ITR Filing Checklist FY 2025-26

Everything a salaried employee needs to file on time — documents, deductions, and a step-by-step walkthrough.

1 Identity & Bank Documents ▼

PAN card

Aadhaar card (linked to PAN)

Primary salary account bank statement (full FY Apr 2025 – Mar 2026)

All other bank account statements (even if dormant — must be declared)

Net banking / e-filing portal login ready (incometax.gov.in)

Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP)

2 Income Documents ▼

Form 16 from employer (Part A — TDS deducted; Part B — salary breakup)

Form 16A from banks or other TDS deductors (FD interest, rent TDS etc.)

AIS (Annual Information Statement) downloaded from IT portal — verify all entries match

26AS downloaded and compared against Form 16 — all TDS entries must match

Bank interest certificates (savings account + FD interest)

Rental income details if applicable (rent received, property tax paid, municipal tax)

Capital gains statements from broker (Zerodha / Groww / others) if stocks/MF sold

3 Deductions Under Old Regime ▼

Skip this section if choosing the new tax regime.

80C investments total: EPF (from Form 16), PPF deposit receipts, ELSS statements, LIC premium receipts, home loan principal repaid, children's tuition fee receipts, NPS Tier 1 contributions Maximum ₹1.5L combined deduction under 80C

80CCD(1B): Additional NPS contribution receipt Extra ₹50,000 deduction over and above 80C limit

80D: Health insurance premium receipts — self + family (₹25,000) and parents (₹25,000 / ₹50,000 if senior citizen)

80E: Education loan interest certificate from bank Unlimited deduction on interest — no cap

80G: Donation receipts with 80G certificate from the charity

80TTA: Savings account interest total across all banks Maximum ₹10,000 deduction on savings interest

HRA: Rent receipts (₹8,333+/month needs landlord PAN), rent agreement, employer HRA component from Form 16

LTA: Travel bills if claiming Leave Travel Allowance exemption

4 New Regime Check ▼

Mandatory check even if you plan to stick with the old regime.

Compare tax liability under old vs new regime using the Simplegence Income Tax Calculator

New regime: no 80C/80D/HRA/LTA deductions — only standard deduction ₹75,000 and 80CCD(1B) NPS ₹50,000

Note which regime your employer deducted TDS under (shown in Form 16 Part B)

You can switch regime at filing time if different from employer's assumption

5 Other Income & Declarations ▼

Dividend income from stocks/mutual funds (check AIS — all dividends now taxable)

ESOP / RSU vesting details if applicable

Freelance or side income (declare under "Income from Other Sources")

Foreign assets or foreign income (mandatory Schedule FA if applicable)

Virtual digital assets / crypto — declared if sold 30% flat tax + no loss offset against other income

Interest from NSC, post office savings, RD (check AIS for these)

6 Filing Steps ▼

Select AY 2026-27, ITR-1 (salary + one house + other income ≤₹50L) or ITR-2 (capital gains / multiple properties)

Cross-check all pre-filled data against Form 16 and AIS — correct any errors

Enter all deductions manually (pre-fill often incomplete)

Verify tax computation — check if any tax payable; pay via Challan 280 before filing if yes

Submit and e-verify within 30 days (Aadhaar OTP recommended — instant verification)

Download ITR-V acknowledgement and save it

Frequently Asked Questions

Which ITR form should I use — ITR-1 or ITR-2?

ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salaried income + one house property + other income (interest, dividends) and total income ≤₹50 lakh. ITR-2: If you have capital gains (stocks, MF, property), more than one house property, foreign income/assets, or income over ₹50 lakh. Most salaried employees with only MF/stock SIPs and no redemptions use ITR-1. If you sold any mutual funds or stocks during FY 2025-26, use ITR-2.

What is AIS and why must I check it?

AIS (Annual Information Statement) is the IT department's view of all your financial transactions — salary, TDS, bank interest, dividends, stock/MF transactions, property registrations, foreign remittances. Discrepancies between AIS and your ITR trigger scrutiny notices. Always download AIS first and cross-check everything.

Can I switch from old to new tax regime while filing?

Yes. Even if your employer deducted TDS under the old regime, you can choose the new regime at filing time (or vice versa). The tax difference is adjusted as either a refund or additional payment. Use the calculator to compare before deciding.

What is the penalty for filing ITR late?

If filed after July 31, 2026 but before December 31, 2026: ₹5,000 late fee (₹1,000 if income ≤₹5 lakh). After December 31, 2026: ₹10,000. Beyond the deadline you also cannot carry forward most capital losses. Filing on time avoids all this.

How long does ITR refund take?

Typically 2–6 weeks after e-verification if filed early (April–June). Refunds initiated in July–August take 2–3 months due to volume. Track on incometax.gov.in → My Account → Refund/Demand Status.

ITR Filing Checklist FY 2025-26

Frequently Asked Questions

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