How to file income tax returns (ITR) online in India

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How to file income tax returns (ITR) online in IndiaHow to file income tax returns (ITR) online in India

This year, Income tax department has indicated that any individual whose income exceeds Rs 5 lakhs and above has to do e-filing of their income tax returns. Though we would think that a professional CA or a Tax professional can do this, if you can understand the process, you can do this yourself. In this article, we would discuss about how a salary individual can file the income tax returns online.  

Documents to be kept ready before you start the process?

Please keep the documents like PAN card, your previous IT return copy, Form-16 before you start filling the IT returns online.

Also read: How to check income tax refund online

Step-by-step-process on how to file income tax returns online

Step-1: Visit Income tax department site : https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/UserLogin/LoginHome.html

Step-2: If you are already registered, you can proceed for logging into system. Else click on register option and proceed for registration. Once registration is complete, login to website with user ID(PAN number) and password.

Step-3: Check the taxed paid by you. Go to my account -à view tax credit statement (Form 26AS) and provide the assessment year2013-14, date of birth and security code to get these details.

Generally, tax indicated in form-16 and Form 26AS would be same. In such case there are no issues. However in case form-16 shows less tax than what is indicated in Form26AS, it means that you have paid excess tax and to get Income tax refund.

Step-4: Click on downloads option to download the IT return file

  • Click on downloads option
  • Efiling à Assessment year 2013-14 à Individual/HUF à ITR-1 (Sahaj). If you have more than one house property and want to update income from house property or update interest from house property, select ITR-2 as ITR-1 do not have this option.

Step-5: Extract the excel file from the downloaded zip file

  • Click on enable macros active X controls in case they are not enabled in your system.
  • The ITR file would work only on MS-Excel and not on any other applications

Step-6: Fill the excel file with relevant income details, tax paid details and bank details etc., Once you fill the info, click on “Generate” tab. A Pre-XML sheet gets created. Verify that all info is correct and click on “Save XML” option.

Also read: Best Tax Free investments in India

Step-7: Submit the IT returns: Ensure you are logged into the income tax department website. Select my account à Submit Return à assessment year 2013-14. Select whether you want to use digitally signed file in case you already have it, else, say No and proceed further. Click on upload button and you would see process completion message.  If you have done through digital signature, the process is complete. You would get your ITR-V acknowledgement to your mail ID.

Step-8: If you have not submitted your digital signature, you need to download the ITR-V acknowledgement and sign the copy so that IT department knows that this is submitted by you and send a copy of the signed copy to “Income Tax Department-CPC, Post Bag no # 1, Electronics City Post Office, Bangalore – 560 100, Karnataka”. Send the signed document only through normal post of speed post. Do not send it through courier as they would reject it. The ITR-V acknowledgement signed copy should be sent within 120 days after submitting excel (XML) file. The acknowledgement would be received in two weeks time to your email ID from IT Department, Bangalore after this. Once this is done, the process is complete.

Also Read:  Step-by-step process on rectifying income tax return online

Conclusion: Though the process of income tax returns filing online is cumbersome, if we know the step-by-step process, I feel it is easier to do it. In case you have various streams of income like salary, income from business or income from more than one house property, you need to file other ITR’s, hence taking professional help would be a good idea.

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Suresh

How to file income tax returns online in India

Suresh KP
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158 comments

  1. Dear Sir

    I have to fill online income tax return. My question is that I am paying House Rent  and the interest on housing loan. My DDO shows only the house rent deduction. Now  I want to get the interest paid towards the housing loan.What should I do?

    Reply

    1. Krishna, You need to show interest paid on housing loan under “Loss from House property” section. If income tax is alreayd deducted and you want to claim once you fill the excel template, it shows the amount to be refunded to you. You can submit it online and you would get refund from IT dept.

      Reply

  2. Mr. Suresh, Thaks a lot for guiding.

    I am unable to find the space in Form ITR-1(2013_ITR1_PR6.xls) to key-in the details related to

    1. Housing loan interest (u/s 24)

    2. House rent paid (u/s 10)

    3. Transport Allowance (u/s 10)

    4. Higher education loan (u/s 80 E)

    5. Tax on Employment

    Until and unless I enter the amount for above said things, I wont be able to calculate the Payable Tax in the "2013_ITR1_PR6.xls". All the points were there in my Form-16 but have no provision in the "2013_ITR1_PR6.xls".

    Please help to complete the form ITR-1.

    Regards

    Venu

    Reply

    1. Venu, If the relevant claims are not available in ITR-1, check ITR-2. e.g. House loan interest is not specifically available in ITR-1, you should use ITR-2 for it. I have updated the same in my artilce now. Tks for indicating this. 

      Reply

  5. Dear Suresh

     

     I have claimed LTA this year which is more than 5000 Rs .Do i need to fill ITR-2 this year?Last year also i had filled ITR-1.

     

     

    Reply

      1. dear suresh

        as per your view if someone has 1 house property he should file ITR 1,but even if he files ITR 2 he will get additional 30% off on income from house property ..so he should go for ITR 2.am i correct?

         

        Reply

        1. Arnab, There is no such 30% discount on house property. In case ITR-1 does not have option to submit “Loss from house property”, or in case any one has more than one property, I indicated to use ITR-2. Can you please check your query.

          Reply

          1. Dear Suresh

             

               There is 30% deduction in case of house property if you fill ITR 2 .Please look into row marked "e" in House property tab.

             

            Regards

          3. Dear Suresh

             

             Please check row e of house property tab in ITR. There it is showing 30% discount.I am replying for the 3rd time .Dont know why it is not being posted

          5. Dear suresh

              I am posting a link where income tax is specifying that one can claim deduction upto 30% of his rented property.http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/house_property.pdf  .For let out properties, the entire interest paid is deductible under section 24 of the Income Tax act. However, the rent is to be shown as income from such properties. 30% of rent received and municipal taxes paid are available for deduction of tax.

            Regards

          6. Dear Suresh

             

              You have finally agreed that there is 30% reduction from income through house rent received which you will not get in ITR 1 .so if someone needs deduction he has to file ITR 2  and not ITR 1 even if he has only one house property.

          7. Arnab, Thanks for pointing our. Yes my earlier message was not clear. I lost my login details and unable to check ITR-1 excel file now. But even Income tax website says that for one house property, you need to file ITR-1 only. I need to check why this is not appearing in ITR-1

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