E-Filing - File Income Tax Returns (ITR) Online in India 2026

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2026-07-29

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15 minutes read

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An Income Tax Return simply involves a form that you utilise to enter information about your yearly earnings and other details, and submit it to the Income Tax Department. This includes income from salary, business, property, dividends, capital gains, and interest received, among others. Each taxpayer has to pay tax based on their yearly income. If you have paid tax in excess during a year, the money is refunded to you by the Income Tax Department.

Key Takeaways

Income tax e-filing allows taxpayers to submit returns conveniently through the official online portal
Keeping documents such as PAN, Aadhaar, Form 130, and AIS ready helps ensure smooth ITR filing
Every filed return must be e-verified within the prescribed timeline to be considered valid
Filing an ITR can help claim refunds, carry forward losses, and establish proof of income
Taxpayers can choose between online and offline methods based on their eligibility and preference

Is Filing ITR Compulsory for all Indians?

No, filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is not compulsory for every individual in India. The requirement to file an ITR depends on factors such as your age, residential status, total income, and whether you meet any of the conditions prescribed under the Income-tax Act.

For example, individuals whose income is below the applicable basic exemption limit may not be required to file an ITR. Similarly, certain resident senior citizens aged 75 years or above may be exempt from filing returns if they satisfy the conditions specified under Section 194P.

However, even if filing is not mandatory, submitting an ITR can be beneficial. It serves as proof of income, helps claim tax refunds, supports visa and loan applications, and allows eligible taxpayers to carry forward certain losses to future years.

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Who Is Not Required to File ITR?

As per the Old Tax Regime, these are the exceptions:

Individuals below 60 years of age with a gross total income of less than ₹2.5 lakh (before claiming any deductions) are not required to file an ITR.
Resident senior citizens (aged 60 to 80 years) with a gross total income below ₹3 lakh are exempt.
Super senior citizens (aged 80 and above) with an income below ₹5 lakh are also exempt.
Senior citizens aged 75 years or above, having only pension income and interest income from the same bank, are exempt from filing ITR if the bank deducts TDS under Section 194P.

As per the New Tax Regime, these are the exceptions:

Individuals with total income (before deductions) below ₹3 lakhs are exempt from tax and hence, not required to file ITR.
Even if your final tax liability is zero due to the Section 87A rebate (which clears taxes for taxable incomes up to ₹12 lakh under the new regime and up to ₹5 lakh under the old regime), filing an ITR remains legally mandatory if your gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹4,00,000 under the new regime / ₹2,50,000 under the old regime). However, even if your income falls below those basic limits, filing a zero-tax return is highly recommended if you want to:
- Claim a refund
- Carry forward losses
- Use ITR as proof of income

Note: Even under the new regime, senior citizens do not have any additional exemption thresholds. The same income limits apply as for non-senior citizens.

The due date for filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) for the Financial Year 2025–26 (Assessment Year 2026–27) is 31st July 2026 (Tentative), for individual taxpayers not subject to audit. India’s Income Tax Department has streamlined the online filing process through its e-Filing portal www.incometax.gov.in. The portal is user-friendly and offers guided filing options to make return submission easier, even for first-time users.

You can file your ITR either online through the Income Tax e-Filing portal or offline using the applicable ITR forms, depending on your eligibility and filing requirements. Read along to know the step-by-step process for both methods.

Did You Know?

Over 7.28 crore Income Tax Returns were filed in AY 2024–25, reflecting India's growing adoption of digital tax filing

Source: PIB

How to File Income Tax Returns Offline?

The Income Tax Department provides a Common Offline Utility (COU) for taxpayers who prefer preparing their Income Tax Returns offline. This method is especially useful for those filing detailed or complex returns or who simply prefer to work without a continuous internet connection. Here are the steps involved in the offline ITR filing process:

Step 1: Download the Offline Utility
1. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal
2. Go to Downloads - IT Return Preparation Software
3. Download the appropriate utility based on your ITR form and system requirements
Step 2: Set Up the Utility
1. Extract the ZIP file
2. Launch the utility from the extracted folder (commonly in .exe or .jar format)
Step 3: Fill in Your Details
1. Complete all mandatory and applicable fields in the utility
2. Use the “Validate” button to check each section
3. Click “Calculate Tax” to compute your tax liability or refund
Step 4: Generate JSON File
1. After completing the form, click “Preview” to review your entries
2. Then click “Generate JSON” to save your return file in the required format.
Step 5: Upload the JSON File
1. Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
2. Go to e-File> Income Tax Return> - Income Tax Return - Upload JSON
3. Select the correct assessment year and ITR form, then upload the .json file
Step 6: e-Verify Your Return

Choose one of the following e-verification methods:
1. Aadhaar OTP
2. EVC via Pre-validated Bank Account
3. EVC via Pre-validated Demat Account
4. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), mandatory for certain categories, like companies
Step 7: View Your Filed Return

Once submitted, you can track your return under: e-File - Income Tax Returns - View Filed Returns.

Note: You can also download pre-filled XML after logging in to the e-Filing portal. You can access this from 'My Account > Download Pre-Filled XML'. Now, you can import the XML file into the utility to prefill the personal and other details.

Documents Required To File ITR

It is very important to have all the required documents ready when filing your income tax return.

Here are the key documents that you will need while online return filing:

Bank and post office savings account passbook
PPF account passbook
Salary slips
Aadhaar Card
PAN card
Interest certificates from the banks and the post office
Form-130: TDS certificate, which your employer issues to you to provide details of your salary paid to you and TDS deducted on the same:
1. Form-131: This is required if TDS is deducted from payments other than salaries, e.g., interest received from FD or RD.
2. Form-132: This is required if you have sold a house property and shows the TDS deducted from the amount paid to you by the buyer.
3. Form-133: This is required from your tenant to provide details of TDS deducted on the house rent he has paid to you.
Form 168: This is the consolidated income tax statement. It mentions details about all the taxes deposited against your PAN:
1. TDS deducted by your employer
2. TDS deducted by banks
3. TDS deducted by any other organisation from payments made to you
4. Advance taxes deposited by you
5. Self-assessment taxes paid by you
Tax-saving investment proofs
Proofs for claiming tax deductions u/s 126 (previously known as Section 80D) to 154 (previously known as Section 80U) (i.e. on health insurance premium for self and family and interest on education loan)
Home loan statement from your bank.
Annual Information Statement (AIS): Summarises your income, investments, and TDS in one place. Downloadable from the income tax portal.
Capital Gains Statement: Required if you’ve traded in stocks, mutual funds, or property. Usually available from your broker or AMC.
Form 39: Mandatory if you’re claiming relief under Section 157 (previously known as Section 89(1)) for salary arrears or advance.
Rent Receipts: If claiming HRA (under the old regime).
Foreign Income Details: If you're a resident and earned income abroad (for disclosure purposes).
Donation Receipts: If you’re claiming a deduction under Section 133 (previously known as Section 80G).

Note: Always cross-verify all TDS entries from Form 168 and AIS to ensure no income is missed in reporting.

Benefits of ITR Filing Online

Although you can file your income tax returns in offline mode as well, there are some benefits of ITR filing online. Here are the benefits of ITR filing online:

Claiming a Tax Refund: If you have paid excess tax through TDS or advance tax, filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is mandatory to claim a refund, whether under the old or new tax regime. Most taxpayers are required to file ITRs online, which is the fastest and most efficient way to receive refunds directly into their bank accounts.
Proof of Income: If you are a businessperson or self-employed, online income tax return filing will serve as your Proof of Income, since Form-16 is available only for salaried taxpayers.
Processing of Loans: If you apply for a home loan or vehicle loan or any other loan, the banks demand copies of the latest income tax returns filed to judge your sources of income.
Claiming Losses: Online income tax return filing is mandatory if you wish to claim certain losses for an individual taxpayer, such as losses from capital gains, business, or profession. Besides, it also helps you track losses that you can claim in the future.
VISA Application: If you are planning to migrate for a job or conduct business tours, immigration authorities demand copies of the latest income tax returns filed. Online income tax return filing ensures the smooth processing of visa applications.

How to Download the ITR-V Form?

It is important to know how to file ITR on time. The best way to avoid a last-minute rush or a penalty is to download your income tax return filing. As soon as you file your ITR, the income tax verification form ITR-V is generated by the IT department. You must download ITR-V so that you can verify the validity of your income tax filing. Here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal
Step 2: Click on “e-File” > “Income Tax Returns” > “View Filed Returns”
Step 3: You’ll see a list of ITRs filed for various assessment years
Step 4: Click on the Acknowledgement Number of the relevant return
Step 5: Choose to download either:
1. “ITR-V” (if return is not yet e-verified)
2. “Return Receipt/Acknowledgement” (if return was already e-verified)
3. These are password-protected PDF files. The password is your PAN (in lowercase) followed by your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format

(E.g., If PAN = asdfp1234k, and DOB = 10/04/1990, password = asdfp1234k10041990)

How to Check ITR Status Online?

After filing your income tax return and e-verification, the status of your tax return shows as 'Verified'. After the processing is done, the status becomes 'ITR Processed'. There are two ways to check whether your ITR status is marked as 'Verified' or 'Processed':

Without Login:

Go to www.incometax.gov.in
Click on “ITR Status” in the quick links section on the homepage
Enter Your PAN
Acknowledgement Number
Captcha code
Click Submit to view your return status

With Login:

Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal
Go to “e-File” - “Income Tax Returns” - “View Filed Returns”
Choose the relevant Assessment Year
The return status (e.g., Verified, Processed, Defective, etc.) will be displayed

Note: After processing, if you’re eligible for a refund, the status will update to “Refund Issued,” and the refund can be tracked on the same page.

Conclusion

Filing your Income Tax Return is an important financial habit that can benefit you in many ways. From claiming tax refunds and carrying forward eligible losses to strengthening your financial profile for loans and visa applications, timely income tax return filing offers long-term advantages. With the government's simplified income tax e-filing portal, the process has become quicker, more secure, and easier than ever. By keeping your documents ready, choosing the correct ITR form, and completing e-verification on time, you can ensure a smooth, error-free filing experience every financial year.

Glossary

ITR (Income Tax Return): A form used to report income, taxes paid, deductions, and tax liability to the Income Tax Department
Form 168: A consolidated tax statement showing TDS, advance tax, self-assessment tax, and other tax-related details
AIS (Annual Information Statement): A statement that provides a comprehensive summary of income, investments, and tax-related information.
ITR-V: The acknowledgement and verification document generated after filing an Income Tax Return
E-Verification: The process of digitally validating an ITR using Aadhaar OTP, EVC, net banking, or DSC

FAQs

Income tax e-filing for first-time taxpayers can be completed through the Income Tax e-Filing portal. After registering with your PAN, select the appropriate ITR form, enter your income details, verify the information, submit the return, and complete e-verification using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or another approved method.

Income tax e-filing is the process of submitting your Income Tax Return electronically through the Income Tax Department's online portal. The system allows taxpayers to report income, claim deductions, calculate tax liability, and verify returns digitally without visiting a tax office.

For most salaried individuals, ITR-1 (Sahaj) is used if income is within the prescribed limits and comes primarily from salary, one house property, and other sources such as interest income. Taxpayers with more complex sources of income may need a different ITR form.

Income tax e-filing is mandatory for salaried employees whose income exceeds the applicable exemption limits or who meet other filing conditions specified under the Income-tax Act. Even when not mandatory, filing an ITR can help claim refunds and serve as proof of income.

To file an income tax return online, you may need your PAN, Aadhaar, Form 130, Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), bank account details, investment proofs, and documents supporting deductions or exemptions claimed in the return.

Disclaimer - This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited or any affiliated entity. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. You should consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances before taking any action based on the content provided herein.

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Key Takeaways

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Who Is Not Required to File ITR?

Did You Know?

How to File Income Tax Returns Offline?

Documents Required To File ITR

Benefits of ITR Filing Online

How to Download the ITR-V Form?