How to File Your Income Tax Return Online in India

Short answer: You file on the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal by logging in with your PAN, picking the right ITR form, confirming pre-filled details against your documents, paying any balance tax, and e-verifying.

Gather Your Documents

Before you start, keep your PAN, Aadhaar, Form 16 from your employer, bank interest certificates, capital-gains statements from your broker or fund house, and proof of any deductions you plan to claim. Cross-check everything against your Annual Information Statement and Form 26AS, which show income and TDS already reported to the department.

Choose the Right Form

The correct ITR form depends on your sources of income — salary only, capital gains, business income, multiple properties and so on. Filing the wrong form can make your return defective, so pick the one that matches your situation.

Use the Pre-Filled Return

The portal pre-fills much of your data, including salary and TDS. Your job is to verify it line by line, add anything missing such as interest income or capital gains, and claim eligible deductions if you are in the old regime. Do not blindly accept pre-filled numbers.

Pay and Submit

If the computation shows tax due, pay it online before submitting. If excess TDS was deducted, you will see a refund figure that the department processes to your bank account. Make sure your bank account is pre-validated to receive it.

E-Verify — The Step People Forget

Filing is incomplete until you e-verify, usually via Aadhaar OTP or net banking, within the allowed window. An unverified return is treated as not filed. File before the deadline to avoid late fees and to keep the option of the old regime where applicable.

Sources: Income Tax e-Filing Portal

This explainer was written by The Dispatch desk to answer a question readers commonly ask. It is general information, not personalised financial advice.