ITR filing 2026: How to file Income Tax Return online for AY 2026-27

Income tax filing for assessment year 2026-27 has officially begun since the Income Tax Department has made ITR 1 and ITR 4 filing available on the e-filing portal. Taxpayers can now go ahead and fill out the ITR both offline and online for the financial year 2025-26. Along with that, the department has also provided an option where the users can fill it out in offline mode as an Excel file and can later upload the data online in JSON format. The taxpayers can file the income tax return until July 31. Timely filing of an ITR helps you escape from any penalty but also makes loan disbursement, visa application, and refunds easier. Here are all the things that you need to know before filing your income tax returns this year.

Choose the correct ITR form

Depending on the nature of your income, you need to select between the ITR forms. Here are two of the common ITR forms a salaried employee can file:

ITR 1 (Sahaj): Resident individual whose total income does not exceed Rs 50 lakh from salary/pension/house property.

ITR 4 (Sugam): A resident individual, HUF or firm (except LLP) whose total income does not exceed Rs 50 lakh under presumptive taxation.

ITR 2026: Documents required

Here are some of the documents you’ll require during the ITR filing process:

• PAN card
• Aadhaar card
• Form 16
• Bank statements
• Investment proofs
• Capital gains details if applicable
• TDS certificates

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How to file ITR 2026 online

In order to file the ITR 2026, here are some basic instructions which one should follow:

1. Visit the ITR e-filing portal and log in.

2. Go to the ITR filing option and choose the assessment year.

3. Choose whether you want to fill out your form using the online method or the offline method.

4. Next, choose the appropriate ITR form according to the income generated by you.

5. Lastly, all you need to do is enter the details of the income generated by you, like salary, business profit, and other such income.

6. Then the software will do the calculations and will automatically tell you about the amount of tax to be paid or the refund you may receive.

7. Double-check everything, and once satisfied, hit the Submit button.

Common mistakes to avoid while filing ITR

There are certain aspects that need to be kept in mind while preparing the income tax returns for yourself. Here are some common mistakes that users tend to make while filing their ITRs:

• Incorrect selection of ITR form
• Incorrect entries of bank account details
• Failing to validate the returns
• Omitting information related to capital gains
• Late submission of the ITR form
• No correspondence between income entries and Form 26AS and AIS

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Why filing an ITR on time matters

Filing your return before the deadline can help you as it can:

• Avoid late filing penalties that you would need to pay if you wanted to file the ITR after the official deadline had passed.
• Claim tax refunds faster, as it works on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Maintaining a clean financial record can be helpful at the time you want to take out loans or credit cards.
• Supports your visa application process.