ITR Filing in India: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

Filing your first income tax return in India feels more intimidating than it is. For a salaried person with straightforward income, the e-filing portal pre-fills much of the data, and the whole thing can take well under an hour once your documents are ready.

Get your documents together first

The essentials: your PAN and Aadhaar, Form 16 from your employer (your salary and TDS summary), and your bank statements. Then, if relevant, your Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS), which show the tax already deducted and reported against you, plus proofs for any deductions you're claiming — 80C investments, health insurance under 80D, home loan interest, and so on.

A reassuring point: you can file even without Form 16, using your salary slips, Form 26AS, AIS and bank statements to work out the figures.

The portal steps

Log in to the income tax e-filing portal using your PAN; first-time users register and verify via Aadhaar OTP or net banking. Then, broadly: go to e-File → Income Tax Return, select the assessment year, and choose the correct ITR form for your income type — salaried individuals generally use ITR-1 or ITR-2. Using the wrong form can make the return defective, so this choice matters.

Much of your data pre-fills. Check it carefully against your own documents — mismatches with Form 16 or the AIS are the most common source of problems. The portal then computes your liability; pay any balance, or note any refund.

The step people forget: verify

Submitting isn't the end. You must e-verify within 30 days, via Aadhaar OTP (instant), net banking, or other methods. An unverified return is treated as if it was never filed — this is the single most common first-timer mistake.

Deadlines and consequences

For salaried and other non-audit individuals, the due date is typically 31 July following the financial year, though categories and specific dates shift year to year — confirm the current one on the portal.

Missing it has real costs: late fees under Section 234F, interest on unpaid tax, and loss of the right to carry forward certain losses.

Old versus new regime

Remember the deduction proofs only matter if you're on the old regime. Under the default new regime, most deductions don't apply — so decide your regime before assembling paperwork you may not need.

To pull your income and interest figures from your statements, StatementOrganizer.com can help.

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References

• How to File ITR Online FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) — ClearTax
• ITR Filing 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide — Fincart
• ITR Filing Last Date AY 2026-27 — Jaro Education

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This article is for general information only and is not tax advice. ITR forms, deadlines, portal procedures and form numbering change (Form 16 and Form 26AS are being renumbered from a future tax year). Verify current requirements on the official Income Tax Department e-filing portal or with a chartered accountant.