ITR Filing Online 2026 — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) for FY 2025-26 (Assessment Year 2026-27) is due by July 31, 2026 for most taxpayers. Filing late attracts penalties up to ₹5,000 + interest. Filing on time is also essential for getting a refund quickly, processing visa applications, and loan eligibility.

This guide walks you through the complete ITR filing process — which ITR form to use, documents needed, and how to file step by step online.

Key Dates for ITR Filing 2026

Late filing penalty: ₹1,000 (if income < ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000 (if income > ₹5 lakh) + 1% interest/month on unpaid tax.

Which ITR Form to Use?

Most salaried employees: ITR-1

Salaried with mutual fund/stock gains: ITR-2

Freelancers/consultants with < ₹75L income: ITR-4

Documents Needed for ITR Filing

Step-by-Step: File ITR-1 Online (Salaried)

Step 1: Login to Income Tax Portal

1. Go to incometax.gov.in
2. Click "Login"
3. Enter: PAN number + password (or Aadhaar OTP)
4. If first-time: Register with PAN → Set password

Step 2: Start ITR Filing

1. After login: "e-File" → "Income Tax Returns" → "File Income Tax Return"
2. Select Assessment Year: 2026-27 (for FY 2025-26 income)
3. Select Mode: Online (recommended — pre-filled data)
4. Select Status: Individual
5. Confirm ITR form: ITR-1 (Sahaj) — if eligible, it's pre-selected

Step 3: Review Pre-Filled Data

The portal auto-fills data from Form 16, 26AS, AIS. Review carefully:

• Personal details: Name, PAN, address — verify
• Salary: Amount from employer → matches Form 16?
• TDS deducted: Check Form 26AS for accuracy
• Other income: Interest from FDs, savings account (pre-filled from AIS)
• Tax regime: New tax regime is now default — confirm or switch to old regime if beneficial

Step 4: Add Deductions (If Using Old Tax Regime)

New tax regime: No deductions except standard deduction (₹75,000 from FY2024-25 onwards). Lower slabs.

Step 5: Verify Total Income and Tax Payable

1. Portal shows: Gross Total Income → Total Deductions → Net Taxable Income → Tax Payable
2. Check if tax payable = 0 (or if refund is due)
3. If tax payable > 0: Pay tax via "Pay Now" → Challan 280 → UPI/net banking

Step 6: Submit and E-Verify

1. Review summary → Click "Submit"
2. E-verify immediately (mandatory within 30 days of filing):
   • Aadhaar OTP (fastest — 30 seconds)
   • Net banking
   • Demat account
   • Bank account EVC
3. After e-verification: ITR is complete. Acknowledgment emailed.

Old Tax Regime vs New Tax Regime (2025-26)

Old Tax Regime Slabs

With deductions (80C ₹1.5L + 80D + HRA + home loan etc.) — total deductions can reach ₹4–5 lakh.

New Tax Regime Slabs (Default from FY 2024-25)

Standard deduction: ₹75,000. Rebate u/s 87A: Zero tax up to ₹7 lakh (new regime) / ₹5 lakh (old regime).

Which is better?

• Income < ₹7 lakh: New regime (zero tax after rebate)
• Income ₹7–12 lakh with high deductions (HRA, home loan, 80C): Old regime often better
• Income > ₹15 lakh with minimal deductions: New regime usually better
• Use the IT portal calculator to compare both — it shows you which saves more tax

Capital Gains Reporting in ITR-2

If you sold stocks or mutual funds in FY 2025-26:

1. Get Capital Gains Statement from:
   • Zerodha: Console → Tax P&L → Download
   • Groww: Tax Reports → Capital Gains
   • CAMS/KFintech: For mutual funds — camonline.com → Statements
2. In ITR-2: Schedule CG → Fill LTCG and STCG separately
3. LTCG (Equity > 1 year): 12.5% on gains above ₹1.25 lakh
4. STCG (Equity < 1 year): 20%
5. LTCG (Debt/Gold MF): As per income slab

After Filing — What Happens

1. Processing: IT department processes your ITR (typically 2–6 weeks)
2. Intimation u/s 143(1): Email/SMS confirming assessment
3. Refund: If tax paid > tax due, refund in 15–45 days (to validated bank account)
4. Scrutiny notice: If selected for scrutiny (rare for honest filings) — respond to IT portal notices

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it mandatory to file ITR if income is below the taxable limit? Not always legally required, but strongly recommended. Filing even with zero tax creates an official income record — useful for loans, visas, credit cards.

What if I missed the July 31 deadline? File a belated ITR by December 31, 2026. Penalty: ₹1,000 (income < ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000 (income > ₹5 lakh). Interest at 1%/month on unpaid tax also applies.

Do I need to include FD interest in ITR? Yes — interest from FDs, savings accounts, recurring deposits is taxable and must be declared in ITR (Schedule Other Sources). The bank may have deducted TDS at 10% — you get credit for this.

Can I use a CA to file ITR? Yes — many people use CAs especially for complex cases (business income, multiple sources, foreign assets). For simple salaried ITR-1, you can file yourself on the IT portal in 20–30 minutes.

What happens if I file ITR with errors? You can file a Revised Return anytime before December 31, 2026 (for AY 2026-27). A revised return replaces the original filing. No penalty for revising.