How to file your Income Tax Return online in India: step-by-step process
ITR filing is done on the income tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in). You choose the correct ITR form based on your income sources, pre-fill data pulled from Form 26AS and AIS, enter or correct income and deduction details, compute tax under the old or new regime, and submit — followed by mandatory e-verification within 30 days for the filing to be treated as valid.
Step 1 — gather your documents
Before starting, collect Form 16 (for salaried employees), Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) from the income tax portal, bank interest certificates, capital gains statements from your broker or mutual fund platform, and proof of deductions you plan to claim (80C investments, health insurance premiums, home loan interest certificates).
Step 2 — choose the correct ITR form
The form depends on your income sources and total income: ITR-1 for salaried individuals with income up to Rs 50 lakh and no capital gains or business income; ITR-2 for individuals with capital gains, foreign income, or more than one house property; ITR-3 for those with business or professional income under the regular scheme; and ITR-4 for those opting for presumptive taxation under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE.
Step 3 — log in and review pre-filled data
Log into the e-filing portal, select the assessment year, and choose the ITR form. Most fields are pre-filled from Form 26AS, AIS, and your employer's TDS filings — but this data should be cross-checked against your own records, since pre-filled figures are not always complete or accurate (a common gap is dividend income or interest from smaller banks not reflecting fully).
Shunya's CA team prepares and files your ITR end-to-end, picks the right form and regime, and checks for refunds you might be missing.
Talk to a CA →Step 4 — declare income, deductions, and compute tax
Enter or correct income under each head (salary, house property, capital gains, other sources, business/profession), claim eligible deductions, and choose between the old and new tax regime — the portal computes tax liability under both so you can compare before finalising.
Step 5 — submit and e-verify
After reviewing the computed tax (payable or refundable), submit the return. The filing is only complete once verified — via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or a physical signed ITR-V sent to CPC Bengaluru — within 30 days of filing. An unverified return is treated as not filed at all.
Common mistakes that delay processing or trigger notices
Selecting the wrong ITR form for your income type, not reconciling AIS data with actual income (leading to mismatches), forgetting to report exempt income or interest from savings accounts, and missing the e-verification step are the most frequent issues that either delay refund processing or trigger a follow-up notice.
What happens if I file my ITR but forget to e-verify it?
An ITR that isn't e-verified within 30 days of filing is treated as if it was never filed at all — the return will not be processed, and if the original due date has passed, you may need to file a belated return (with a late fee) or, if the 30-day condonation window has lapsed, request condonation of delay from the department. E-verification takes seconds via Aadhaar OTP — it should never be skipped.
This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.
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