How to File Income Tax Return Online | Income Tax efiling : Guide

If you earn above Rs 5 lakh, you have to file returns electronically this year. That means you can file your ITR even in the last date of filing income tax return from your home computer (thanks to Income Tax efiling). You can seek the help of a professional or do it yourself by using the official website of the Income-Tax department or a host of private websites.

Before you start the process, keep your bank statements, Form 16 issued by your employer and a copy of last year’s return at hand. Next, log on to www.incometaxindiaefiling .gov.in Follow these steps.

What is Income Tax e-Filing?

Income Tax efiling is the process of electronically filing Income tax returns through the internet is known as e-Filing.
e-Filing of Returns/Forms is mandatory:

A. In the case of an Individual/HUF

a. Where accounts are required to be audited under section 44AB ;

b. Where (a) is not applicable and

(i) The return is furnished in ITR-3 or in ITR-4; or
(ii) The individual/HUF being a resident (other than not ordinarily resident) has Assets, including financial interest in any entity, located outside India, or signing authority in any account located outside India, or income from any source outside India;
(iii) Any relief in respect of tax paid outside India under section 90 or 90A or deduction under section 91 is claimed.
(iv) Where an assessee is required to furnish an Audit Report
Specified under sections 10(23C) (iv), 10(23C) (v), 10(23C) (vi), 10(23C) (via), 10A, 10AA, 12A(1) (b), 44AB, 44DA, 50B, 80-IA, 80-IB, 80-IC, 80- ID, 80JJAA, 80LA, 92E, 115JB, 115VW or give a notice under section 11(2)(a) shall e-File the same. These Audit Reports are to be e-Filed and any person required to obtain these Audit Reports are required to e-File the return.
(v) Total income exceeds five lakh rupees or any refund is claimed (other than Super Senior Citizen furnishing ITR1 or ITR2)

c. In cases covered by (a) above, the return is required to be e-Filed under digital signature (DSC).

d. In cases covered by (b) above, the return is required to be e-Filed using any one of the three manners namely

Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or
Electronic Verification Code (EVC), or
Verification of the submitting the ITRV.

B. In all cases of company the return is required to be e-Filed under digital signature (DSC)

C. In the case of a person required to file ITR-7:

For a political party the return is required to be e-Filed under digital signature (DSC)
In any other case of ITR 7, the return is required to be e-Filed using any one of the three manners namely i) DSC or ii) EVC or iii) ITR V

D. In case of Firm or Limited Liability Partnership or any person (other than a person mentioned in A, B & C above) who are required to file return in Form ITR-5

Where accounts are required to be audited under section 44AB, the return is required to be e-Filed under digital signature (DSC)
In any other case the return is required to be e-Filed using any one of the three manners namely i) DSC or ii) EVC or iii) ITR V.

E. A company and an assessee being individual or HUF who is liable to audit u/s 44AB are required to furnish Form BB (Return of Net Wealth) electronically under digital signature.

F. Information to be furnished for payments, chargeable to tax, to a non-resident not being a company, or to a foreign company in Form 15CA.

Types of e-Filing

There are three ways to file Income Tax Returns electronically:

Option 1: e-File without Digital Signature Certificate. In this case an ITR-V Form is generated. The Form should be printed, signed and submitted to CPC, Bangalore using Ordinary Post or Speed Post ONLY within 120 days from the date of e-Filing. There is no further action needed, if ITR-V Form is submitted.
Option 2: e-File the Income Tax Return through an e-Return Intermediary (ERI) with or without Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
Option 3: Use Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) / EVC to e-File. There is no further action needed, if filed with a DSC / EVC.

Note:

It is mandatory for Chartered Accountant to file Income Tax Forms (Other than Income Tax Returns) using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
The Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) used in e-Filing the Income Tax Return/Forms should be registered on e-Filing application.

Pre-requisite for registration in e-Filing application

A user must register at https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Pre-requisites to register

PAN (Permanent Account Number)
Membership with ICAI – For Chartered Accountant

Registration process

– Provide PAN, Password details, Personal details as per PAN, Contact details and Digital signature (if available and applicable)

– Submit request

On success, Activation link is sent to user through e-mail and a mobile PIN to mobile number. Click on the activation link and provide Mobile PIN to activate e-Filing account.

Once registered, LOGIN using User ID, Password ,Date of Birth/ Incorporation and Captcha code

How to file Income Tax Return Online?

An Income Tax return can be e-Filed by:

Preparing the Income Tax return off-line using return preparation software available free of cost at the Income Tax Department e-Filing website and Uploading the Income Tax Return data- A taxpayer can e-File Income Tax Return from ITR 1 to ITR 7.
Submit ITR-1/ITR4S Online- An Individual taxpayer can prepare and submit Income Tax Return- ITR 1/ITR4S –Online.

Upload Income Tax Return

To upload Income Tax Return:

Step 1 – GO TO ‘Downloads’ section and select applicable Income Tax Return Form of the relevant Assessment Year

Step 2 – Download the utility of the Income Tax Return (ITR).

Step 3 – Fill the utility and Validate.

Step 4 – Generate an XML file and save in desired path/destination in your desktop/system.

Step 5– LOGIN to e-Filing application and GO TO –> e-File –> Upload Return.

Step 6 – Select the Income Tax Return Form and the Assessment Year.

Step 7 – Browse and Select the XML file

Step 8 – Upload Digital Signature Certificate / EVC.

Step 9 – Click ‘SUBMIT’.

Step 10 – On successful upload, Acknowledgement details would be displayed. Click on the link to view or generate a printout of Acknowledgement / ITR-V Form.

Note:

To e-File using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), the DSC should be registered in the application.
If the Income Tax Return is uploaded with DSC (digitally signed) or EVC, on generation of “Acknowledgement“, the Return Filing process is complete.
If the return is not uploaded with a DSC (digitally signed) / EVC , on successful upload of e-Return, an ITR-V Form will be generated. This is an Acknowledgement / Verification form. A duly verified ITR-V form should be signed and submitted to CPC. The Return filing process shall be complete only on receipt of the ITR-V at CPC, Bangalore.

Submit ITR-1/ITR4S online

Step 1 – Login to e-Filing application

Step 2 – GO TO ‘e-File’ –> ‘Prepare and Submit ITR Online’

Step 3 – Select the Income Tax Return Form ITR 1/ITR4S and the Assessment Year.

Step 4 – Fill in the details and click the SUBMIT button

Step 5 – On successful submission, Acknowledgement detail is displayed. Click on the link to view or generate a printout of Acknowledgement/ITR-V Form.

Note:

To e-File using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), the DSC should be registered in the application.
If the Income Tax Return is uploaded with DSC (digitally signed) or EVC, on generation of “Acknowledgement“, the Return Filing process is complete.
If the return is not uploaded with a DSC (digitally signed) / EVC , on successful upload of e-Return, an ITR-V Form will be generated. This is an Acknowledgement / Verification form. A duly verified ITR-V form should be signed and submitted to CPC. The Return filing process shall be complete only on receipt of the ITR-V at CPC, Bangalore.

Types of Electronic Verification

There are 3 options to electronically verify the returns

Option 1: e-Verification using e-Filing OTP (only available if Total Income is less than Rs 5 Lakh and there is no refund claim)
Option 2: e-Verification using NetBanking login
Option 3: e-Verification using Aadhaar OTP validation.

Note: No Further actions required by the taxpayer post e-Verifying the Returns

EVC – Electronic Verification Code

Additional features to assist in preparing Income Tax Return

Pre-Fill- Personal and Tax Information can be pre-filled in the Income Tax Return.

Login to e-Filing application
GO TO à Downloads à Download Pre-filled XML . Save the XML in the desired path/destination in your desktop/system.
Open the Excel utility (ITR) and click the “Import Personal/Tax Details from XML” button. This will require you to select the path/destination where you have saved the XML and click OK. The details will be uploaded into your utility. You may edit the tax details, if needed

Open the Java utility, click on ‘Pre-fill’ button, enter e-Filing User ID, password and Date of Birth/Incorporation and choose “Pre-fill Address” option click on Submit

In case of ITR 1/ITR 4S online, ITR will open with auto-filled only personal and Tax particulars (as per Form 26AS details)

Ref:

www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/
www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in