From assessment year 2013-14, E-filing has been made compulsory for the person who is an individual or a Hindu undivided family (HUF), if his or its total income, or the total income in respect of which he is or it is assessable under the act during the previous year, exceeds Rs. 5 lakh rupees for the assessment year 2013-14 onwards. It clearly states total income and not taxable income.
Please read below to know how you can file income tax return online yourself.
Calculate Income tax
You can calculate your income tax payable using the income tax calculator provided at this page: Income tax calculator. Income tax return excel utility also computes income tax, but they only take taxable income as input.
Also make sure that you also see whether the advance tax has been paid on time (See row 101-104 in tax calculator). In case you have paid the full tax but not paid on time as per the advance tax schedule, you are liable to pay interest under section 234 C. Income tax return excel utility also computes interest penalty u/s 234C.
Pay your tax online
Whatever pending amount you need to pay can be paid online on this link: Pay Taxes Online (Use only Internet explorer for this).
Select challan type as CHALLAN NO. /ITNS 280 and continue.
Select (0021) INCOME-TAX (OTHER THAN COMPANIES) in tax applicable field and
Select (300) SELF ASSESSMENT TAX in type of payment.
Select bank through which you want to pay.
Make sure to add interest penalty as computed by income tax return excel form u/s 234A, 234B and 234C in case of tax payments after due date.
You also pay through your net banking login on Axis Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, State Bank of Patiala, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, State Bank of Mysore, Bank of Maharashtra, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Saurashtra, Union Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Dena Bank, Syndicate Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of India, Corporation Bank, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Indore, Vijaya Bank and HDFC Bank.
You can check online if your money has actually reached the I-T Department. For this you have to go to Tax Information Network Website and click the box CIN Based View. Provide details as per the receipt generated while online tax payment.
Fill Income tax return form
Download respective income tax form from income tax website. Income tax department has modified the return preparation software to include automatic calculation of tax and interest.
Income from Salary/Pension, interest and single house property ( but with exempt income is less than Rs. 5,000) : ITR-1
Income from more than one house property, capital gains, salaries, pension, interest and exempt income more than Rs 5,000: ITR-2
Income from partnership in a firm: ITR-3
Income from business/profession: ITR-4
Income from Presumptive Business: ITR-4S
Exempt income here includes transport/conveyance allowance, HRA exemption, agricultural income, insurance maturity amount, LTA, Gratuity, Interest on PPF balance, Leave Encashment, Income from Mutual Funds, Dividends and long term capital gains.
Fill up the form with information provided in Form-16 and the tax calculated in income tax calculator above in Step 1.
If you don’t know Assessing Officer (Ward / Circle), Find it here by submitting your PAN.
After filling up the form, Generate tax return XML from the income tax form by clicking Generate button on first sheet of excels form.
e-File income tax return
After you have created a XML file from income tax return excel form, Go to Income Tax e-Filing Website.
Create your login on this page on website. It’s not mandatory, to use a digital signature for electronically filing the return.
a) Filing return without digital signature:
Login to income tax site and click on assessment year under submit return menu on left side of page.
Upload the generated XML on this page for 2012-13 assessment year.
On successful upload acknowledgment details would be displayed.
Take printout of acknowledgment/ITR-V Form. You may also download it later. Login and go to link on top right My account > My Returns.
Form ITR-V has to be submitted with the Income tax Department as verification of the electronic filing of the return within 120 days after the date of e-Filing.
Form ITR-V is bar-coded, so it need not to be folded and to be mailed in a A4 size envelope BY ORDINARY or SPEED POST ONLY to “Income Tax Department – CPC, Post Box No – 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru – 560100, Karnataka” within 120 days after the date of e-filing of return. ITR-V sent by Registered Post or Courier will not be accepted. No Form ITR-V shall be received in any other office of the Income-tax Department or in any other manner. Please keep a copy of the same with you also. After some day of posting the ITR-V, you can check status of receipt by going into account ‘My Account’ -> ‘E-filing Process Status’.
From year 2012-13, even if a person does not have digital signature, he can file online and even does not need to send ITR-V copy to Bangalore CPC (Central processing centre) address.
An electronic signature would be generated online in income tax efiling website after providing certain information from previous year’s income tax return. On validation of such information, unique PIN would be provided to person on email/SMS. This PIN can be used to file income tax return online without needing digital signature. This will also make sure no further hard copy needs to be sent to department.
b) Filing return with digital signature:
In case you don’t have digital signature and you want to buy that, you can buy class 2 or class 3. You can buy digital signature on e-Mudhra website . Class 2 individual certificate is available for Rs. 285 for 1 year validity.
In case return is filed with digital signature, user may take a printout of the Acknowledgment for his record. The tax-payer is not required to submit the Form ITR-V with the Income-tax Department.
Income tax department call center:
To assist taxpayers, a limited call center service has been established at ITD-CPC, Bangalore. Taxpayer queries on status of ITR-V receipt at CPC, Bangalore will be answered on 080-43456700 between 9:30 AM to 6 PM. The service will be available in English, Hindi and Kannada.
One may also call on 1800-425-2229 (Toll free) or 080-43456700 for status of receipt of ITR-V at CPC, Processing status of e-filed returns, Refund issues and any other information related to processing of returns at CPC. The working hours of CPC Call center have been extended to 9AM-8PM on all working days.
I hope this article will help many of us and make tax filing Simple & Easy. So please this year Do-It-Yourself.
Feel free to comment/suggest anything that I may have missed.
Note : No hard copy of any kind of proof needs to be submitted along with Income tax return.
plz help, its serious as i have refund of 1 Lac
Dear Pankaj,
My mother(earns family pension) had filed her IT Return for AY 2007-2008, but missed for AY 2008-2009. Recently we filed returns for AY 2009-2010.
We got a notice recently to pay tax for AY 2008-2009.
1. Can I file Return for AY 2008-2009 now(so late)?
2. We had done some investments that year, shall i consider that while filing?
3. DO I have to pay the tax amount as per notice and file for refund
OR
considering the above savings(2) and calculating the actual tax and pay that much and file return?
Please guide.
@Partha
Last date for filing return for AY 2008-09 return with penalty was 31st March, 2010. So It cannot be filed now.
I would still suggest you to consult any CA or tax professional regarding same, If there can be any way out.
You said: “Last date for filing return for AY 2008-09 return with penalty was 31st March, 2010.”
which I think is wrong.
Last date for filing return for AY 2008-2009 (FY 2007-08) return with penalty is end of the assessment year i.e. 31st March, 2009.
@Gaurav
Thanks for pointing that out.
Hi Pankaj,
This is Joydeep. I have filled return for both 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. But I have not get the money back which was deducted from my salary in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 in form of TDS. I should get the money back because for the above financial year my salary was non-taxable.
What should I do to get that money from Govt. ?
@Joydeep
In case you asked for the refund in income tax return, you should have got it by now.
First of all check Form 26AS for any refund data. Same can also be checked from View Tax credit statement (Form 26 AS) section under “My Account” menu in Income tax e-filing website after login.
In case, this also does not show any details for refund, contact your income tax assessing office. If that also does not help, you may complain to senior income tax people or File a RTI.
Hi … I got my tax return check for year 2008-2009 but by the time check reached me, it’s validity period of 90 days expired. What to do now?
@Chat
You can contact your income tax office regarding same, deposit the old cheque and get a new one.
Hi Pankaj,
I am yet to file my ITRs for AY 2009-10 and 2010-11. For both years I was not able to submit my rent receipts hence didnt get the HRA exemption. Is it possible to get refunds now if I file my returns
a) online
b) offline using tax agent’s help
Regards,
Parimal
@Parimal
You won’t be able to get refunds now for HRA deduction on past returns.
Hi Pankaj, Got a question. Am claiming exemption on my Housing Loan interest component and cannot find an option to account for it inside the ITR-1 anywhere. Can you suggest how this needs to be mentioned? My Form 16 from the employer, deducts this directly from the Net Taxable income and does not mention deduction on the form itself. So can I go ahead and do it this way or do I show ‘negative’ house property etc to include HL interest in the ITR-1. Apparently, its not ITR-2, and am on the right form just dont know how to finish it off.
Kindly assist ………
@Santosh
Please download latest version of ITR1 from income tax website: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/downloads10-11/itr/ITR1_2010_11_R19.zip
It has a field for income from house property (enter with -ve sign), which can be used to show the interest component.
Hi Pankaj,
I have filled by returns now i need them to acquire a car loan can you please suggest from where i can get it?
@Raunak
There are different banks which offer car loan and you may get in touch with them.
Just compare their rate, negotiate and choose the best one.
Dear Pankaj
My salary is 48000/Annum. Please let me know how to save tax and method to save. Kindly guide me as a mentor
I’m away from India between Feb 2010 and Nov 2010. My Indian salary was credited in India account. I received perdiem from company during the above said period. Want to know if the savings from the perdiem will attract any tax..
@SKumar
If your total stay outside India is less than 182 days in a financial year, then whole income earned outside India will also be taxable in India.
If outside stay is more than 182 days, then income tax rules for abroad country will be applicable and In India, it won’t be taxed.
Pankaj,
I am an NRI living abroad since few years. I used to use the services of a CA to file returns but have missed doing so in the last two years. Whatever meagre interest earned and house rent is tax deducted at source. Can I file my returns for the last two financial years online myself now?
Thank you for your guidance.
Rgds
SP
@SP
Yes, you can file income tax return online on https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.
Hello Sir,
I m unable to arrange for the rent receipts as my employer wants them in 15 days and the owner stays in another city.
I plan to not claim HRA benefit from employer & instead claim rebate while filing income tax returns – is that okay? I do not see any provision of claiming HRA in ITR1 form – so what is the procedure to give rent receipts etc while filing returns? Please help.
@Amu
Its better that you get rent receipts in these 15 days.
HRA is not a part of income tax return form and has to be declared with employer. While filing return, rent receipts cannot be submitted.
Hello sir
I am not knowing how to fill itr and how we get refund ?
so sir i have request to give me some steps regarding this
i am thankgul to you.
@Shivam
This post has all details http://www.pankajbatra.com/india/file-income-tax-return-online-yourself
HI Pankaj,
I have joined new company in dec 2010. in F&F from my previous employer of this financial year, he has not given me benefit of HRA. My current employer is giving me benefit of HRA for only 4 months (dec’10 to mar’11). So, can I claim my HRA benefit from Apr’10 to Nov’10 while filing my ITR next year.
If yes, please let me know the procedure.
Thanks in advance.
@Pawan
HRA exemption is based on HRA component in salary, basic salary, actual rent paid and place where you live.
In case your package at previous employer did not had House Rent component in salary, you can not claim HRA exemption.
In case HRA was part of package, but exemption was not considered because proofs were not submitted, Logically you can claim deduction for HRA in income tax return.
But return form does not have field to specify same and no additional documents is accepted along with return forms. So if you file return asking for refund after HRA exemption, income tax department may raise query for providing more details like rent receipts, lease agreement etc.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for your reply.
I do have HRA as a part of my package but exemption was not considered. I have rent receipts so that is not a problem with me, if asked for submission.
Hi,
Am filing AY 2010-2011 return now. There is a generate xml button on every sheet. Which button among these sheets has to be pressed to generate xml?
Any one? or the first sheet?
Rgds
Anil
@Anil
Pressing button Generate XML on any sheet will generate same xml .
I took a loan from lic hf for my appartment and now i am staying at rented house in bangalore, which is 16 km away from my own appartment due my office requirments.
Can i claim my rent and housing benfit on interest of 1.5 lakh for my loaned appartment
@Srinivas
Generally , you can claim both HRA and home loan benefits if owned home is not at a commutable distance from office. But 16 km does not look like far off.
If your employer allows you to show both, you can do so, but be prepared for valid and logical reasons in case of a query/scrutiny from income tax department.
Hi,
I got my form-16 from company on 2 June 2009 (thru’ email) (Period: 1Apr2008-29Aug2008) but I haven’t filed for tax returns yet. I no longer work with that company and rite now doing higher studies. Am I still eligible to apply for those tax returns? if yes, which form I need to fill out?
also Can you please explain procedure of e-filing in detail with form16 as I haven’t done that before.
Also my form16 is digitally signed and tax returns are already calculated
@Rashmi
In case your income was not more than non-taxable limit as per income tax slab, you can even skip filing file income tax return.
If not, and you had paid income tax, then you would need to file one.
This page already has steps to file income tax return: http://www.pankajbatra.com/india/file-income-tax-return-online-yourself/
Thank you for your reply Pankaj 🙂
Yes I had paid ITax. So as per your comment, I am still eligible to apply for tax return even though that tax was paid in 2008, rite?
And I should use latest ITR 1 form for the year 2010-2011, rite?
@Rashmi
Last date for filing income tax return is by end of assessment year. So 31st Dec, 2010 was last date for filing income tax return for AY 2009-2010 (FY 2008-09).
You can submit return now as well, but If a return is submitted after the due date, the following consequences will be applicable:
1. The assessee will be liable for penal interest under section 234 A.
2. A penalty of Rs 5,000 may be imposed under section 271 F if belated return is submitted after the end of the assessment year.
3. If the return of loss is submitted after the due date, a few losses cannot be carried forward.
4. If the return is submitted belated, deductions allowable under certain sections will not be available.
hi i m yamini. i want to submit itretun file , i dnt know abt any thing . for home loan purpose i want to make my file, my pmt is in cash mode how can i show?
@Yamini
You can file ITR 1.
You can claim
1. home loan principal amount paid in financial year under 80-C section, subject to max combined limit of 1 lac for 80C
2. interest portion under loss from house property section, subject to max combined limit of 1.5 lac.
Dear Pankaj Batra,
I filed a tax returns online and posted the hard copy to the mentioned address twice. But I have still not got my E-receipt via mail as mentioned by the IT dept.
Please let me know how I can track my returns status online and what should I do to get the acknowledgment of the E-receipt
@Greg
Taxpayer queries on status of ITR-V receipt at CPC, Bangalore are answered on 080-43456700 between 9:30 AM to 6 PM.
Hello Pankaj,
I’ve very less knowledge about tax world.I joined a company 2006 and paying tax every year but not sure about all the necessary documents which I need to keep as well as I dont think tax department refund me any money. Please tell me how can I get information about my tax payment and refunds Since 2006 till the date. Thanks.
@Manoj
For all income tax returns submitted physically, You must keep the income tax return acknowledgement provided by income tax office.
For e-filing, you can get details by logging onto income tax website (https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/).
Regarding previous year refunds, you can check same in Form26AS, which can be seen after login on this link: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/EndUserMenu.do?screen=viewTaxCredit
Thanks Pankaj, I’ll try to get information. Thanks again.
hi pankaj sir i have e filed my return for A/Y 2010-2011 but i dont know about to send it to bengluru is there any remedies available for me please help as i have a refund on that and i deposited that return on 30th july 2010 physically with tax counter given bt it dept….
@Vikas
In case you filed income tax return on internet and had not submitted ITR-V to bengluru address, return won’t be counted and you will have to file return again.
In case you submitted return physically in income tax office, then there is no need to file again.
Hello Pankaj,
I didn’t send ITR V to tax office for year 2007 and 2008. Please tell me, can I send it now?
Kindly suggest. Thanks.
@Manoj
ITR-V is only needed to be sent, in case you filed income tax return online.
And in case, income tax department does not receive ITR-V till 3 months of filing return, return becomes invalid and will have to be filed again.