Income Tax Return Filing 2026: Before filing ITR, check this complete list, one mistake can be costly…

Business Desk – Income Tax Return Filing 2026: The process of filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27) has started. The Income Tax Department has made ITR forms available for different categories of taxpayers. In such a situation, it is very important to check the necessary documents and information before filing the return, so that later you do not have to face problems like notice, revised return or delay in refund.

First collect the necessary documents

Before filing ITR, taxpayers should keep all their necessary documents ready. These include Form 16, salary slip, bank statement, interest income statement, investment related documents, home loan statement, insurance premium receipts and records of other tax saving investments. Experts say that having complete documents reduces the chances of errors while filing returns.

Must combine AIS and Form 26AS

Before filing the return, it is important to check the information entered in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS. It contains records of TDS, bank interest, share transactions, mutual fund investments and other financial activities. If any mistake is seen in these, it should be rectified first.

It is very important to choose the right ITR form

The Income Tax Department has prescribed separate ITR forms for different income groups. If the form is filled incorrectly, the return may be considered defective.

ITR-1 (Sahaj) is generally for salaried individuals and taxpayers with income up to Rs 50 lakh.
ITR-2 For individuals and HUFs whose income includes capital gains or gains from more than one property.
ITR-3 It is for those earning income from business or profession.
ITR-4 Presumptive Taxation is for eligible taxpayers availing the scheme.

There have been many changes in the new form

This time the Income Tax Department has made many important changes in ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4. Now more detailed information will have to be given about income and loss related to Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG), loss from share buyback, F&O and intraday trading. In some cases, reporting of foreign assets and foreign income has also been made more detailed than before.

Avoid filing returns in a hurry

Tax experts believe that salaried employees should file returns only after Form 16, AIS and other financial records are completely updated. Filing the return in a hurry may lead to filing of revised return later.

Check bank account and personal information

Before filing ITR, check the information related to bank account number, IFSC code, mobile number, email ID, PAN and Aadhaar once. Due to wrong information, refund may get stuck or there may be difficulty in contacting the Income Tax Department.

When can ITR be filled?

The last date for filing ITR for most individual taxpayers in the non-audit category for the financial year 2025-26 (assessment year 2026-27) is set for July 31, 2026. However, the deadline may vary depending on the eligibility and category of the taxpayer.