How are Tax Returns Filed Electronically?

The Income Tax Department of India has provided the convenience of electronic filing (e-filing) of an income tax return. Before we begin, it is advisable to keep the following information ready.

• Calculate your income tax as per the income tax law provisions applicable to your tax slab rate.
• In case you are required to pay TDS (Tax Deducted at Source), you need to furnish the TDS certificates along with Form 26AS.
• Select the correct Income Tax Form - The online mode is available only for ITR 1 and ITR 4; it is not available for forms of other categories of individual taxpayers. For the other forms, you will be required to generate an XML Form for the purpose of uploading the same.

Once you have the following information ready, follow these steps to file an ITR online:

Step 1 - Visit the official website of the Income Tax Department of India - incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Step 2 - Select the IT Return Preparation Software option

Step 3 - Select the assessment year and download the utility software - Microsoft Excel or Java utility

Step 4 - Open the downloaded excel file and duly fill the requested information - relevant details of your income, tax payable or the refund receivable as per the calculations of the utility

Step 5 - Validate the required information on the excel sheet.

Step 6 - Post validation, convert the file into XML format (Click on Generate XML)

Step 7 - Log in to the income tax e-filing portal and click on the ‘e-File’ tab to select the ‘Income Tax Return’ option (upload the XML File)

Step 8 - Submit the requested details PAN, assessment year, ITR form number, and the submission mode (choose the option ‘Upload XML’)

Now submit the same and select the verification modes - Aadhaar OTP, electronic verification code (EVC), or sending manually signed copy of ITR-V to CPC, Bengaluru.