Filing your Income Tax Return online through the e-filing portal is more straightforward than it looks once you know the sequence. Here's the process from start to finish.
Gather your documents
- Form 16 from your employer
- Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS) — download from the e-filing portal
- Bank statements and interest certificates
- Proof of deductions (80C investments, 80D premiums, home loan certificate)
- Capital gains statements, if applicable
Log in to the e-filing portal
Go to the official Income Tax e-filing portal and log in with your PAN as user ID. If you haven't registered before, you'll need to register first using your PAN and basic details.
Select the correct ITR form
Most salaried individuals with simple income use ITR-1 (Sahaj). If you have capital gains, multiple house properties, or foreign assets, you'll need ITR-2. Business/professional income requires ITR-3 or ITR-4. Picking the wrong form makes your return defective.
Review pre-filled data
The portal pre-fills salary, TDS, and some other details from your Form 26AS and AIS. Review this carefully against your own records — pre-filled data isn't always complete or accurate.
Choose your regime and enter deductions
Confirm which regime you're filing under. If Old Regime, enter your 80C, 80D, and other deduction details. Compare both first with our Old vs New Regime Calculator if you haven't already.
Submit and e-verify
Once you submit, your return isn't considered filed until it's verified — either instantly via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or by sending a signed physical ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru within the required window. E-verification via Aadhaar OTP is the fastest method.
Know your numbers before you sit down to file.
Use the Income Tax Calculator →After you file
Once verified, the department processes your return and issues an intimation under Section 143(1) — usually within a few weeks to a few months — confirming your refund, demand, or that everything matches. Check our Tax Calendar for filing deadlines.
This is a general walkthrough of the standard process, not a substitute for the official e-filing portal's instructions. For complex situations (multiple income sources, foreign income, audit requirements), consider using a registered CA.