ITR filing guide for salaried employees — FY 2026-27

Q: Which ITR form should a salaried employee use?

Most salaried employees with only salary income and interest income should file ITR-1 (Sahaj). If you have capital gains from stocks or mutual funds, use ITR-2. If you have business or freelance income, use ITR-3 or ITR-4.

Updated June 2026 · For filing AY 2027-28 returns

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is mandatory if your income exceeds the basic exemption limit, and advisable even if you have no tax to pay — it is proof of income, needed for loans, visas, and more. This guide walks you through everything: which form to use, what documents to collect, and how to file step by step on the official Income Tax portal. We don't file for you, but we make sure you know exactly what to do.

Due date for FY 2026-27 ITR (non-audit): July 31, 2027. File by this date to avoid late fees and interest on any tax due.

Step 1: Find out which ITR form you need

The biggest confusion for first-time filers is picking the right form. Answer the questions below and we'll tell you instantly.

Which ITR form do I need?

Do you have any capital gains income — from selling shares, mutual funds, property, or any other asset?

No — only salary, interest, and dividends Yes — I sold shares, MFs, or property this year

Step 2: Collect your documents

Before you sit down to file, gather everything in this checklist. Missing documents are the most common reason filing takes hours instead of minutes.

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Form 16 — issued by your employer by June 15. Contains salary details and TDS deducted. Part A = TDS certificate, Part B = salary breakup and deductions.
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Form 26AS — download from the income tax portal. Shows all TDS deducted against your PAN by all deductors. Cross-check with Form 16.
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Annual Information Statement (AIS) — also on the IT portal. Shows all financial transactions linked to your PAN: salary, interest, dividends, securities transactions, property purchases.
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Bank interest certificates — from savings accounts and FDs. Interest is taxable and often missed. Check your net banking for TDS certificates.
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Investment proof for old regime — if filing under old regime: 80C receipts (ELSS statements, LIC premium receipts, EPF passbook), 80D premium receipts, HRA rent receipts, home-loan interest certificate.
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Capital gains statements (if applicable) — from your broker (stocks) or mutual fund house (CAMS/KFintech consolidated statement). Needed for ITR-2.
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PAN, Aadhaar, and bank account details — for verification and refund. Your Aadhaar must be linked to your PAN.

Step 3: Verify your tax liability before filing

Before opening the portal, know your numbers. Use our calculators to verify:

Your income tax liability under both regimes → income tax calculator
Your in-hand salary and TDS → salary calculator
Your HRA exemption if claiming under old regime → HRA calculator

Compare the tax liability you calculate with the TDS already deducted (shown in Form 26AS). If TDS > liability, you are due a refund. If TDS < liability, you need to pay self-assessment tax before filing.

Step 4: File on the Income Tax portal

Log in to the IT portal

Go to eportal.incometax.gov.in. Log in with your PAN as user ID (your PAN is your user ID). First time? Register using your PAN — Aadhaar OTP will be needed.

Check AIS and Form 26AS

Under "e-File" → "Income Tax Returns" → "View Form 26AS" and check AIS under "Annual Information Statement". Reconcile these with your Form 16 before starting the return.

Start filing

Go to "e-File" → "Income Tax Returns" → "File Income Tax Return". Select Assessment Year 2027-28, filing mode Online, and choose your form (ITR-1 or ITR-2).

Confirm pre-filled data

The portal pre-fills salary, TDS, and many other fields from Form 26AS and AIS. Review every section carefully — pre-filled data can have errors. Add any missing income (interest, dividends) and deductions.

Choose your tax regime

Select old or new regime. The portal shows the tax payable under each. If you haven't already compared, use our salary calculator which shows both regimes side by side.

Pay any outstanding tax

If tax payable > TDS already deducted, pay the difference as "Self Assessment Tax" via Challan 280 (available in the payment section of the portal) before submitting the return. Add the challan details to your return.

Submit and e-verify

After submitting, e-verify within 30 days using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or Demat account. Without e-verification your ITR is not considered filed. Aadhaar OTP is the fastest method.

Go to Income Tax Portal →

Opens the official Government of India income tax e-filing portal.

Key deadlines for FY 2026-27 (AY 2027-28)

July 31, 2027

Due date for salaried and non-audit taxpayers

October 31, 2027

Due date for audit cases (businesses)

December 31, 2027

Last date for belated/revised return

March 15, 2027

Advance tax final instalment for FY 2026-27

Late filing fee: ₹5,000 if filed after July 31 (₹1,000 if total income ≤ ₹5 lakh). Interest at 1% per month on any tax unpaid after the due date under Section 234A.

Common mistakes to avoid

Not reporting interest income — savings account and FD interest are taxable even if TDS was not deducted. Check your AIS carefully.
Wrong ITR form — using ITR-1 when you have capital gains from stock sales requires a revised return in ITR-2.
Mismatch with Form 26AS — if income declared in your ITR doesn't match 26AS, you will get a defective return notice.
Forgetting to e-verify — submitting without e-verification means the return is not processed.
Not claiming refund — if TDS deducted exceeds your tax liability, file the return to claim your refund. Refunds are typically processed within 20–45 days of e-verification.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to file ITR for FY 2026-27?

The due date for salaried employees (non-audit cases) is July 31, 2027. Filing after this date attracts a late fee of ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if total income is below ₹5 lakh). Belated returns can be filed until December 31, 2027. After that, you need to apply to the tax officer for condonation of delay.

Which ITR form should a salaried employee use?

ITR-1 (Sahaj) for most salaried employees with income from salary, one house property, and interest. ITR-2 if you have capital gains (shares, mutual funds, property sale). ITR-3 or ITR-4 if you have business or freelance income. Use the quiz above to find your form instantly.

Is it mandatory to file ITR if TDS has already been deducted?

Yes, filing ITR is still mandatory if your gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹2.5 lakh under old regime; effectively ₹3 lakh under new regime). TDS deducted does not substitute for filing. Filing also allows you to claim a refund if too much TDS was deducted, and provides income proof for loans and visas.

Can I switch tax regime at the time of ITR filing?

Yes. Salaried employees (without business income) can choose a different regime at ITR filing time regardless of what they declared to their employer. If you switch from new to old at filing, you can claim deductions (80C, HRA, etc.) but will need to pay the difference in tax (if any) as self-assessment tax. If you switch from old to new, you may be due a refund.

What is the difference between Form 26AS and AIS?

Form 26AS shows TDS and TCS (tax collected at source) deducted against your PAN by various deductors. AIS (Annual Information Statement) is a newer, more comprehensive document that shows all financial transactions linked to your PAN — salary, interest, dividends, securities transactions, mutual fund redemptions, property deals, and more. Always check AIS before filing, as the IT department uses it to verify your reported income.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. ITR filing requirements, deadlines, and tax rules are subject to change. This is not tax advice. For complex situations (multiple employers, capital gains, foreign income, etc.) please consult a qualified chartered accountant. The income tax portal link above goes to the official Government of India website — InHandCalc has no affiliation with the Income Tax Department.