How to File ITR Online Free
India FY 2024-25
Step-by-step guide to e-file your Income Tax Return on incometax.gov.in. Deadline: 31 July 2025.
Filing Deadline
31 Jul 2025
Assessment Year
2025-26
Financial Year
2024-25
Late Fee (u/s 234F)
₹5,000
Gather Your Documents
- ✓Form 16 from your employer (salary and TDS details)
- ✓Form 26AS / AIS from TRACES (all TDS, advance tax, other income)
- ✓Bank account statements (interest income, FD interest)
- ✓Investment proofs (PPF, ELSS, LIC, 80C investments)
- ✓Home loan statement (principal + interest breakup from bank)
- ✓Rent receipts if claiming HRA exemption
Identify Your ITR Form
- ✓ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salaried, one house property, income up to ₹50L
- ✓ITR-2: Capital gains, multiple properties, income above ₹50L
- ✓ITR-3: Business/professional income (non-presumptive)
- ✓ITR-4 (Sugam): Presumptive business (44AD/44ADA), income up to ₹50L
- ✓ITR-5: Firms, LLPs, AOPs
- ✓ITR-6: Companies (except Section 11 exempt)
Register / Login on Income Tax Portal
- ✓Go to incometax.gov.in and click 'Login'
- ✓Enter your PAN (this is your User ID) and password
- ✓New user? Click 'Register' → enter PAN, name, DOB → verify mobile/email
- ✓Complete e-KYC using Aadhaar OTP for instant verification
Choose Filing Mode
- ✓Option A — Online (Recommended): File directly on the portal, pre-filled data available
- ✓Option B — Offline: Download Java/Excel utility, fill offline, upload JSON
- ✓Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return
- ✓Select Assessment Year: 2025-26 (for FY 2024-25 income)
- ✓Select 'Original' filing type
Fill in Your Income Details
- ✓Salary income: Pre-filled from Form 16 and AIS — verify against your Form 16
- ✓Other income: Bank interest, rental income, capital gains from stocks/property
- ✓Select Old or New Tax Regime (new regime is default from FY 2023-24)
- ✓Enter deductions if using old regime: 80C, 80D, HRA, home loan interest (24b)
- ✓Reconcile with Form 26AS — all income listed there must be declared
Compute Tax and Pay Self-Assessment Tax
- ✓Portal auto-calculates tax after entering income and deductions
- ✓Check if there is any tax due after TDS credit
- ✓Pay any balance as Self-Assessment Tax via Challan 280 (net banking/UPI/NEFT)
- ✓After payment, tax reflects in Form 26AS within 3-4 working days
- ✓Enter Challan details (BSR code, Challan serial number, date, amount) in the return
Preview, Validate and Submit
- ✓Preview the ITR to check all figures are correct
- ✓Run validation — fix any errors flagged by the portal
- ✓Click 'Submit' when satisfied
- ✓Verify your ITR within 30 days of filing (mandatory to complete the process)
E-Verify Your ITR (Mandatory)
- ✓Method 1 (Easiest): Aadhaar OTP — instant verification
- ✓Method 2: Net banking EVC — generate EVC via your bank
- ✓Method 3: Demat account EVC
- ✓Method 4: Physical ITR-V — print, sign, send to CPC Bengaluru by speed post within 30 days
- ✓After verification, you receive acknowledgment (ITR-V) on your email
Let TaxMitra AI Do the Heavy Lifting
Upload your Form 16, salary slips, bank statements or AIS. TaxMitra AI will analyse them at CA level — tell you which ITR form to file, exact deductions to claim, old vs new regime comparison, and flag any errors.
Analyse My Form 16 Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ITR filing deadline for FY 2024-25?
31 July 2025 for individuals (non-audit). 31 October 2025 for audit cases. Belated return can be filed up to 31 December 2025 with late fee u/s 234F (₹5,000 or ₹1,000 if income ≤ ₹5L).
Is ITR filing mandatory for me?
Yes, if your gross total income (before deductions) exceeds the basic exemption limit: ₹2.5L (below 60), ₹3L (60-80 yrs), ₹5L (80+ yrs). Also mandatory if you have foreign assets, carry-forward losses, or your employer has deducted TDS.
Old regime or new regime — which is better?
New regime is better if your deductions (80C, HRA, home loan interest, 80D, NPS) total less than ₹3.75L (for ₹12L salary). Use our free Income Tax Calculator to compare both regimes for your exact situation.
How do I check my ITR refund status?
Login to incometax.gov.in → e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns. Or visit tin.tin.nsdl.com/oltas/refundstatuslogin.html. Refunds are processed within 20-45 days of e-verification for non-scrutiny cases.
What if I made a mistake in my ITR?
File a Revised Return u/s 139(5) before 31 December of the Assessment Year. You can revise any error or omission. There's no limit on the number of revisions. Late fee and interest apply only on original default, not revision.
Do I need CA to file my ITR?
For simple salaried cases (ITR-1 or ITR-4), you can file yourself for free on the portal. For complex cases with capital gains, multiple properties, business income, or foreign assets, TaxMitra AI can help analyse your documents and guide the process.