ITR filing 2025: 5 must-do things before filing ITR online

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Always check your Form 26AS and AIS (Annual Information Statement) on the income tax portal prior to filing your ITR. Both of them show all the incomes reported and TDS deducted against your PAN. Differences between your actual incomes and the ones shown here can result in tax notices in the future. Confirm that your employer, banks, and other deductors have adequately deposited TDS and other financial details.

Collect all concerned documents and proofs

Filing tax return without the supporting documents can lead to errors or loss of deductions. Gather Form 16 for salaried taxpayers, bank interest certificates, capital gain statements (from shares or MF), rent proof, and proofs of deductions under sections 80C, 80D, and so on. Having them handy makes data entry easy and avoids confusion at the time of scrutiny of pre-filled data.

Choose the correct ITR form

The Income Tax Department offers different forms depending on the nature of your income. ITR-1 is available to most salaried individuals, but where there are capital gains, foreign assets, or two or more sources of income, you will need to file ITR-2 or ITR-3. You may risk having your return rejected or even be put under scrutiny if you file with the wrong form. The e-filing portal has an ITR Form Finder tool which will help you make the decision.

Check due taxes or refunds

Compute your net tax liability on all income and deduction sources before submitting. If TDS and advance tax have already considered your liability, you can be refunded. But if there is a shortfall, the remaining self-assessment tax needs to be paid before submission. Failure to pay this balance will invalidate your return. Facility to online pay through net banking or UPI is available in the portal for convenience.

Update your personal details and e-verify modes

Mail a photocopy of your Aadhaar, update your mobile number and email address, and pre-validate your bank account for refund. Also, select how you would like to e-verify your return—the Aadhaar OTP mode, net banking, or some other mode. You must e-verify your return within 30 days from the date of filing to validate your return and enable refund processing.

Preparation is the mantra for glitch-free filing

Rushing through the submission of your ITR may lead to mistakes, loss of claims, or delayed refunds. Going through your income records, choosing the correct ITR form, and having documents ready can make it easy and accurate. These five simple steps get your return accepted without any hassle—and your refund, if any, quicker.