Standard Operating Procedure · Pan-India E-Filing Desk
CA-reviewed income-tax returns for salaried people, professionals, freelancers, and businesses. Form 16, AIS, and the portal due date are checked before the return is filed.
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 by Aadhaar OTP, net banking, a bank or demat EVC, or a signed ITR-V. 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. If you e-verify with Aadhaar OTP, the mobile number on the Aadhaar must be active. Net banking, a bank or demat EVC, and a signed ITR-V are separate methods.
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.
For the year being filed, the new regime (section 115BAC) is the default. Compare tax under both regimes on that year's figures. The comparison is a draft, and you choose before the return is filed.
| Parameter | New Tax Regime (Default u/s 115BAC) | Old Tax Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Exemption Limit | ₹4,00,000 | ₹2,50,000 (₹3,00,000 for Senior Citizens) |
| Standard Deduction | ₹75,000 (for Salaried & Pensioners) | ₹50,000 |
| Rebate under Section 87A | Rebate if taxable income is up to ₹12,00,000. With the ₹75,000 standard deduction, salary up to ₹12.75 lakh is generally within that rebate. | 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%) |
A return in the wrong form can be treated as defective under section 139(9). Use this as a guide and confirm the form on the portal:
| 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:
|
|
These are the usual steps on the e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in). The screen labels can change:
Access incometax.gov.in → Log in using PAN → Navigate to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return. Select Assessment Year 2026–27 (FY 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 e-Pay Tax to pay self-assessment tax (minor head 300) by net banking, UPI, or debit card. Download the challan and check the BSR code and CIN. Enter them in the return if the portal does not show them.
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. If the return is not verified within 30 days, the department treats it as not filed.
Choose a verification method on the portal:
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 processing intimation under section 143(1). If that intimation determines a refund, it is credited to a bank account that is pre-validated on the portal.
Future Tax prepares capital-gains and business returns and matches AIS before filing. A CA reviews the draft.
Income tax returns must be e-verified within 30 days of submission. If the return is not verified in that time, the department treats it as not filed. File and verify again before the due date in force.
For AY 2026–27 the new regime is the default. Salary gets a ₹75,000 standard deduction, and a resident with taxable income up to ₹12,00,000 gets the section 87A rebate. With that deduction, salary up to ₹12.75 lakh is generally within the rebate. The old regime still allows HRA, 80C, 80D, and home-loan interest, with a rebate up to ₹5,00,000. Compare both on the income tax calculator before you file.
A return filed after the due date in force can attract a late fee of ₹5,000 under Section 234F, or ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5,00,000. Section 234A charges 1% per month on unpaid tax for the delay after that due date. Confirm the due date on the income-tax portal before you file.
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 prepares the return, matches AIS and Form 26AS, and compares the old and new regimes before you approve the draft. Call or WhatsApp +91 94454 38387.
GST · ITR · Audit · Registration — English & Tamil, online and at the Singanallur office. First call is free.
