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How to File ITR Online (ITR-1 to ITR-7) AY 2026-27

Complete 2026 step-by-step guide to e-file Income Tax Return online via Income Tax portal for salaried, business, capital gains—ITR forms selection, deductions, refunds, AIS prefill, verification methods so you never need another website.

Last updated: 9 March 2026
How to File ITR Online (ITR-1 to ITR-7) AY 2026-27

Overview

Income Tax Return (ITR) filing is mandatory for individuals with income >₹2.5 lakh (old regime)/₹3 lakh (new regime), foreign assets, or claiming refunds. Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 (FY 2025-26) filing starts April 1, 2026. 100% online via incometax.gov.in with AIS (Annual Information Statement) prefill covering salary, interest, dividends, capital gains automatically. 2026 Updates: New Tax Regime default (no deductions except standard ₹75K), Faceless assessment AI-driven, ITR-V QR code, Aadhaar OTP prevalidation, Budget 2026 slabs: 0-3L nil, 3-7L 5%, 7-10L 10%, 10-12L 15%, 12-15L 20%, >15L 30%. Last date: Jul 31 salaried, Mar 31 business. ITR Forms Selection: ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salary <₹50L, 1 house, other sources <₹5K (80% salaried use) ITR-2: Capital gains, >1 house, foreign assets ITR-3: Business/profession ITR-4 (Sugam): Presumptive business <₹50L ITR-5/6/7: Firms/companies/trusts Refund Timeline: Processing 10-40 days → Auto bank transfer Common Errors (Avoid 90% Rejections): AIS mismatches (bank FD interest) Wrong ITR form selection Deduction proofs missing Signature/ITR-V not uploaded Bank not prevalidated Pro Tips (Zero Errors): Download AIS/26AS first verify all incomes Prevalidate 2 bank accounts (refund safety) Use ITR-1 utility if eligible (simplest) E-verify Aadhaar OTP within 24 hours Save JSON before final submit Track refund weekly "Refund Status"

Who is Eligible?

  • Income >₹2.5L (old)/₹3L (new regime)
  • Foreign travel >₹2L cash
  • Electricity bill >₹1L/year
  • Foreign assets/stocks
  • Loss carry forward

Documents Required

  • Prefill Auto (AIS): Salary slips, Form 16, Bank interest (26AS/AIS)
  • Manual Upload: Rent receipts (80C), Medical bills, Insurance premium, Donation proofs, Capital gains statements

Process & Guidelines

Step 1: Register/Login

incometax.gov.in → "e-File" → Login (PAN + password) → New? Register Aadhaar/PAN

Step 2: Prevalidate Bank

Profile → "My Bank Accounts" → Add IFSC + account → E-verify

Step 3: Select AY & ITR Form

"File Income Tax Return" → AY 2026-27 → Prefill data → Select ITR-1/2/3/4 → Download

Step 4: Fill ITR (Prefilled Data Loads):

Part A General: PAN, Name, Mobile, Bank details

Part B Gross Income: Salary (Form 16), House property, Business, Capital gains, Other sources

Part C Deductions: 80C (₹1.5L), 80D medical, 80G donations

Part D Tax Computation: New/old regime selection, Cess calculation

Part E Other Info: Foreign assets, Tax paid (TDS/Advance)

Step 5: Review & Validate

Tax calculator → Compare computed vs paid → Recalculate if mismatch

Step 6: E-Verify (Mandatory within 30 days):

Aadhaar OTP (Recommended)

EVC net banking (SBI/ICICI/PNB)

DSC digital signature

Physical ITR-V post to CPC Bangalore

Step 7: Acknowledgment

ITR-V downloaded → Success message → Track refund status

Refund Process:

Processing → Intimation u/s 143(1) → Demand/Refund order → Auto transfer (10-40 days)

Revised Return: File by Dec 31 if mistakes found

Fee Structure 2026:

All ITR filing FREE (CA charges ₹500-5,000 optional)

Status Tracking:

incometax.gov.in → "My Orders" → View filed returns, processing status, refund details

Frequently Asked Questions