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.
Hi Pankaj,
I’m trying to upload the XML but it’s giving the error “please select proper XML file for processing”. I have tried to generate the XML twice but encountered same error everytime. Any suugestions?
@Rahul,
No idea about the error.
Please check the XML by opening in notepad or any other text editor.
Hi Pankaj,
I left my previous company in july 2008 and joined new company.
Now i got Form 16 from new company . Do I have to include my previous year Form 16 also while filing IT returns?
Because there wont be any proof for Apr to Jun of 2008.
Also, if any investment is made which is not declared in Form 16, you said no proof is required. Then how do they know if its invested or not?
@Swetha,
You have to combine income earned from both the companies in the financial year 2008-09. Add the taxable income from both Form-16 and calculate income tax on total taxable income deducting the investment done for tax saving. Use the income tax calculator provided on this link to find out the taxable salary and total tax on that.
Income tax department does not need any proof with return form to know whether you have invested or not. You are filing return by signing it and are liable for everything mentioned on it. In case of a scrutiny, they can ask you for proofs.
I have filled the reutns and submitted the xml file and got the ITR V acknowledgment after that i found a small mistake, now i need to submit the revised returns or i can upload the new xml file with modification. If i need to submit the revised one then what i need to fill in general sections under 28 and 29 line (if revised give the Receipt number and original date of filling returns).
I am waiting for your reply mail
@Rama
Now You need to submit revised return.
For revised return, In 28-29 line of General Sheet, provide E-filing Acknowledgment Number and Date of e-Filing.
Sir,
I have three points to be cleared before i file my return in online
1) I am residing in Hyderabad and my jurisdiction for filing IT return lies in Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh. Can I submit my ack. copy at hyderabad IT Dept.
2) My employer not shown my HRA, LIC & MF investments in form – 16 due to which TDS is deducted from my Salary… Can i show the same in the Return being filed in the online and can i get refund of the amount deducted as tax.
3) What the address be shown in the IT Return being filed online…. Is it my PAN Address or my home address or my stay address in hyderabad…..
Please clarify me on the above points……
Thanking you.
@Ramakrishna,
1. Acknowledgment for e-filing (ITR-V) can not be submitted to any income tax department office. It only needs to sent to Income tax Bangalore address by Ordinary Post.
2. Yes, you can show your investments in return even if its not there in Form-16. You will get refund of the amount.
3. It should be your current or permanent address.
Sir,
Thanks for your reply……..
Sir,
I have one more doubt regarding the IT Ward to be mentioned in the ITR 1 being filed in online……..
Designation of Assessing Officer (Ward / Circle)
What should be mentioned..whether the ward/circle noted in the PAN No. or the address of our residence or the address of the office….
Thanking you.
@Ramakrishna,
If you keep it blank, ward associated with your PAN will be used automatically.
If you want to get it changed to your local address, provide that and it will be updated in your PAN.
I have filed the return and put my permanent address in it. I got the ack. Now when and where will I get my ack back after verified and sealed by the govt…
@Dev,
You have to send ITR-V acknowledgment by simple post to Income tax Bangalore address. After they receive the same, they will send confirmation on your email id and same will also available in your account on e-filing website.
hi,
i have fill my tax return and got the acknowledgement. I have posted the ack to IT dept. Now when and where will I get my ack back after verified and sealed by govt.
one more query….
last year I filed wrong return. I came to know about it last week. I should get 2000 refund in that. I tried filing now, it says “The due date for IT Return of ReturnFileSec 11 for Assessment Year 2008 is only till 31-03-2009. Please contact DIT Administrator for further details “. Is there any other way…..
@Dev,
For getting the refund you have to file in same assessment year. revised return with refund requirement are not accepted after a year.
After uploading the excel, do I need to send the ITR-2 to the above address? Is it appilcable only for ITR-5? How can I get ack if I didnt opted for digital sign?
@Senthil,
After uploading XML, you will get ITR-V acknowledgment which needs to be sent to above Bangalore address. As soon as they receive this, they will send confirmation on email.
Hi Pankaj,
Is it mandetory to submit a copy of Pancard of the flat owner for which i am claiming HRA exemption for rent ??
Thanks in Advance.
..Manu
@Manu,
No, its not required to provide PAN card copy of flat owner for HRA benefit.
Sir,
I have downloaded the ITR Form 1 from the IT Website and filled up. When I uploaded the same it is asking “Please Select XML File for processing”
How to convert excel file into XML file and make it uploaded successfully in the ITefiling website.
Please clarify my doubt in detail and do the needful.
Thanking you.
@Ramakrishna,
You have to generate XML from the ITR Form 1 Excel utility. There are buttons on each excel sheet with name as ‘Validate’ and ‘Generate’. After validating the values, you can generate XMl by clicking on Generate button. this will create a XML file with name containing your PAN number in same directory as in excel file.
Thanks a lot… Nice reply in no time 🙂
So, does that means I cant my last year refund back now ?
@Dev,
If you had refund in return, you must have asked for that in same assessment year only. Its too late now for asking refund for previous year.
As said by you the buttons existing in the downloaded excel utility from the IT Website, ‘Validate’ and ‘Generate’ are not functioning.. I’ve utilised both Google Chrome and Internet explorer for downloading the excel utility sheet but the buttons as shown were not functioning after i filled up the rows…. what may be reason……… How to proceed……..
I have gone through the site https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/downloads09-10/ProdRelease1.0.zip
– It contains XSD Files and sample ITR’s in XML document in the folder for AY09-10… but how to run the same in order to go for operation of the buttons existing in the Excel utility file downloaded from the site
Please clarify and do the needful..
@Ramakrishna,
By default excel disable macros and activeX due to security reasons. You have to enable macros in order to excel utility to work properly.
Hi Pankaj
I was working with one of the company in delhi uptil DES.2008.Than I changed my job to overseas,where I am paying tax as per incomx rule of the country rule.Since my privious comoany has advance tax from my account.Can I claim the same with IT return.
Thanks in advance
Sanjay
@Sanjay,
Yes you can claim the refund with IT return as you have paid extra amount of tax.
Hi Pankaj,
I have two form-16, one from current employer(in hyderabad) and one from previous employer (in chennai). My doubt is, what address I should mention in the ITR-1 form and while filling up challan ITNS 280. Whether I need mention my present address (hyderabad) or my permanent address as per PAN card (chennai). I need your reply as early as possible.
@Srinivasuki,
You should use your current address where you can receive communication from Income tax department in case of any query.
This error is coming again and again “Please select a proper XML file for processing”.
I have talked to Income Tax Customer care also but they also have no clue.
Hey guys please help me out
@Ravi,
1. Please check if you are uploading correct file. Try opening the XML in notepad or any tax editor and see all provided information is there.
2. Try using any other browser or Try after sometime after logging out and logging in again.
hi pankaj
i am new for e return, i want to file e-return for 2008-09 and 2009-10 and in both years my payable tax is nil. whether filing for year 2008-09 create trouble for me and secondly my e return is not generated, whether i need some other software. plz ans these
with regards
taj
@Taj,
You cannot e-file return for assessment year 2008-2009 now as last date of e-filing was 31st March.
For filing this year’s return, please follow the steps mentioned in article.
I would like to get few queries cleared with the help of your expertise. I am getting too much income tax however I have already invested my money into all investment areas like 80C, etc.
Just bare with me for my common words as I am not freaky into Financial words.
My total CTC is 9.75 per annum. And on top of that I get other allowances which in turn gets credited into my monthly salary and I will have to end up by paying tax on this also. So likewise my total earning is around 10.5 PA.
Below are my investment details:
ULIP of UTI/LIC – 15000
Deposit in NSC – 20000
LIC- 40588 (I have taken two LIC’s both are jeevan anand)
Mutual Fund – 25000
Eventually my total investment is going beyond 1 Lack now i dont have any other options to save my tax except home loan.
Every year I am paying more than 1.25 Lacks.
Could you please advise me how can I save my tax??
And could you also advise me where else I can invest my money???
@Atul,
After a limit tax will definitely be deducted @ 30 %, If you earn more, more tax will be deducted. One can not runaway from it.
However there are some ways one can reduce the tax liabilities. HRA, Medical Bills, Medical Insurance, LTA, EPF, Housing loan are some ways using which one can reduce total taxable income.
Also if your company can help you can get your salary structure tweaked and can also give Petrol, Internet, telephone bills for reimbursements. But as per latest policy declared in this year’s budget, FBT is scrapped and so tax liability of the reimbursement is now in hands of employee rather than employer.
Regarding investment advice, I would like to suggest you to get a term insurance rather than ULIP or endowment policy (Jeevan Anand), In India, we treat insurance also as an investment which is wrong. Its better that we keep them separate and get a pure insurance and a pure investment plan instead.
Pure insurance does not return anything after policy term expires but gives a huge sum in case something happens during policy term that too on a very small premium. For investment, better invest in ELSS and PF (Mix both as one is risky and other is safe)
Above suggestions are accurate to the best of my knowledge, users are advised to verify them independently before making investment decisions.