is an official record submitted to the Income Tax Department that contains a person's annual income and the taxes paid on such income. It is filed once every financial year, which starts from the 1st of April of the current year and ends on the 31st of March of the following year.

Tax liability is calculated based on the person's total income. A person's annual income can be from various sources such as:

• Income from salary
• Income from interest on deposits
• Profit and gains from a business or profession
• Income from house property
• Income from dividend, capital gains, family pension
• One-time income (winnings from lotteries, horse race, etc.)

An ITR is a worksheet that shows a person's tax liability. If a person has paid more than what they're liable for, it will be reflected on the ITR and they can claim a refund from the Income Tax Department.

Who should file an income tax return?

As per the income tax laws, ITR filing is mandatory for individuals and businesses if they meet certain criteria.

The following individuals whose gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit must file an ITR:

Note: This table reflects the basic exemption limit used to determine whether you must file a return, not the tax you'll actually pay. Under the new tax regime (the default for FY 2025-26), the same slab structure applies to every age group, and the ₹12 lakh rebate under Section 87A can bring your final tax down to zero even if your income is well above these figures. See our full salary tax guide to compare what you'd actually owe under each regime.

There are certain scenarios where ITR filing is mandatory for individuals even if their gross total income is below the basic exemption limit. You have to file a return if:

• You have spent more than ₹2 lakh for an international trip.
• Your bank account's cash deposits and withdrawals exceed ₹10 lakh in a financial year.
• You have deposited an aggregate of ₹1 crore in your current bank accounts.
• You have spent more than ₹1 lakh in electricity bills in one financial year.
• You run a registered company or firm. (Note: You have to file a return of income irrespective of whether you have made profit or loss throughout the year.)
• You have assets or financial entities located outside India.
• You're a non-resident Indian who accrued more than ₹2.5 lakh in India in a fiscal year.

ITR filing is voluntary for individuals whose gross total income is below ₹2.5 lakh and do not meet any of the above criteria.

Why should you file an income tax return?

Here are six reasons why you should file an income tax return every year.

1. Have an official record of your income

For self-employed individuals who do not have Form 16, this can be used as a proof of income. ITR documents are also accepted as a proof of address by the government.

2. Claim a refund on TDS

Individuals who file an ITR within the stipulated time can claim a refund if the tax deducted at the source exceeds their actual tax liability. Learn more about income tax refunds, and how to claim and check an ITR refund status here.

3. Process loan, credit card, and visa application easier

When you're applying for a loan or credit card, banks usually ask for the previous three years' ITRs as proof of income. Likewise, embassy officials also ask for your ITR to approve visas. This is done by officials to assess your financial situation. Having proper returns increases your chances of getting loans and visas.

4. Carry forward business losses

If you run a business, filing your return regularly lets you carry forward losses and claim adjustments in future years. Losses that aren't recorded in a return on time can't be shown as an exemption later.

5. Avoid penalties and late filing fees

The Income Tax Department can impose a penalty of up to ₹5,000 for delayed filing or non-filing of an ITR. An additional penal interest on the unpaid tax liability will also be levied if you're filing return after the due date.

6. Contribute to nation building

Paying taxes contributes to the development of a country. By filing an ITR, you're being accountable and fulfilling your duty as a citizen.

Documents required to file an ITR

Types of ITR forms

The IT department has notified 7 different ITR forms for individuals. The following infographic will help you understand the eligibility criteria for each of the forms.

Learn more about which ITR form applies to you for FY 2025-26 in our detailed guide.

How to file an income tax return

Individuals can file returns online or offline. Before you start, one thing worth knowing: the new tax regime is the default this year. If you want to file under the old regime instead, you'll need to actively select it: salaried individuals can do this directly within the ITR itself, while those with business or professional income need to file Form 10-IEA to opt out of the new regime before the due date.

Income tax return verification

Your return isn't considered filed until it's verified. You have 30 days from filing to complete this step, or the return becomes invalid.

Here's how you can verify income tax return online and offline:

1. You can e-verify using a one-time password sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number or generate an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) through your pre-validated bank/demat account.
2. Your ITR can be verified offline by generating an EVC via select bank ATM cards or by sending a signed ITR-V (acknowledgement document) to the tax department via normal or speed post services.

How to file a revised income tax return

Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act allows individuals to rectify mistakes on their original income tax return by filing a revised return. There's no limit to the number of times you can revise a return, but the window to do so has changed this year: for AY 2026-27, the deadline for filing a revised return has been extended to 31st March, 2027, up from the earlier 31st December cutoff.

Revised return can be filed easily by logging into the income tax e-filing portal and clicking File Revised Return on the dashboard. You'll need to select the assessment year again and fill in the form suitable for you. The new return will replace your original return upon successful submission of the revised return.

Last date to file an income tax return

The due date to file returns depends on your taxpayer category. For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), the filing calendar looks like this:

Penalty for non-filing of an income tax return

According to Section 234F of the Income Tax Act, a late filing fine of ₹5,000 will be levied on individuals who do not file a return before the due date. However, for individuals with gross income less than ₹5 lakh, the maximum penalty is ₹1,000. If you miss the ITR deadline, you will also have to pay interest of 1% per month on the unpaid tax amount.

For people who have income from a business or profession, loss adjustment in the subsequent financial year will be allowed only if you have filed a return before the deadline the previous year.

FAQs on Income Tax Return filing

1. What is Form 16? How do I get Form 16?

Form 16 is a certificate issued by an employer that contains information related to the employee's salary, income tax, and other deductions made at the source. Learn more about Form 16, its format, and the steps involved in generating it from our comprehensive guide on Form 16.

2. What is an ITR acknowledgment? How can I download an ITR acknowledgment?

An ITR acknowledgement or an ITR-V is a document generated by the Income Tax Department after a successful income tax return filing and verification. Users can download an ITR acknowledgement through the Income Tax e-filing portal.

• Log in to the e-filing portal using your credentials.
• Go to E-file >> Income Tax Returns.
• Select View Filed Returns and click Download Form. Your ITR acknowledgment document will download.
   

3. How can I check my ITR status?

Log in to the Income Tax Department's online portal using your PAN or other ID number and password. The status of your recently filed ITR will be displayed on the dashboard. Here are the different ITR filing statuses and their meanings:

• Submitted and pending verification: You filed an ITR and forgot to verify it. Follow these steps to verify your returns.
• Successfully verified: You submitted and verified an ITR, but it was not processed by the taxing authorities yet.
• Processed: Your ITR submission has been processed successfully by the Income Tax Department.
• Defective: The authorities found errors in your ITR. You'll receive a notice from the department to rectify the mistakes within a specified time limit.
• Case transferred to the assessing officer: The IT department transferred your ITR submission to the jurisdictional assessing officer. You will be contacted by the respective officer to provide details regarding your earnings and taxes.
   

4. What is the time limit for revising a return?

For AY 2026-27, you can file a revised return any time up to 31st March, 2027, or before the completion of the assessment, whichever comes first. This is three months later than the earlier December 31 cutoff.
 

5. What is Form 26AS? How do I download it?

Form 26AS is a tax document that shows the tax deducted/collected at the source and the advance tax or self-assessment tax paid to the government by taxpayers. Besides deduction details, it also contains high-value transactions made by the user. You can view and download Form 26AS from the Income Tax Department website. Alongside Form 26AS, it's worth checking your Annual Information Statement (AIS) on the e-filing portal, which covers a wider range of reported financial transactions and is increasingly what your prefilled ITR draws from.

5. Will the Income Tax Act, 2025 change how I file this year?

No, your FY 2025-26 return (AY 2026-27) is filed entirely under the Income Tax Act, 1961; same forms, same section numbers, same due dates as described in this guide. The Income Tax Act, 2025 applies from Tax Year 2026-27 onward, affecting returns you'll file starting July 2027. Read our full breakdown of what changes and when.

Appendix

• Hindu Undivided Family

As per Hindu law, the IT Act treats a Hindu Undivided Family as a separate entity formed by lineally descendants of a common ancestor. It includes wives and unmarried daughters of male descendants. A HUF cannot be created under a contract. A person, their spouse, and children can create a HUF and claim certain tax benefits.

• LLP

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a corporate business vehicle formed by at least two partners. It contains elements of both a corporate structure and a partnership firm and allows flexibility in operation. The liability of each partner is limited to their shares as specified in the agreement filed during the creation of the LLP.

• Association of Person

Association of Persons (AOP) is a group of people or entities (which includes LLPs, firms, and companies) who come together to achieve a common objective. For example, a company and an individual can join and form an AOP for a mutual benefit.

• Body of Individuals (BOI)

Body of Individuals (BOI) are individuals who come together with the intention of earning income. Entities like companies and firms cannot join to form a BOI.

• Artificial juridical person

They are a public corporation established under the legislature having their own juristic principles. Universities and institutes are examples of artificial juridical person.