How to File ITR Yourself — Step-by-Step Guide 2025

Before you start — gather these

• PAN number (know it by heart or have the card)
• Aadhaar number (for e-verification at the end)
• Bank account number linked to your PAN
• Form-16 from your employer (for salaried people)
• AIS (Annual Information Statement) — download from incometax.gov.in
• Broker Tax P&L if you sold any stocks or mutual funds
• Interest certificates from your bank (for FD interest)

Step-by-step filing on incometax.gov.in

1. 1

   Login to the portal

   Go to incometax.gov.in. Click Login. Enter your PAN as username. If you don't have a login, register using your PAN. You'll need to set a password and verify via Aadhaar OTP.

2. 2

   Start a new return

   Click e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return. Choose the financial year (e.g., 2025-26). Choose 'Online' mode. Do not use offline unless you know what you're doing.

3. 3

   Choose your ITR form

   The portal may suggest one. Verify it's the right form (see our 'Which ITR' guide). ITR-1 for simple salary only. ITR-2 if you sold stocks.

4. 4

   Review pre-filled data

   The portal pre-fills income from employer TDS, bank interest, and sometimes capital gains. Check all of it against your Form-16 and AIS. Add anything that's missing.

5. 5

   Enter income details

   Enter each income head as prompted. For salary, it's usually pre-filled. For capital gains, you may need to manually enter from your broker P&L.

6. 6

   Enter deductions (old regime only)

   If you chose the old regime, enter all deductions — 80C investments, 80D insurance, home loan interest etc. Keep receipts — you don't upload them but should have them if asked.

7. 7

   Review tax computation

   The portal calculates your tax. Compare with what your employer deducted (TDS). If you owe more, pay it online first (e-Pay Tax) before submitting.

8. 8

   Verify your return

   Choose verification method: Aadhaar OTP (instant — recommended), net banking, or bank account validation. Skip this and your return is not filed even if submitted.

9. 9

   Download ITR-V

   After successful verification, download your ITR-V (acknowledgement receipt). This is your proof that you filed. Store it safely.

After filing — what happens next?

• Return processing usually takes 15-60 days
• If you have a refund, it goes directly to your linked bank account
• You'll get an email/SMS when processing is done (check spam folder)
• If there's a mismatch, you'll receive an intimation under Section 143(1) — this is routine, not a notice

Deadlines