The Return Form can be filed with the Income-tax Department in any of the following ways, -

1. by furnishing the return in a paper form;
2. by furnishing the return electronically under digital signature;
3. by transmitting the data in the return electronically under electronic verification code;
4. by transmitting the data in the return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the return in Return Form ITR-V;

 

Note
Where the return of income is filed in the manner given at (iv) without digital signature, then the taxpayer should take two printed copies of Form ITR-V. One copy of ITR-V, duly signed by the taxpayer, is to be sent (within the period specified in this regard, i.e., 120 days) by ordinary post or speed post to "Income-tax Department - CPC, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengalore-560100 (Karnataka). The other copy may be retained by the taxpayer for his record.

​​​​​​​ITR return forms are attachment less forms and, hence, the taxpayer is not required to attach any document (like proof of investment, TDS certificates, etc.) along with the return of income (whether filed manually or filed electronically). However, these documents should be retained by the taxpayer and should be produced before the tax authorities when demanded in situations like assessment, inquiry, etc.

As discussed above, no documents are to be attached along with the return of income, however, in case of a taxpayer who is required to furnish a report of audit under section​ 10(2​3C)(iv), 10(23C)(v), 10(23C)(vi), 10(23C)via), 10A, 10AA, 12A(1)(b), 44AB, 44DA, 50B, 80-IA, 80-IB, 80-IC, 80-ID, 80JJAA, 80LA, 92E, 115JB or 115VW​​​​ or to give a notice under section 11(2)(a) shall furnish it electronically on or before the date of filing the return of income.

​​​​​​​E-payment is the process of electronic payment of tax (i.e., by net banking or SBI’s debit/credit card) and e-filing is the process of electronically furnishing of return of income. Using the e-payment and e-filing facility, the taxpayer can discharge his obligations of payment of tax and furnishing of return easily and quickly.​

​​​​​​​Filing of return is your duty and earns for you the dignity of consciously contributing to the development of the nation. Apart from this, your income-tax returns validate your credit worthiness before financial institutions and make it possible for you to access many financial benefits such as bank credits, etc.​

​​​​​​​If you have sustained a loss in the financial year, which you propose to carry forward to the subsequent year for adjustment against subsequent year(s) positive income, you must make a claim of loss by filing your return before the due date.

Sr.No	Status of the taxpayer	Due date
1	Any company other than a company who is required to furnish a report in Form No. 3CEB under section 92E (i.e. other than covered in 2 below)	September 30 of the assessment year
2	Any person (may be corporate/non-corporate) who is required to furnish a report in Form No. 3CEB under section 92E	November 30 of the assessment year
3	Any person (other than a company) whose accounts are to be audited under the Income-tax Law or under any other law	September 30 of the assessment year
4	A working partner of a firm whose accounts are required to be audited under this Act or under any other law.	September 30 of the assessment year
5	Any other assessee (See Note)	July 31 of the assessment year

​​​​​​​Yes, if you have not furnished the return within the due date, you will have to pay interest on tax due. If the return is not filed up to the end of the assessment year, in addition ​to interest, a penalty of Rs. 5,000 shall be levied under section 271F​​. [ No penalty section 271F​​ would be levied w.e.f. Assessment Year 2025-26 ]

​​​​​​​Note: W.e.f. assessment year 2025-26, fee as per section 234F is required to be paid if return is furnished after due date. Fee for default in furnishing return of income will be as follows:

• Rs. 5000 if return is furnished on or before the 31st day of December of the assessment year;
• Rs. 10,000 in any other case

However, late filing fee shall not exceed Rs. 1000 if the total income of an assessee does not exceed Rs. 5 lakh.

​​​​​​​Return of income which has not been furnished on or before the due date specified under section 139(1) is called belated return. Belated return of income is furnished under section 139(4).

Any person who has not furnished a return of income within the time period allowed under section 139(1) or within the time period allowed under a notice issued under section 142(1), may furnish return for any previous year at any time before the expiry of one year from the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. (Applicable till assessment year 2023-24)

In assessment year 2024-25, any person who has not furnished a return of income within the time period allowed under section 139(1), may furnish return for any previous year at any time before the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. 

From A.Y 2025-26 and onwards a belated return attracts late filing fees under section 234F.

As per section 234F, late filing fees of Rs.5,000 shall be payable if return furnished after due date specified under section 139(1) but before 31st December of the assessment year. In other cases, late filing fees of Rs. 10,000 is payable. However amount of late filing fees to be paid cannot exceed Rs.1,000, if the total income of the person does not exceed Rs.5 lakhs

​​​​​​​The excess tax can be claimed as refund by filing your Income-tax return. It will be refunded to you by crediting it in your bank account through ECS transfer.

​​​​​​​​If a person after furnishing the return finds any mistake, omission or any wrong statement, then return should be revised within prescribed time limit.

A return can be revised before the end of the Assessment Year or before the completion of the assessment; whichever is earlier.(w.e.f A.Y 2025-26)

If original return has filed in paper format or manually, then technically it cannot be revised by online mode or electronically. ​​​

Revised return can be filed online under Section 139(5).

Yes, since legal proceedings under the Income-tax Act can be initiated up to four or six years (as the case may be) prior to the current financial year, you must maintain such documents at least for this period. However, in certain cases the proceedings can be initiated even after 6 years, hence, it is advised to preserve the copy of return as long as possible. Further, after introduction of the e-filing facility, it is very easy and simple to maintain the copy of return of income.​​

Yes, it can be claimed if you are otherwise eligible to claim the same.​​​

​​Amounts paid as advance tax and withheld in the form of TDS or collected in the form of TCS will take the character of your tax due only on completion of self-assessment of your income. This self-assessment is intimated to the Department by way of filing of the return of income. Only then the Government assumes rights over the taxes paid by you. Filing of return is critical for this process and, hence, has been made mandatory. Failure will attract levy of penalty.​​​​​

A taxpayer may pay tax in any of the following forms:

1. Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
2. Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
3. Advance tax or Self-assessment Tax or Payment of tax on regular assessment.

​​The Income-tax Department maintains the database of the total tax paid by the taxpayer (i.e., tax credit in the account of a taxpayer). Form 26AS is an annual statement maintained under Rule 31AB​ of the Incom​e-tax Rules disclosing the details of tax credit in his account as per the database of Income-tax Department. In other words, Form 26AS will reflect the details of tax credit appearing in the Permanent Account Number of the taxpayer as per the database of the Income-tax Department. The tax credit will cover TDS, TCS and tax paid by the taxpayer in other forms like advance tax, Self-Assessment tax, etc.​​​​​

Income-tax Department will generally allow a taxpayer to claim the credit of taxes as reflected in his Form 26AS.​​​​​

The followings are the important steps/points/precautions to be kept in mind while filing the return of income:​​​​​

1. The first and foremost precaution is to file the return of income on or before the due date. Taxpayers should avoid the practice of filing belated return. Following are the consequences of delay in filing the return of income/ Loss (other than house property loss):
   1. Losses cannot be carried forward.
   2. Levy of interest under section 234A.
   3. Late filing fees under section 234F is levied for return filed from A.Y 2018-19 onwards. Late filing fee of Rs. 5,000 shall be payable if return furnished after due date but before 31st December of the assessment year. In other cases, late filing fees of Rs. 10,000 is payable. However amount of late filing fees to be paid cannot exceed Rs. 1,000, if total income does not exceed Rs. 5 Lakh.
   4. Exemptions under section 10A​, section 10B, are not available.
   5. Deduction under 80-IA, 80-IAB, 80-IB, 80-IC , 80-ID and 80-IE, are not available.
   6. Deduction under 80IAC, 80IBA, 80JJA, 80JJAA, 80LA, 80P, 80PA, 80QQB and 80RRB are not available. (From A.Y 2025-26)
   7. Belated return cannot be revised under section 139(5) till A.Y 2023-24. However, from A.Y 2024-25, even a belated can be revised by the taxpayer. 
2. Taxpayer should download Form 26AS and should confirm actual TDS/TCS/Tax paid. If any discrepancy is observed then suitable action should be taken to reconcile it.
3. Compile and carefully study the documents to be used while filing the return of income like bank statement/passbook, interest certificate, investment proofs for which deductions is to be claimed, books of account and balance sheet and P&L A/c (if applicable), etc. 
4. No documents are to be attached along with the return of income. The taxpayer should identify the correct return form applicable in his case. Carefully provide all the information in the return form. Confirm the calculation of total income, deductions (if any), interest (if any), tax liability/refund, etc.
5. Ensure that other details like PAN, address, e-mail address, bank account details, etc., are correct.
6. After filling all the details in the return of income and after confirmation of all the details, one can proceed with filing the return of income. In case return is filed electronically without digital signature and without electronic verification code do not forget to post the acknowledgement of filing the return of income at CPC Bangalore within 120 days of filing return of income.