No CA? No problem. Here’s how to file your ITR yourself this year

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Filing your income tax return (ITR) doesn’t have to mean hiring a chartered accountant. Due to the online portal of the Income Tax Department and pre-filled ITRs, salaried people and individuals with simple incomes can now file their returns independently within a few clicks.

Start by gathering the required documents

Have your documents ready prior to starting. You will need your PAN, Aadhaar, Form 16 in case you are salaried, interest certificates received on bank, Form 26AS, AIS (Annual Information Statement), and proof of deduction under section numbers like 80C or 80D. These are the support system of your income tax return and help you to make records of income, payment of tax, and claims precisely. Never proceed without checking these documents beforehand.

Choose the right ITR form based on your income

You should select the correct Income Tax Return (ITR) form. For most salaried individuals having a salary from a single employer and no business income or capital gains, ITR-1 (Sahaj) can be used. In the event of capital gains, foreign income, or business income, other forms like ITR-2 or ITR-3 can be used. Actually, you can check eligibility directly on the e-filing income tax website. The incorrect form can lead to rejection or notice later.

Register or login to e-file income tax portal

Visit https://www.incometax.gov.in and log on to the same with your PAN (also your user ID). As it is your first filing, you need to register. Log on, and then click on "File Income Tax Return" and the corresponding assessment year—2025–26 for income earned in FY 2024–25. Select "Online" mode in case you prefer enabled filing or download utility to file offline.

Pre-filled forms are easy—just authenticate

With AIS and Form 26AS, ITR forms are pre-filled with crucial information such as salary, TDS, and bank interest. But do not upload without verification—verify every entry. Ensure that all TDS deductions have been correctly shown in your Form 16, verify bank interest figures, and fill in the gaps for missing deductions or other income such as rent, dividend, or capital gains yourself. Editing prior to filing is permitted.

Declare deductions and review tax liability

Input any deductions under 80C (LIC, PPF, ELSS), 80D (health insurance), home loan interest, or HRA exemptions if not already considered in Form 16. The system will automatically calculate your total taxable income and tax liability. If you’ve already paid enough via TDS or advance tax, the refund will be shown. If not, you’ll have to pay the balance before submitting your return.

E-file and e-verify your return

After you complete all the parts, verify your details and press "Submit." However, you haven't submitted if you don't e-verify. You can do so directly with Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or a demat account or bank ATM. E-verification must be carried out within 30 days so your return won't be rejected. Once verified, download a copy of your ITR-V for your reference.

You can prepare your ITR yourself—if you're willing to get your act together

You do not necessarily need a CA for your tax filing. You can be a salaried person with one simple source of income, and self-filing is risk-free, cost-effective, and hassle-free because of the changes brought about by the Income Tax Department. Be judicious only with form selection, checking of documents, and last-minute filing. Be patient, and beware, and you can file your tax yourself.