Income Tax Return (ITR) Filing Online in India: Forms, Due Dates & Fees (2026)
Filing your income tax return correctly and on time protects you from penalties, speeds up refunds, and builds a clean financial record for loans and visas. This guide explains which ITR form applies to you, the exact due dates for AY 2026-27, the old vs new tax regime, and how KanoonPe files your return accurately - reviewed by verified CAs before submission.
Quick summary
- What it is: Annual filing of your income, deductions, and tax paid with the Income Tax Department to report and settle your tax liability.
- Governed by: the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Due dates (AY 2026-27): 31 July for non-audit individuals, 31 October for audit cases, 30 November for transfer pricing cases.
- KanoonPe price: Flat, all-inclusive quote on a free callback · Timeline: typically 1–3 working days once documents are shared.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Governing law | Income Tax Act, 1961 |
| Authority / portal | Income Tax Department - incometax.gov.in |
| Applicable forms | ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4, ITR-5, ITR-6, ITR-7 |
| Due date (non-audit, AY 2026-27) | 31 July 2026 |
| Due date (audit cases, AY 2026-27) | 31 October 2026 |
| Due date (transfer pricing cases) | 30 November 2026 |
| Belated return deadline | 31 December 2026 (with late fee) |
| KanoonPe price | Flat, all-inclusive quote - request a free callback |
| Timeline | 1–3 working days |
What is income tax return (ITR) filing?
Income tax return (ITR) filing is the annual process of reporting your total income, eligible deductions, and tax already paid to the Income Tax Department, and settling any balance tax due or claiming a refund. Every taxpayer - salaried individual, freelancer, professional, or business - whose income or specified transactions cross prescribed thresholds must file a return for the relevant assessment year.
The return is filed electronically on the income tax e-filing portal under the Income Tax Act, 1961. It confirms your income sources - salary, house property, capital gains, business/profession, or other income - and reconciles tax deducted at source (TDS), advance tax, and self-assessment tax against your final liability. Filing on time also preserves your ability to carry forward losses and claim timely refunds.
Types of ITR forms
| Form | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident individuals with salary/pension, one house property, and other income, total income up to ₹50 lakh |
| ITR-2 | Individuals/HUFs with capital gains, more than one house property, or foreign assets - no business income |
| ITR-3 | Individuals/HUFs with income from business or profession |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Individuals, HUFs, and firms (other than LLPs) opting for presumptive taxation, income up to ₹50 lakh |
| ITR-5 | Firms, LLPs, AOPs, and BOIs |
| ITR-6 | Companies not claiming exemption under Section 11 |
| ITR-7 | Trusts, political parties, and institutions required to file under specific sections |
Who needs to file an ITR?
- Individuals with gross total income above the basic exemption limit under the applicable regime.
- Salaried employees, freelancers, consultants, and professionals with taxable income or TDS deducted.
- Businesses and firms, regardless of profit or loss, if registered as a company, LLP, or partnership.
- Anyone wanting to claim a refund of excess TDS or advance tax paid.
- Individuals with foreign assets or foreign income, even if total income is below the exemption limit.
- Those who deposited over ₹1 crore in current accounts, spent over ₹2 lakh on foreign travel, or paid electricity bills over ₹1 lakh in a year - filing becomes mandatory under specified conditions.
- Anyone wanting to carry forward capital losses or business losses to future years.
Benefits of filing your ITR
- Claim refunds of excess TDS or advance tax paid during the year.
- Carry forward losses (capital or business) to set off against future income.
- Proof of income for loan applications, credit cards, and visa processing.
- Avoid penalties and notices under Section 234F and scrutiny for non-filing.
- Faster processing when filed early and error-free, with quicker refund credit.
- Compliance record that strengthens your standing for high-value financial transactions.
Documents required for ITR filing
Income proof
- Form 16 (salaried employees) and salary slips
- Bank statements for all accounts held during the year
- Capital gains statements (mutual funds, shares, property sale)
- Business/profession income and expense records
Tax and deduction proof
- Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS)
- TDS certificates (Form 16A, 16B)
- Investment proofs for Section 80C, 80D, 80G deductions (old regime)
- Home loan interest certificate, if applicable
Identity and other
- PAN and Aadhaar
- Bank account details for refund credit (pre-validated on the portal)
- Details of foreign assets/income, if any
ITR filing process (step by step)
KanoonPe manages this end-to-end; here is what happens.
- Share your income documents. Send Form 16, bank statements, capital gains reports, and investment proofs.
- Income and regime analysis. We compute your tax liability under both the old and new regimes and recommend the beneficial option.
- Form selection. The correct ITR form is chosen based on your income sources.
- Reconciliation. Income and TDS are cross-checked against Form 26AS and AIS to avoid mismatches.
- Return preparation and review. The draft return is prepared and reviewed by a verified CA before filing.
- E-filing on the portal. The return is submitted on incometax.gov.in and an acknowledgement (ITR-V) is generated.
- E-verification. The return is e-verified via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or other accepted methods to complete filing.
Ready to get started? Talk to a verified expert → - get a transparent, all-inclusive quote for income tax return filing within one business hour.
Income tax return filing cost in India
There is no government fee for filing an ITR - the cost is the professional fee for accurate computation, regime comparison, and error-free filing.
| Plan | Best for | KanoonPe price |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 / ITR-4 | Salaried individuals, presumptive income | Flat quote - request a free callback |
| ITR-2 | Capital gains, multiple properties | Custom quote based on complexity |
| ITR-3 / ITR-5 | Business, profession, firms | Custom quote based on turnover |
| ITR-6 / ITR-7 | Companies, trusts | Custom quote |
Income tax return filing timeline
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Document collection & review | Same day |
| Regime comparison & computation | 1 working day |
| Draft review & CA sign-off | Same/next day |
| Filing & e-verification | Same day as approval |
| Total turnaround | 1–3 working days |
Old vs new tax regime
| Feature | Old regime | New regime (default) |
|---|---|---|
| Deductions/exemptions | 80C, 80D, HRA, home loan interest available | Most deductions not available |
| Tax slabs | Higher rates, more slabs | Lower rates, revised slabs |
| Default since | - | FY 2023-24 onwards |
| Best for | Taxpayers with high eligible deductions | Taxpayers with few deductions or simpler finances |
| Switching | Salaried can choose either regime each year | Business owners have limited switching flexibility |
ITR filing due dates for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26)
| Category | Due date |
|---|---|
| Individuals/HUF not requiring audit | 31 July 2026 |
| Businesses requiring audit | 31 October 2026 |
| Cases involving transfer pricing report | 30 November 2026 |
| Belated/late return | 31 December 2026 |
| Revised return | 31 December 2026 |
Penalties for late or missed ITR filing
- Late filing fee under Section 234F: ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh; ₹5,000 if total income exceeds ₹5 lakh.
- Belated return: Can still be filed till 31 December 2026, but with the late fee above and loss of certain benefits.
- Interest under Sections 234A/234B/234C: 1% per month on unpaid tax for delayed filing or short advance tax payment.
- Loss carry-forward denied: Business and capital losses cannot be carried forward if the original return is filed late.
- No filing after 31 December: Returns cannot be filed after the belated deadline except via updated return provisions (Section 139(8A)) with additional tax.
Why choose KanoonPe
- Transparent flat pricing - one all-inclusive number, no surprise add-ons.
- Filed-on-time or refund - every filing ships with a written SLA.
- One accountable case owner - a single named manager handles your return start to finish.
- Live status tracking - track filing, e-verification, and refund status in real time.
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