Sail through tax filing season with this handy checklist for filing your ITRs
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Rushed paperwork. Confusing tax terminology. And the pressure of a fast-approaching deadline. That’s what tax filing season is for most individual taxpayers. But here’s a little secret — It doesn’t have to be this way. With a simple yet effective action plan, you can sail through the whole ITR filing process in a matter of minutes.
Here’s a 5-point checklist that can help you become a pro at filing your tax returns.
Keep the important documents handy
Before you begin the process of filing your IT return, get all the essential documents in one place. This makes things a whole lot easier. In fact, it’s best to keep all the important paperwork and IDs in one place, so you can quickly access them each year during tax filing season.
Here’s a list of the basic documents needed
Have the golden trio ready
Your Form 16/16A, Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS) make up the golden trio. They contain practically most (if not all) the information that you will need to file your ITR in record time. Check out the details contained in each of these forms.
Both these forms are essentially TDS certificates. Form 16 contains the details of the salary paid to you and the TDS deducted thereon. It also shows you a detailed breakup of your salary, making it easier to fill in the relevant fields in your ITR.
Meanwhile, Form 16A shows you the details of other income (like FD interest, rent receipts, insurance commission etc.) and the TDS deducted on those incomes.
Form 26AS also contains information about all the tax deducted at source on the different kinds of income you earned during the year. In addition to this, the form shows you the amount of tax collected at source (TCS) and the advance tax or self-assessment tax paid.
You can compare the data in your Form 16/16A with the details in your Form 26AS to see if they match. Ideally, they should. The details in Form 26AS will be automatically filled in your ITR to determine if you need to pay any extra tax before you file your return, or if you’re eligible for a refund.
Introduced only in November 2021, the AIS is quickly proving to be a crucial part of ITR filing. It is a comprehensive statement that contains your entire financial summary during the year. Check out some of the key items you’ll find about yourself on the AIS.
Quite insightful, isn’t it? Make sure you include all these details in your ITR, so you don’t hear back from the IT department in the form of any queries or notices.
Know which ITR to choose
If you choose the right ITR, almost half the battle is won. Here’s an overview of the ITRs and who they’re for. Keep it handy for the next time you’re filing your returns.
If your income —
You should choose —
Is below Rs. 50 lakhs and includes:
(Not for an individual who is either Director in a company or has invested in unlisted equity shares or in cases where TDS has been deducted u/s 194N or if income-tax is deferred on ESOP )
ITR-1 or SAHAJ
Is above Rs. 50 lakhs and includes:
For individuals having income from profits and gains of business or profession and includes everything in ITR-2
ITR-3
Having total income upto Rs.50 lakh and has computed on a presumptive basis under sections 44AD, 44ADA, and 44AE of the Income Tax Act, 1961. (Not for an individual who is either Director in a company or has invested in unlisted equity shares or if income-tax is deferred on ESOP or has agricultural income more than Rs.5000 )
ITR-4
There are also other ITRs (ITR-5, ITR-6 and ITR-7), but those are typically not applicable for individuals.
Fill and file your return
Once you have the above items covered, the next step is to use all the information from your income statements and tax certificates and fill in your ITR. Remember to include the relevant deductions, so you can save tax. And keep proofs for the deductions handy (like your insurance premium payment receipt or your PPF deposit proof).
Once you have filled in the details, verify the information and submit your return.
And most importantly, verify your ITR
Before you do a little celebratory dance, you need to verify your income tax return. An unverified return is deemed invalid. You can verify your return using any of the following options.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. This should help you with your tax filing when the time comes around. The first time you file your own ITR, it may be a bit intimidating. But with time, you’ll get used to it. After all, it’s just you reviewing and submitting a record of your earnings to the IT department, isn’t it?
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