File ITR Online (2026): Step-by-Step Before the Deadline

Before you start: what you need

Have these ready so you do not stall halfway:

• PAN and Aadhaar (linked)
• Form 16 from your employer
• Form 26AS and AIS from the Income Tax portal
• Bank interest and investment statements
• Proof for deductions (80C, 80D, home loan interest)
• Bank account details for any refund

Full list, sorted by filer type, in our documents required for ITR checklist. Gathering these first is the single biggest time-saver.

Step-by-step: filing online

1. Check your Form 26AS and AIS. Make sure your return matches the income the department already knows about. Mismatches cause notices.
2. Pick the right ITR form. Salary only is usually ITR-1; capital gains push you to ITR-2. Use our which ITR form should I file guide, or let a platform choose it.
3. Choose your regime. Compare old vs new; platforms show the cheaper one. See old vs new tax regime.
4. Enter income and deductions. On the free portal you type or confirm prefilled data; on a platform like ClearTax you upload Form 16 and import capital gains.
5. Review the tax or refund. Check the final figure before submitting.
6. Submit and note your acknowledgement.

Example. Aditya, salaried with one Form 16 and some FD interest, gathered his documents on a Sunday morning, checked his AIS, used the prefilled data, compared regimes, and submitted. The whole thing took 40 minutes and cost nothing. For a simple return, online filing really is that quick.

Where to file: free or paid

• Simple salary return: File free on the government portal. It prefills most of your data.
• Capital gains, freelance, or multiple incomes: A platform that reads your documents saves time. See the best income tax filing platforms and our ClearTax review.

There is no need to pay for a simple return. Pay only when your income is complex enough that automation earns its fee.

If your return is complex, file your ITR on ClearTax. We may earn a referral reward at no extra cost to you.

After you file: e-verify

Filing is not complete until you verify. An unverified return is treated as not filed. Verify within 30 days, most easily with an Aadhaar OTP. Once verified, keep a copy of your return and acknowledgement.

What happens if you miss the deadline

If you file after 31 July 2026:

• A late fee under Section 234F may apply.
• Interest under Section 234A can apply on unpaid tax.
• You may lose the ability to carry forward certain losses.

You can still file a belated return until the allowed cut-off, but it costs more. The lesson: file early. If you have already missed it, see our guide on what to do when you forgot to file ITR.

FAQ