Standard Operating Procedure · Pan-India E-Filing Desk
Comprehensive operational roadmap for salaried individuals, professionals, freelancers, and businesses to prepare, reconcile, compute, e-file, and verify Income Tax Returns without errors.
Online Income Tax Filing (ITR) SOP: Step 1: Collect Form 16, AIS/TIS, and Form 26AS. Step 2: Compare Old vs New Tax Regime (Sec 115BAC). Step 3: Select ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, or ITR-4. Step 4: Pay self-assessment tax via Challan 280 & e-file on incometax.gov.in. Step 5: E-verify within 30 days via Aadhaar OTP. Future Tax provides CA-reviewed filing nationwide. Call +91 94454 38387.
Before initiating online filing on the Income Tax e-filing portal (e-Filing 2.0), ensure all foundational tax documents and information feeds are compiled and verified.
Confirm that your PAN is linked with Aadhaar under Section 139AA and active on incometax.gov.in. Ensure your registered mobile number is active for Aadhaar OTP e-verification.
Log in to the portal → Services → AIS. Download the PDF/JSON of both AIS and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). Simultaneously, download Form 26AS via the TRACES portal link to cross-check all TDS/TCS entries.
Collect Form 16 (Part A & Part B) from all employers for the financial year. Gather interest certificates from savings accounts, fixed deposits (Form 16A), and proof of eligible investments (Section 80C, 80D medical insurance, 80G donations, NPS u/s 80CCD(1B)).
For investors and traders, download the consolidated capital gains statement from CAMS/KFintech or stockbrokers (Zerodha, Groww, AngelOne). For freelancers and small businesses, compile gross receipts, bank credit summaries, and expenses.
Under current tax provisions, the New Tax Regime (Section 115BAC) is the default regime. Taxpayers must compute their liability under both regimes to make the most cost-effective election.
| Parameter | New Tax Regime (Default u/s 115BAC) | Old Tax Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Exemption Limit | ₹3,00,000 | ₹2,50,000 (₹3,00,000 for Senior Citizens) |
| Standard Deduction | ₹75,000 (for Salaried & Pensioners) | ₹50,000 |
| Rebate under Section 87A | Full tax rebate up to ₹7,00,000 taxable income (Net zero tax up to ₹7.75L with standard deduction) | Full tax rebate up to ₹5,00,000 taxable income |
| Section 80C Deductions (LIC, PPF, ELSS, Tuition Fee) | Not Allowed | Allowed up to ₹1,50,000 |
| Health Insurance (Section 80D) | Not Allowed | Allowed (₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) & LTA | Not Allowed | Allowed as per calculation rules |
| Home Loan Interest (Self-occupied u/s 24b) | Not Allowed | Allowed up to ₹2,00,000 |
| Employer NPS Contribution (Sec 80CCD(2)) | Allowed (up to 14% of salary) | Allowed (up to 10% / 14%) |
Selecting the incorrect ITR form will cause your return to be declared defective under Section 139(9). Follow this decision framework:
| ITR Form | Eligible Taxpayers & Sources of Income | Ineligible Conditions (Do NOT use if) |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) |
Resident individuals with total income up to ₹50 Lakhs from:
|
|
| ITR-2 |
Individuals & HUFs NOT having income from business or profession, but having:
|
|
| ITR-3 |
Individuals & HUFs having income from:
|
|
| ITR-4 (Sugam) |
Resident Individuals, HUFs & Firms (other than LLP) opting for Presumptive Taxation:
|
|
Follow these exact operational steps on the official e-Filing portal (incometax.gov.in):
Access incometax.gov.in → Log in using PAN → Navigate to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return. Select current Assessment Year (e.g., AY 2025–26) and select mode of filing as Online.
Choose filing status as Individual / HUF. Select the predetermined form (ITR-1, 2, 3, or 4). Click Let’s Get Started and specify the reason for filing (e.g., Taxable income exceeds exemption limit).
Review each schedule: Personal Information, Gross Total Income, Disclosures, and Total Deductions. Cross-check pre-filled salary, interest, and TDS amounts against your verified Form 16, AIS, and 26AS. Amend discrepancies if necessary.
Navigate to Taxes Paid & Total Tax Liability. If there is a net tax payable, click Pay Now. Use the integrated e-Pay Tax gateway to pay Self-Assessment Tax (Minor Head 300) via Net Banking, UPI, or Debit Card. The BSR code and Challan CIN will auto-populate upon payment.
Click Preview Return, review the draft verification statement, and click Proceed to Validation. Fix any validation errors flagged by the portal before final submission.
Filing the return is incomplete without verification. Unverified returns are deemed void ab initio after 30 days.
Choose from 4 instant digital verification methods:
Once verified, download the signed ITR-V acknowledgement and detailed computation PDF from the e-Filing dashboard for your loan, visa, or audit records.
Monitor your registered email for the official processing Intimation u/s 143(1). If a tax refund is determined, ensure your bank account is pre-validated on the portal with enabled refund credit nomination for direct credit via ECS/NECS.
Avoid defective notices and maximize deductions. Future Tax handles capital gains, business ITRs, and AIS reconciliation with complete CA review.
Income tax returns must be e-verified within 30 days of submission. If not verified within 30 days, the return is treated as invalid (never filed), attracting late filing penalties under Section 234F.
The New Tax Regime u/s 115BAC is the default regime offering standard deduction of ₹75,000 and full tax rebate up to ₹7.75 Lakhs taxable income. The Old Regime is beneficial if you claim large deductions exceeding ₹3.75 Lakhs (HRA, Section 80C, 80D, and home loan interest u/s 24b).
Under Section 234F, a late fee of ₹5,000 applies (₹1,000 if total income is below ₹5 Lakhs). Additionally, penal interest of 1% per month is charged on unpaid taxes under Section 234A.
Log in to incometax.gov.in, navigate to the Services tab, and click on Annual Information Statement (AIS). You can download both the AIS summary and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) as PDF or JSON.
No. Salaried employees with capital gains from equity shares, mutual funds, or immovable property must file ITR-2 (or ITR-3 if carrying on active intraday/F&O trading).
Future Tax provides complete CA-reviewed ITR preparation, AIS/26AS matching, deduction optimization, capital gains calculations, and secure online submission with post-filing refund tracking. Call or WhatsApp +91 94454 38387.
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