Patna: The Income Tax Department has made major updates to its e-filing portal, streamlining the process for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2025–26 (assessment year 2026–27). All key ITR forms are now available online, along with updated Form-16 and TDS-related details.
The move is expected to simplify compliance for salaried individuals, pensioners and other eligible taxpayers as the filing window opens ahead of statutory deadlines.
Updated Forms and Pre-Filled Data
According to the updated system, most salary, TDS, and interest-related information from government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), banks and private employers has been integrated into the portal.
This allows taxpayers to access pre-filled data, reducing manual entry and minimising errors during filing.
Filing Deadlines for Taxpayers
Tax experts said individuals not engaged in business activities are required to file their ITR by July 31.
For taxpayers running businesses that are not subject to audit, the deadline has been set for August 31. They advised timely filing to avoid penalties and late fees.
Why Filing Has Become Easier
Experts said the availability of all major ITR forms on the Income Tax Department’s e-filing platform has made the process more user-friendly.
Taxpayers can now select the appropriate form based on their income category and file returns directly online without extensive manual calculations.
Key Documents to Verify Before Filing
Tax professionals have advised taxpayers to carefully cross-check key documents before submitting their returns. These include Form-16, Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).
Other important records include bank interest certificates, proof of savings and investments, capital gains statements, and home loan-related documents.
Experts also cautioned that if discrepancies are found between Form-16 and Form 26AS, taxpayers should first get the error corrected from the employer or deductor before filing returns.
Compliance Advisory
Officials said early verification of documents and reliance on pre-filled data can help taxpayers avoid mistakes, delays and penalties during the filing process.
