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ITR filing salaried person AY 2026-27 step by step process
Here is a complete guide to filing your ITR as a salaried individual for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26).
ITR Filing Guide for Salaried Individuals - AY 2026-27
Step 1: Determine Your ITR Form
| Situation | Form |
|---|---|
| Income up to Rs. 50 lakh from salary + interest + up to 2 house properties + LTCG (Sec 112A) up to Rs. 1.25 lakh | ITR-1 (Sahaj) |
| Income above Rs. 50 lakh, capital gains beyond ITR-1 limits, more than 2 house properties, foreign assets, company director | ITR-2 |
| Business/freelance income in addition to salary | ITR-3 or ITR-4 |
Most salaried employees with straightforward income file ITR-1.
Step 2: Documents to Keep Ready
- Form 16 (Part A + Part B) from your employer
- Form 26AS - download from the IT portal (under My Account)
- AIS (Annual Information Statement) - also available on the portal
- Bank account statements (for interest income)
- Investment proofs (80C, 80D, HRA, etc.) - if opting for old regime
- Home loan interest certificate (if applicable)
- Rent receipts / HRA documents
- PAN card and Aadhaar linked to your PAN
Step 3: File on the Income Tax Portal
- Login at incometax.gov.in using your PAN as User ID
- Go to e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return
- Select AY 2026-27, mode: Online
- Choose your applicable ITR form (ITR-1 for most salaried)
- The portal will pre-fill data from Form 26AS, AIS, and Form 16 - verify all figures carefully
- Fill in / confirm:
- Salary income (as per Form 16)
- House property income (if any)
- Other income (interest, dividends, etc.)
- Deductions (80C, 80D, HRA, standard deduction of Rs. 75,000, etc.)
- Choose your tax regime - Old vs. New. The portal shows a comparison. Under the new regime (default), most deductions except 80CCD(2) are unavailable but tax slabs are lower.
- Cross-check TDS entries against Form 26AS. Any mismatch can trigger a notice.
- Preview and submit the return after confirming all details.
Step 4: E-Verify (Mandatory - do within 30 days)
An unverified return is treated as invalid. E-verify via:
- Aadhaar OTP (fastest)
- Net banking
- Bank ATM
- Demat account
- DSC (digital signature)
Key Deadlines
| Category | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Salaried individuals (no audit) | 31 July 2026 |
| Business income (audit required) | 31 October 2026 |
You have about 2 weeks left before the July 31 deadline. File soon to avoid a late fee of Rs. 5,000 (Rs. 1,000 if income is below Rs. 5 lakh).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not reconciling AIS/TIS with what you report (the system now auto-detects mismatches)
- Forgetting to report interest income from savings accounts / FDs
- Choosing the wrong tax regime without comparing
- Not e-verifying after submission (return becomes void)
- Filing ITR-1 when you have capital gains - use ITR-2 instead
Need Help Filing?
If you find the process complex or have multiple income sources, capital gains, or deductions to optimize, consider using:
- ClearTax or TaxBuddy (paid assisted filing)
- CA consultation via platforms like Ebizfiling or TaxSpanner
- The Income Tax Portal's own help desk at 1800-103-0025
The full step-by-step video guide for AY 2026-27 using Form 16 is here:
Let me know if you have a specific question - deductions, regime comparison, capital gains reporting, or anything else!
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