Income tax return checklist for individuals

What it involves and when it is due

A return is compulsory where total income before deductions exceeds the basic exemption limit, and in some other cases even below it, such as a resident holding foreign assets or a person who crosses the deposit, foreign-travel or electricity-bill limits in the seventh proviso to Section 139(1). Filing is also the only way to claim a refund of excess TDS or to carry forward a loss.

Due dates for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27): 31 July 2026 for individuals without business income, 31 August 2026 for business or professional income not liable to audit, and 21 November 2026 for audit cases (extended from 31 October by CBDT Circular No. 07/2026). A belated return can be filed up to 31 December 2026, and a return can be revised up to 31 March 2027, with a Section 234-I fee for revisions after 31 December 2026.

Start by downloading the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS from the e-filing portal and comparing them with your own records. Most later notices come from a difference between the two, so note any wrong entry and give feedback on it in the AIS before filing.

Official forms

Common reasons for queries and rejections

• Income shown in the AIS (savings interest, dividends, share or mutual fund sales) left out of the return, which leads to an adjustment under Section 143(1)(a) or a notice.
• Return not e-verified within 30 days of filing. A later verification makes the verification date the filing date, and a return never verified is treated as not filed.
• Wrong ITR form, such as ITR-1 used with Section 112A gains above ₹1.25 lakh or by a company director; the return can be treated as defective under Section 139(9).
• Refund account not pre-validated on the portal, or PAN inoperative because it is not linked with Aadhaar, so the refund fails.
• The old regime claimed with business income but Form 10-IEA not filed in time.
• Foreign assets, including shares from an overseas employer's stock plan, not reported in Schedule FA by a resident.
• TDS claimed that does not appear in Form 26AS, usually because the deductor quoted a wrong PAN or has not filed its TDS statement yet.

Questions

Which ITR form should I use for AY 2026-27?

It depends on the type of income, not on the amount of tax. Salary, one house property and interest up to ₹50 lakh usually fit ITR-1; capital gains beyond the ITR-1 limit or foreign assets need ITR-2; business income needs ITR-3, or ITR-4 under a presumptive scheme. The ITR form selector on this site walks through the conditions.

Do I attach these documents to the return?

No. Income tax returns are filed without attachments. Keep the documents with your records, because the department can ask for them when it processes the return or sends a notice.

What if I missed the 31 December 2026 date?

An updated return (ITR-U) can still be filed within 48 months from the end of the assessment year, on payment of additional tax of 25% to 70% of the tax and interest. It cannot be used to claim a refund, reduce tax or report a loss.

Official sources

• Which ITR applies to individuals (incometax.gov.in)
• e-Verify FAQ and the 30-day timeline (incometax.gov.in)
• Income tax returns help (incometax.gov.in)
• Limitation periods, including updated returns (incometaxindia.gov.in)