ITR Filing Checklist for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)
Complete document checklist for filing ITR-1 through ITR-4 — PAN, Form 16, bank statements, investment proofs, and capital gains statements, organised by taxpayer type.
Which ITR Form Applies to You
Before gathering documents, confirm which ITR form fits your income profile — using the wrong form is one of the most common causes of a defective-return notice:
- ITR-1 (Sahaj): Resident individuals with salary/pension, one house property, and total income up to ₹50 lakh, no capital gains
- ITR-2: Individuals/HUFs with capital gains, more than one house property, foreign income/assets, or income above ₹50 lakh — but no business/professional income
- ITR-3: Individuals/HUFs with income from business or profession (regular books of accounts)
- ITR-4 (Sugam): Individuals, HUFs, and firms (other than LLP) opting for presumptive taxation under Section 44AD (business), 44ADA (profession), or 44AE (transport)
Checklist for Salaried Individuals (ITR-1/ITR-2)
- PAN and Aadhaar
- Form 16 from employer (Part A: TDS summary; Part B: salary breakup)
- Salary slips for the financial year (if Form 16 is delayed)
- Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS) — download from the income tax portal to cross-check TDS and other reported income
- Bank account statements for the full financial year
- Interest certificates from banks/post office (savings account, FDs)
- Investment proofs for deductions: Section 80C (ELSS, PPF, life insurance, ELSS, principal repayment on home loan), 80D (health insurance premium), 80CCD(1B) (NPS)
- Home loan interest certificate, if claiming Section 24(b) deduction
- Rent receipts and landlord PAN (if claiming HRA and rent exceeds ₹1 lakh/year)
- Previous year's ITR-V/acknowledgement, for reference
Checklist for Capital Gains (ITR-2/ITR-3)
- Broker-issued capital gains statement (equity/mutual funds) — most brokers provide a consolidated FY statement
- Purchase and sale deeds with dates and values, for property transactions
- Cost of improvement receipts, for property (renovation, construction costs added to cost basis)
- Details of exemptions claimed — Section 54 (reinvestment in residential property), 54EC (capital gains bonds), 54F
- Statement of dividend income, if applicable
Checklist for Business/Professional Income (ITR-3/ITR-4)
- Profit & Loss statement and Balance Sheet (audited, if turnover exceeds the Section 44AB threshold)
- GST returns filed during the year, for reconciliation with reported turnover
- Bank statements for all business accounts
- Details of fixed assets and depreciation schedule
- TDS certificates received from clients/customers (Form 16A)
- Details of advance tax paid during the year, with challan numbers
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not reconciling with AIS/26AS: Income reported in your return should match what's reflected in AIS — mismatches trigger automated scrutiny notices
- Missing small interest income: Savings account interest, even a few hundred rupees, must be reported (though Section 80TTA/80TTB provides a deduction, not an exemption)
- Using the wrong ITR form: Filing ITR-1 when you have capital gains, for instance, makes the return defective
- Forgetting to e-verify: A return is not considered filed until it is e-verified (via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or physically mailing ITR-V) within 30 days
- Ignoring foreign assets/income disclosure: Resident individuals with foreign bank accounts, stocks (including US RSUs/ESOPs), or property must disclose these in Schedule FA even if no tax is due — non-disclosure carries a separate penalty under the Black Money Act
Once you have these documents ready, filing itself typically takes our CA team 24-48 hours. If you're unsure which documents apply to your situation, talk to a CA before you start gathering paperwork — it saves a second round of back-and-forth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ITR form should I use?▼
ITR-1 (Sahaj) is for resident individuals with salary/pension income, one house property, and other income up to ₹50 lakh total, with no capital gains. ITR-2 covers individuals with capital gains, multiple house properties, or foreign income/assets but no business income. ITR-3 is for individuals and HUFs with business or professional income. ITR-4 (Sugam) is for those opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under Sections 44AD/44ADA/44AE.
Can I file my ITR without Form 16?▼
Yes. Form 16 is a convenience, not a strict requirement — your salary slips, Form 26AS, and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) together contain everything needed to reconstruct your salary income and TDS credits. If your employer hasn't issued Form 16 yet, we can file using these alternative documents.
What happens if I miss the ITR filing deadline?▼
A belated return can still be filed (usually by 31 December of the assessment year) but attracts a late fee under Section 234F — ₹1,000 if total income is below ₹5 lakh, ₹5,000 otherwise. Any tax due also accrues interest under Section 234A from the original due date. Beyond the belated-return deadline, filing is possible only via a condonation-of-delay request to the department, which is not guaranteed.