Is it safe to file ITR myself on incometax.gov.in?

Yes - the government portal is the authoritative filing site. For a simple ITR-1 with salary + bank interest, most salaried Indians can complete it themselves in 20-40 minutes. Consider a CA only if you have capital gains, multiple properties, foreign income, or business income.

What happens if I miss the 31 July 2026 deadline?

You can file a belated return till 31 December 2026 with a late fee of Rs 5,000 (Rs 1,000 if total income <= Rs 5L) under section 234F, plus interest at 1%/month on unpaid tax under section 234A. You also lose the option to carry forward certain losses.

Can I revise my ITR after filing?

Yes - a revised return under section 139(5) can be filed up to 31 December 2026 for FY 2025-26. Do this if you spot a mistake or forgot to declare income.

How long does refund take?

For simple ITRs processed under section 143(1), refunds are typically credited within 15-45 days of e-verification. Complex ITRs or ones flagged for verification can take 60-90 days or longer.

Do I need to file if my income is below the exemption limit?

You may not have tax liability, but you MUST file if: your gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit; you deposited over Rs 1 crore in a bank; you spent over Rs 2 lakh on foreign travel; or your electricity bill exceeded Rs 1 lakh. Filing also helps build a documented income history for visa or loan applications.

How to file your Income Tax Return - step-by-step guide for salaried

Q: Can I revise my ITR after filing?

Yes - a revised return under section 139(5) can be filed up to 31 December 2026 for FY 2025-26. Do this if you spot a mistake or forgot to declare income.

Q: How long does refund take?

For simple ITRs processed under section 143(1), refunds are typically credited within 15-45 days of e-verification. Complex ITRs or ones flagged for verification can take 60-90 days or longer.

Q: Do I need to file if my income is below the exemption limit?

You may not have tax liability, but you MUST file if: your gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit; you deposited over Rs 1 crore in a bank; you spent over Rs 2 lakh on foreign travel; or your electricity bill exceeded Rs 1 lakh. Filing also helps build a documented income history for visa or loan applications.

Filing your ITR is much simpler than most private intermediaries make it look. If you are salaried with income only from one or two employers, some bank interest, and no capital gains beyond simple mutual fund redemptions, ITR-1 is the correct form and the whole process should take you 20-40 minutes on incometax.gov.in. Here is the exact sequence.

By Aditi Menon·Editor-in-Chief·reviewed by editor

Last updated: 15 June 2025

Documents to keep ready

PAN card and Aadhaar (linked - mandatory).
Form 16 from every employer for the financial year.
Form 26AS (auto-available on the e-filing portal - shows all TDS, TCS, and tax paid against your PAN).
Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) - also auto-available.
Bank account statements for interest income.
Rent receipts and landlord PAN (if claiming HRA).
Investment proofs (LIC, PPF, ELSS, home loan interest certificate) - for old regime only.
Capital gains statement from mutual funds / broker (if any redemption during the year).

The actual filing process - step by step

1. Login to incometax.gov.in with PAN as user ID. If new, register first (takes 5 minutes).
2. Go to e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return. Choose Assessment Year 2026-27.
3. Select ITR-1 (Sahaj) if you qualify (single-source salary, no capital gains beyond simple redemptions, income <= Rs 50L). Otherwise ITR-2 or higher.
4. Choose your tax regime for the year - new is default, tick to opt for old if you have deductions.
5. The portal pre-fills your salary from Form 26AS/AIS. Cross-check against your Form 16 line by line.
6. Add or verify the pre-filled interest income, dividend income, and TDS entries.
7. For old regime: enter 80C, 80D, HRA, home loan interest amounts. Standard deduction is auto-applied.
8. The portal computes tax, any refund due, or tax payable. If tax is payable, pay it via Challan 280 before submitting.
9. Submit the return. Immediately e-verify: Aadhaar OTP (30 seconds), net banking, or ITR-V post to CPC Bengaluru.
10. Refund (if any) is credited directly to your pre-validated bank account, typically within 15-90 days.

Which ITR form to pick

Form	Who should file
ITR-1 (Sahaj)	Salaried + one house property + interest/dividend. Income <= Rs 50L. Not for capital gains.
ITR-2	Same as ITR-1 but with capital gains, or multiple properties, or income above Rs 50L, or foreign income.
ITR-3	If you have business or professional income.
ITR-4 (Sugam)	Presumptive scheme filers (small business, freelance under 44ADA).

Common filing mistakes to avoid

Not e-verifying within 30 days - return becomes invalid.
Not adding interest from savings accounts (many people forget this - AIS captures it).
Mismatch between Form 16 and Form 26AS - reconcile before filing to avoid a notice.
Claiming HRA without landlord PAN if annual rent above Rs 1L.
Filing under wrong regime (checkbox missed) - hard to change later; wait for revised return window.
Bank account not pre-validated - refund will fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & references

Income Tax India - e-Filing portal — Income Tax Department, GoI
CBDT circular on ITR-1 eligibility — CBDT
AIS / TIS on the e-filing portal — Income Tax Department, GoI

Rates, fees, eligibility, and product terms cited on this page reflect the sources above at the time of publication and may have changed since. Always verify directly with the lender or regulator.

Income tax for salaried - overview Old vs new regime comparison Section 80C deductions HRA exemption calculation Standard deduction explained