Key points
- Gather PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, Form 16/16A, interest certificates and your Form 26AS / AIS before you start.
- Reconcile the TDS and income in Form 16 against Form 26AS and AIS — mismatches cause notices.
- Report all income, including bank interest, dividends and capital gains, not just salary.
- Pick the correct ITR form and the correct assessment year.
- File before the due date and complete e-verification — an unverified return is not treated as filed.
Filing your income tax return goes smoothly when you prepare first. Most problems — notices, delayed refunds, rejected returns — come from a handful of avoidable mistakes. Use this checklist to get it right.
Documents to gather
- PAN and Aadhaar (and that they are linked, if required).
- Bank account details for any refund, with the correct IFSC.
- Form 16 from each employer you had during the year.
- Form 16A for TDS on non-salary income (interest, professional fees, etc.).
- Interest certificates from banks and the post office.
- Capital gains statements from brokers / mutual funds, if any.
- Proof of deductions you plan to claim (old regime) — insurance, 80C investments, home-loan interest, rent for HRA, etc.
- Your Form 26AS, AIS and TIS from the portal.
Step-by-step flow
- Download Form 26AS, AIS and TIS and open your Form 16/16A.
- Reconcile the TDS and income across them. The TDS in Form 16 should appear in 26AS; the income in AIS should be reflected in your return.
- Choose the correct ITR form (see our which-ITR-form guide) and the right assessment year.
- Enter or verify the pre-filled data; add income the portal did not pre-fill.
- Claim only the deductions you can support with evidence.
- Check the tax computed, pay any balance (self-assessment tax) if due.
- File, then e-verify within the allowed time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping reconciliation. Not matching Form 16 with 26AS/AIS is the top cause of notices.
- Forgetting small income. Bank/savings interest, FD interest and dividends are often missed.
- Wrong assessment year or form. Easy to do, and it makes the return defective.
- Wrong bank/IFSC. Delays or blocks your refund.
- Claiming deductions you cannot prove. Only claim what you can support.
- Not e-verifying. An unverified return is treated as not filed.
- Leaving it to the last day. Portal load and small errors are easier to handle with time in hand.
Check the live dates
Due dates can be extended. Confirm the current date on the Income Tax Department portal and our deadlines page before filing.
After filing
Keep a copy of the filed return, the acknowledgement, and the documents you relied on. If you discover an error, you can usually file a revised return within the allowed window — fix it promptly. If you receive a notice, read it carefully; many are simple requests to reconcile a figure.
Not tax advice
General information only. Procedures, due dates and revision rules change — confirm on the e-filing portal or consult a professional.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I still need to e-verify after filing?
- Yes. Submitting the return is not the end — you must e-verify it within the allowed time, otherwise it is treated as not filed. E-verification can be done through Aadhaar OTP, net banking and other options on the portal. Check the current method and time limit on the e-filing portal.
- What is the due date for filing?
- Due dates depend on the type of taxpayer and the assessment year, and they can be extended by the department. Rather than relying on a date that may be out of date, check the current due date on the Income Tax Department portal and our deadlines page before you file.
- I forgot to report some interest income. What now?
- If you spot an error after filing, you can usually file a revised return within the allowed window. The sooner you correct it, the better. Keep the interest certificate as evidence. Confirm the current revision rules on the e-filing portal.
Official sources
- Income Tax Department e-filing portal — Filing, e-verification and due dates
- Income Tax Department — Form 26AS and AIS — Statements to reconcile before filing
Not professional advice
This guide is general information for understanding only — not personalised tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules change; always confirm figures on official sources and consider a qualified professional before acting. Union of Taxpayers is an independent platform and not a government body.