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.
Dear Pankaj,
How do we covert excel file into XML which is required while uploading? I have tried it, but i guess the excel file is password protected.
Regards,
Priyank Sharma
@Priyank
If you have enabled macro (you see a security warning on top), then you will see button in the excel file to generate XML file.
I’m filing ITR for the first time. The jurisdiction details for my PAN card, seen at the IT website is that of my home town. I’m currently working at Mangalore.
How do I get the code to be entered in the return prep S/w?
Is there some specific format for the Field? Eg. ITO WD 14(3), or is it OK to write BANGALORE WARD-14(3) ..?
@Said
You will have to fill Jurisdiction value in this section (taken from https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/common.do?screen=jurisdiction).
You can also leave it blank and it will be re-assigned based on address mentioned by you in ITR.
Thanks for the quick reply!! 🙂
I have 2 more Qs
1) Is it OK if I give my Permanent Address(kerala) instead of my current one(mangalore)?
2) My total investement under sec 80c is not visible in my Form-16. When e-filing, how do I submit the proofs for the extra amount? Or can I simply enter the larger (correct) amount in the Return Prep S/w?
@Said
1. It is acceptable to provide your permanent address, but you should be able to receive communication from income tax department on this address.
2. You will have to just provide amount under 80-C in ITR excel. No document/proof need to be submitted along with ITR.
Hi Pankaj,
I want to submit additional proofs for some donations that I have made and long term infrastructure bonds I have which I could not show earlier. How can I claim income tax return for these while filing so that my tax liability is adjusted? Don’t I need to provide any scanned copy of the same in support? Or, just mentioning the amount is enough to claim the return.
Thanks
Mamta
@Mamta
You can claim deduction for long term infrastructure bonds and other deductions while filing income tax return.
You can provide value for long term infra bonds under 80CCF field.
There is no need to attach any sort of document/proof with ITR. Just mentioning the amount is enough.
We want to purchase Infrastructure Bond for Income Tax Purpose. Kindly inform us when and where will we get it.
@Smt Mangala Gupta
As of now there is no infrastructure bonds open.
There will be multiple such on offer from Dec-March period. Notifications also come out in major newspapers.
hi,
I am filling ITR1 and declaring few investments under section 80CCC . I have entered the amount, however do i need to send proof of documents or may be scan copy to income tax department. They would require some kind of proof. I did not see an option to upload documents or any documentation about this.
@Roshan
There is no need to attach any document/proof along with income tax return form. Whatever you are declaring is considered true as you sign on it.
When the ITR1 is filed online, ITR V is generated which is to be signed by the tax payer and should be sent to the given Bangluru address. In the ‘verification’ section of ITR V, the last line goes like this…..
“I further declare that I am making this return in my _________ capacity as and I am also competent to make this return and verify it.”
Can you advise what is to be mentioned here? Under what capacity is one supposed to file his/her return?
Many thanks.
@Anks
In case of individual, you can write ‘Individual’, In case of HUF it can be ‘Karta’, In case of Partnership it can be ‘Partner’ and In case of Company it can be ‘director’.
Your response does help and makes sense.
Thanks you again!
Hi Pankaj..
For ITR 1, the income that is declared on the first sheet is the salary after deducting the HRA benefit as per the proofs submitted.
But in TDS sheet, for the table TDS deducted(entry number 23), should the “Income chargeable under the head salaries” be the income after HRA exemption or before exemption. Thanks a lot..
@Ram
These figures have to filled exactly as per form-16 provided by your employer. You should pick up value form Form-16 under cell “6. Income Chargeable under the head ‘salaries'(3-5)”.
Value on both sheets will be same (after HRA/Conveyance deduction) in case there is only one employer. In case of more than one employer, first sheet in ITR will contain sum of all such figures from all form-16s.
Thanks a lot Pankaj, easily filed the return.
How can i fill the self online ITR?…..I am salaried person with also trade in stock market?? Actually i have loss in stock market 2010-2011.
What the process to fill the ITR with give detail of stock market loss & Salary CTC 3,00,000/-??
Give information step by step to fill the ITR online…….Pleses help me.
@Tanmay
You will have to fill ITR2 as you have loss from stock market investments.
You can download and fill ITR excel. After filling, XML file needs to be generated from excel and has to be uploaded to income tax e-filing website after login.
Thank u very much for the particular important info.
Hi,
I am salaried person and have switched job in FY 11-12 due to which I have received Form 16 from 2 employers. After I merge Form 16, I concluded that still Rs. 4377 is payable for FY 2011-12.
My total tax payable is 7,323 and only 2946 rs was Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) by both employer.
Please advise, if it is ok I pay Rs. 4,377 tax before 31st July 11 on https://onlineservices.tin.nsdl.com and use following options:
i) CHALLAN NO./ITNS 280
ii) (0021)INCOME-TAX (OTHER THAN COMPANIES)
where type of Payment will be (300)SELF ASSESSMENT TAX, without any tax (As my total payable tax is less than Rs. 10,000).
Thanks in advance
@Sandeep
You can pay pending tax amount before 31st July 2011 (before tax return filing last date).
Challan No 280 should be chosen, 0021 for income tax (other than companies) and code 300 for self assessment tax.
Your pending tax is less than 10,000 so no interest is payable under 234B and 234C
Interest under 234A will not be applicable if you pay tax and file return before 31st July.
Thanks Pankaj for your guidance.
I have paid remaining tax for FY10-11 (Chalan no 280) and have got Chalan receipt at end of transaction from my bank. But I am not able to see the paid amount in Form 26A “PART C – Details of Tax Paid (Other than TDS or TCS)” which I access from https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/ >> My Account >> View Tax Credit Statement (Form 26A)!
Can you please advise whether self assessment tax is not shown in Form 26A? If yes, then after how many days I can view paid tax in Form 26A (I had paid tax today)?
@Sandeep
It takes some days for form 26AS to display your advance tax payment details. Please wait for 3-4 days and it should be live.
It should be visible under PART C – Details of Tax Paid (Other than TDS or TCS)
You can file income tax return with challan details and there is no need to check 26AS for same.
Hi Pankaj
My wife has invested Rs 20,000 in March-11 (which comes under section 80C and I am not nominee in that policy) on her name and has not declared same for tax rebate in FY11-12. Can I declare Rs 20,000 in FY11-12 ITR-1 form to claim tax rebate for myself (I have investments of Rs 78,000 only in my Form 16 and this will save me more tax)?
Thanks in advance
@Sandeep
If 80-C investments has been done by you (amount paid from your accounts) for your wife’s investments (insurance/PPF etc), Then you can claim deduction for same in ITR form.
Hi,
I am working as salaried employee and got a commission from LIC and AMWAY. So which form I have to choose to file ITR Sugam (4s) or SAHAJ.
@Lucky
You will have to file ITR4 as you have income from business/profession too.
last year I worked for 2 month in India, after that I am in US, My Indian bank has deposited some IT for my NRO account interest, my form 16 is only having salary related tax detail. So do I need to show tax deducted by bank in income tax return, or can I fill based on form 16 only. thanks in advance.
@Amit
You will have to declare all income earned in India (salary as well as bank interests) in income tax return form.
If your total Indian income falls below taxable range, you can file for refund of TDS by employer and bank.
Hi Pankaj,
Here is my dad’s case.
3,20,000 pension, interest income 1,000
no other deductions applicable
So Taxable income 1,61,000 and TDS 16200.
Should he file Income Tax returns?
@Georgy
Total income tax including education cess comes out to be 16583.
If this amount has already been paid through TDS, then there is no need to file income tax return as total income falls below 5 lacs.
Does it matter that his income is not a salary but a pension?
some are telling him that only salaried employees earning less than 5 lacs need not file; pensioners dont have this option. please advice.
@Georgy
Below is the IT department notification text :
“The Central Board of Direct Taxes has notified the scheme exempting salaried taxpayers with total income up to Rs.5 lakh from filing income tax return for assessment year 2011-12, which will be due on July 31, 2011.
Individuals having total income up to Rs.5,00,000 for FY 2010-11, after allowable deductions, consisting of salary from a single employer and interest income from deposits in a saving bank account up to Rs.10,000 are not required to file their income tax return. Such individuals must report their Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the entire income from bank interest to their employer, pay the entire tax by way of deduction of tax at source, and obtain a certificate of tax deduction in Form No.16.
Persons receiving salary from more than one employer, having income from sources other than salary and interest income from a savings bank account, or having refund claims shall not be covered under the scheme.”
It does not specifically mentions income from pension, but for tax purposes, income from pension is considered similar as from salary. So even people earning from pensions can get benefit of this.
Also does TDS on bank interest also got deposited by employer (who is paying pension)? If yes, then only income tax return filing exemption is available.
I am not able to generate xml file. there is no button like save xml. what should i do?
@Jeyasree
Buttons are only enabled once you enable macro (or security warning) in excel.
Hi Neeraj,
I have summed up the amount of all the investments that I made and written the amount corresponding to the field 80C (5a in the excel sheet). Is this okay or do i need to provide break up of all the investments that I have made example: 10,000 in Metlife, 20000 in LIC Premium, 30000 under PF etc. If i need to give the break up how do i put it in the excel sheet?
@Aastha
There is no need to provide breakup details for 80-C investments in income tax return form (there is no provision too for the same)
I am a salaried person – Trying to fill Sahaj ITR-1 – I have two Form 16 for this year (FY 2010-11 Ass Y ear 2011-12). ITR1 shows – tax liability of Rs 1974/-. May be my employer has deducted less tax.
Can I pay this tax thru e-Payment now under Challan No 280 , 0021 for income tax (other than companies) and code 300 for self assessment tax. and submit ITR1 with these additional tax – in item 25 – Details of Self Assessment Tax.
@Mansoor
You can pay income tax yourself on e-payment website and mention challan details in ITR form under self assessment tax.
Is it necessary to attach the bank statement (pension) when I sent ITR-V to bangalore
@Krishnamoorthy
No document/proof needs to be attached with ITR-V.
I aapreciate the efforts you have made to explain in detail about the income tax returns on line, ad thanks.
I have a asked a question and request you clarify me.
thanks in advance.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for this useful site firstly. I have recently moved to another organization and been here for 6 months. So I have 2 Form 16s. Could you please help me calculate the tax amount I need to pay ( apart from the Tax paid as TDS already)?
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Ram.
@Ramasubramanian
You will have to add figure under section “Income Chargeable under the head ‘salaries'(3-5)” from both form-16 and provide same into ITR form under section “Income from Salary / Pension (Ensure to fill Sch TDS1)”.
Hi Pankaj
First, I would like to thank you for putting this information online – really helped me gain confidence to file my own returns myself.
I have a small problem – I entered the wrong details in the Designation of AO (Ward/Circle) and submitted the returns on the website. The ITR-V form has also been generated.
I wanted to check if it is ok if I correct the mistake in the excel, upload a new xml and re-submit the returns.
Or – is there another process that I have to go through to correct this mistake
It would be great if you could please clarify this
Thanks!
Hi,
I checked with the CPC customer care – they have asked me to submit a revised return using the same excel utility under section 139(5) with the acknowledgement number received via email –
They asked me to send only the latest ITRV corresponding to the revised return and not the original return ITRV – this seems a bit suspect.
Can you please clarify if I need to send out only the revised return ITRV or both original and revised?
Thanks so much!
Regards,
Gaurav
@Gaurav
Its better that you send both revised as well as original ITR-V. It won’t cost you anything extra, So no harm sending both.
@Gaurav
You can correct the information in excel and then choose revised return in-spite of original return. Choose ‘u/s 139(5)’ in return filed under section. Provide earlier e-filing acknowledgement number and date.
After that follow same process, generate XML and upload it to e-filing website.
Send both ITR-V (original and revised) to Bangalore address.
Thanks a lot! Really appreciate your help
Regards,
Gaurav
Thanks for the reply.
Is is useful for persons like me, who are attempting for the first time.
thanks once again.