How to File ITR Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Salaried Employees

Filing your own ITR takes 30-45 minutes and saves you the ₹500-2,000 a CA charges. If you're salaried with no business income, it's straightforward. Here's exactly how.

Which ITR Form Do You Need?

Most salaried employees use ITR-1. If you sold stocks/mutual funds during the year, use ITR-2.

Documents to Keep Ready

• Form 16 — your employer provides this by June 15. It has your salary, TDS, and deductions.
• Form 26AS / AIS — download from incometax.gov.in. Shows all TDS deducted, advance tax paid, high-value transactions.
• Bank interest certificates — for savings account and FD interest
• Capital gains statement — from Zerodha/Groww if you sold stocks or MFs
• Rent receipts — if claiming HRA
• 80C/80D proofs — insurance premiums, PPF, ELSS statements

Step-by-Step Filing on incometax.gov.in

1. Go to incometax.gov.in → Login with PAN and password
2. Click e-File → Income Tax Returns → File ITR
3. Select Assessment Year (e.g., AY 2027-28 for income earned in FY 2026-27)
4. Select ITR Form (ITR-1 for most salaried)
5. Choose “Prepare and Submit Online”
6. Most fields are pre-filled from Form 26AS. Verify salary, TDS, and other income.
7. Enter deductions: 80C, 80D, HRA, home loan interest
8. The system calculates tax payable or refund due
9. If refund: verify bank account details (pre-validated bank account needed)
10. Submit → e-Verify using Aadhaar OTP (instant) or net banking

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting savings account interest — banks deduct TDS on FDs but savings interest is also taxable. Report it.
• Not reporting capital gains — even if you sold MFs for a loss, you must report it. The loss can be carried forward.
• Wrong bank account for refund — pre-validate your bank account on the portal BEFORE filing.
• Missing the deadline — usually July 31 for salaried. Late filing attracts ₹5,000 penalty.