If you are a salaried person and your income is limited to salary, interest on a savings account, or some simple investments, then now you do not need a CA to file an Income Tax Return (ITR). The Income Tax Department has made the process of filing ITR so easy that you can fill your return yourself from home.
Filing returns on the government website incometax.gov.in has become easy, safe, and fast. Also, now the forms come pre-filled, that is, a lot of information is already filled, which you just have to check and if needed, edit and add the rest of the information.
Now fill your ITR yourself, know-how
Now you can file ITR yourself without taking help from any professional. Especially if the income is from salary, house property, or simple investments, then the process of filing becomes very straightforward. Earlier, all the data had to be filled manually, but now in the pre-filled ITR forms, information like salary, TDS, and interest income is already filled, which reduces the chances of error to a great extent.
But, if the income source includes business, capital gains, or foreign assets, then it is better to consult a CA so that tax planning and laws can be followed properly.
These documents are required to file ITR
For employed people, Form 16 is a must.
Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS show how much tax was deposited in your name and what financial activity was recorded.
Bank account details required for a refund
Documents of tax saving investments like PPF, ELSS, LIC, mutual funds, health insurance, donation, etc.
Home loan interest certificate if you have taken a house loan
Easy steps to file ITR
First log in to incometax.gov.in
Go to e-File > Income Tax Return > File Income Tax Return
Select the assessment year (AY 2025-26) and select the online mode
Select the ITR form according to your income (eg ITR-1 Sahaj)
Check the information already filled on the portal, add other income or deductions if needed
Check tax calculation, if tax is to be paid then fill Self-assessment Tax
Validate the form, check the declaration, and submit it
Finally Do e-verify, with Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or any other option
If you do not e-verify, your filing will be considered incomplete.
When can I file the ITR
For salaried taxpayers whose accounts are not required for audit, the last date for filing ITR is 15 September 2025. This time the government has also given a new update regarding the tax deduction claimed. If you are claiming deductions like section 80C or 80D, then it is necessary to provide proof and correct information, because now deductions are being made more transparent.
Now that the government has made the filing process digital and data pre-filled, it is not necessary to take the help of an expert every time. Yes, those who have a complex income profile should seek professional advice.
But if you are salaried and your financial profile is simple, then filing ITR yourself is now a digital skill as well as a way to save money. Just do some preparation, keep the documents ready and follow the right steps and you can become self-reliant in filing your returns.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from NDTV India. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
