25 Costly ITR Filing Mistakes to Avoid in FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)

Category: Income Tax

📂 Income Tax

25 Costly ITR Filing Mistakes to Avoid in FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)

Your complete practical guide — with real case studies, legal references, amendment alerts & a ready-to-use checklist. Don’t let a small error cost you big!

📅 Updated: 28 June 2026
📘 FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27
⚖️ Income-tax Act, 1961
🇮🇳 Indian Taxpayers

⚠️ Law Amended Up To: This article reflects provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, Finance Act 2025, applicable CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) circulars and rules as on 28 June 2026. Tax laws change frequently — always verify with the official portal before acting.

📌 Effective Period: All rates, slabs, and provisions discussed here are applicable for Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 / Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27. This article is relevant for current ITR filing which you will be doing soon this year. We will publish a separate article for FY 2026-27 next year when it will be relevant.

Introduction — Why Even Smart Taxpayers Get This Wrong

Every year, crores of taxpayers across India rush to file their ITR (Income Tax Return) — and every year, the Income Tax Department sends out lakhs of notices, demands, and defective return intimations. The irony? Most of these could have been avoided with a little attention to detail.

The Income Tax Department today is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, the AIS (Annual Information Statement), SFT (Statement of Financial Transactions), and Form 26AS. It knows your salary, your FD (Fixed Deposit) interest, your dividends, your stock trades, your property purchases — often before you tell them.

Defective Return Notices Under Sec 139(9)
💸
Refund Delays Due to Errors
📤
Scrutiny Notices Due to AIS Mismatches
⚖️
Penalties & Interest Levied

“Filing your Income Tax Return is not just about submitting a form. It is about telling your financial story correctly — and making sure the government can verify every word of it.”

✅ Quick Pre-Filing Checklist — Do This Before You Open the ITR Form

  • Downloaded Form 26AS from TRACES portal?
  • Reviewed AIS (Annual Information Statement) on the e-filing portal?
  • Checked TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary)?
  • Collected Form 16 / Form 16A from all employers and deductors?
  • Gathered interest certificates from banks and post offices?
  • Listed all capital gains transactions (stocks, mutual funds, property)?
  • Confirmed dividend income from stocks and mutual funds?
  • Decided Old vs New Tax Regime after proper comparison?
  • Pre-validated your bank account on the income tax portal?
  • Identified all TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) / TCS (Tax Collected at Source) credits and matched with Form 26AS?

1
Choosing the Wrong ITR Form

This is the most common — and arguably the most damaging — mistake. Filing ITR using an incorrect form can result in your return being declared defective under Section 139(9) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

Taxpayer Situation Correct ITR Form Common Mistake to Avoid
Salaried (income ≤ ₹50 lakh), one house property, no capital gains ITR-1 (Sahaj) Don’t use if you have capital gains, even LTCG on equity
Salaried + capital gains from equity/mutual funds/property ITR-2 Most salaried taxpayers with any investments fall here
Business / professional income (non-presumptive) ITR-3 Must maintain books and fill full P&L, balance sheet
Presumptive taxation under Section 44AD / 44ADA / 44AE ITR-4 (Sugam) Don’t use if turnover exceeds prescribed limits
Companies, LLPs, Firms, AOPs (Association of Persons), BOIs (Body of Individuals) ITR-5 / ITR-6 / ITR-7 As applicable to entity type

📋 Case Study: Mr. Arvind — The Wrong Form Trap

Background: Mr. Arvind, a school teacher, earns ₹8 lakh annually as salary. In FY 2025-26, he redeemed mutual funds and booked an LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gain) of ₹42,000.

Mistake: He filed ITR-1 as he always does, without realising that capital gains — even small ones — require ITR-2.

Result: The system flagged the return as defective under Section 139(9). He received an intimation to re-file within 15 days. Since he missed the deadline, his return was treated as invalid — leading to loss of refund for that year.

💡 Lesson: Even if your capital gain is small or exempt under Section 112A (LTCG up to ₹1.25 lakh on listed equity is exempt), you still need to report it in the correct form.

📌 Amendment Alert — Finance Act 2024 (Effective AY 2026-27):
LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gain) exemption under Section 112A on listed equity and equity-oriented mutual fund units is revised to ₹1.25 lakh per financial year (previously ₹1 lakh). However, you must still report such gains in your ITR — exemption does not mean non-disclosure.

2
Filing Under the Wrong Assessment Year (AY)

A surprisingly common mistake — especially among first-time filers. Always remember:

Income Earned During Financial Year (FY) Assessment Year (AY)
1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 FY 2025-26 AY 2026-27 ✅
1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 FY 2024-25 AY 2025-26 (previous year — do not select)
⚠️ Real Impact: If you accidentally select AY 2025-26 instead of AY 2026-27, your FY 2025-26 income gets added to a prior year’s filed return — causing mismatch, refund issues, and a potential demand notice.

3
Relying Solely on Form 16 Without Checking AIS and Form 26AS

Form 16 only captures what your employer knows. It does not capture your FD interest, dividend income, mutual fund redemptions, freelancing income, or Post Office deposit interest. You must reconcile four key documents before filing:

Document What It Contains Source
Form 16 Employer salary + TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) by employer only Issued by employer
Form 26AS All TDS, TCS (Tax Collected at Source), advance tax, self-assessment tax against your PAN (Permanent Account Number) TRACES Portal
AIS (Annual Information Statement) Comprehensive: salary, interest, dividends, securities, property, foreign remittances, GST (Goods and Services Tax) turnover, 50+ data types Income Tax e-filing portal
TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) Simplified aggregated view of AIS — easier to compare with what you are reporting Income Tax e-filing portal
💡 Tax Professional’s Insight:
In practice, the single most common trigger for income tax notices is a mismatch between AIS and the income reported in ITR. Always download and review your AIS at least 7–10 days before filing to have time to act on discrepancies.

4
Ignoring AIS Mismatches Without Submitting Feedback

AIS sometimes reflects incorrect or inflated figures — due to reporting errors by banks, mutual fund houses, or sub-registrars. Many taxpayers don’t know that the portal allows you to submit feedback on incorrect AIS entries before filing your ITR.

📋 Case Study: Mrs. Sunita — The Inflated FD Interest

Background: Mrs. Sunita’s AIS showed FD (Fixed Deposit) interest of ₹1,40,000. Her actual interest for FY 2025-26, as per the bank certificate, was only ₹70,000.

Reason: The bank had incorrectly reported cumulative interest rather than FY-specific accrued interest.

What To Do: Log in to incometax.gov.in → AIS → Click on the specific entry → Submit feedback as “Income is not as per my books / Incorrect amount” → Provide actual amount with justification.

💡 Lesson: AIS ≠ Final Truth. You can — and should — challenge incorrect entries with documentary evidence (bank interest certificate). Report the correct amount in your ITR.

5
Claiming TDS Credit Without Verifying Form 26AS

If TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is not reflected in your Form 26AS, the credit will be disallowed during CPC (Centralised Processing Centre) processing — even if TDS was actually deducted by the payer. This leads to an additional demand notice.

Reason TDS Not in Form 26AS Practical Impact
Employer / deductor quoted wrong PAN (Permanent Account Number) in TDS return Your Form 26AS won’t reflect the TDS at all
Deductor deposited TDS but filed TDS return late or not at all Credit shows only after TDS return is filed on TRACES
Bank submitted incorrect TAN (Tax Deduction Account Number) TDS mapped to wrong deductor
Deductor issued Form 16/16A for wrong amount Mismatch between claimed amount and Form 26AS
ℹ️ What To Do: Contact the deductor (employer, bank) to rectify the TDS return. Do not claim TDS that is not in Form 26AS — it will be disallowed during processing and you will receive a demand.

6
Forgetting to Report Interest Income

Interest income is the most frequently omitted head of income. Many taxpayers wrongly believe: “TDS was deducted, so tax is fully paid.” Banks deduct TDS at only 10% — but your actual slab rate may be 20% or 30%, leaving a balance tax unpaid.

Interest Source TDS Deducted? Still Taxable?
Savings Bank Account Interest No (below ₹10,000 threshold for most banks) Yes — but deduction of ₹10,000 available u/s 80TTA in old regime
Fixed Deposit (FD) Interest Yes, if total interest > ₹50,000/year (₹1,00,000 for senior citizens) — TDS at 10% [Finance Act 2025, effective 1 April 2025, Section 194A] Yes — fully taxable at applicable slab rates
Recurring Deposit (RD) Interest Yes, TDS applicable Yes — fully taxable
Post Office Savings Account Interest No TDS Yes — up to ₹3,500 exempt u/s 10(15)(i) for individual accounts
Corporate / Company Fixed Deposit Yes, TDS at 10% Yes — fully taxable

7
Not Reporting Dividend Income

Since FY 2020-21, the old DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax) system — where companies paid tax on dividends — has been abolished. Now, dividend is taxable in the hands of the shareholder at their applicable slab rate. Dividend from shares and mutual funds must be reported under “Income from Other Sources.”

💡 Practical Insight:
AIS captures dividend data reported by BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), NSE (National Stock Exchange), depositories, and mutual fund houses. If you received even ₹500 in dividends, it will appear in your AIS. TDS at 10% is deducted if dividend from a company exceeds ₹10,000 in a financial year [Finance Act 2025 doubled the threshold from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, effective FY 2025-26 — Section 194, Income-tax Act, 1961] — but TDS deduction does not make the remaining dividend exempt.

8
Missing Income from a Previous Employer

📋 Case Study: Mr. Karan — The Job-Hopper’s Nightmare

Background: Mr. Karan worked at Company A (April–September 2025, salary: ₹12 lakh) and joined Company B (October 2025–March 2026, salary: ₹16 lakh). Total annual income: ₹28 lakh.

Mistake: Company B was unaware of his earlier salary and deducted TDS only on ₹16 lakh. Mr. Karan filed ITR reporting only Company B’s Form 16, omitting Company A’s salary.

Result: AIS showed ₹28 lakh in salary income. ITR showed ₹16 lakh. A mismatch notice was issued. Additional tax of approximately ₹2.5 lakh became payable, along with interest under Section 234B and Section 234C of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

✅ Correct Approach: Provide Form 12B (declaration of previous salary) to the new employer. Report total salary from both employers in ITR-2. Claim TDS from both Form 16 Part A documents.

9
Making the Wrong Tax Regime Choice
📌 Key Change — Effective FY 2023-24 Onwards (Applicable FY 2025-26):
The New Tax Regime (NTR) under Section 115BAC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is now the default regime for all taxpayers. To opt for the Old Tax Regime (OTR), you must actively make this choice. For salaried individuals, you can switch regimes at the time of ITR filing. Business taxpayers face more restrictions on switching.

🏛️ Old Tax Regime

  • Higher tax slab rates
  • Deductions u/s 80C, 80D, HRA (House Rent Allowance), LTA (Leave Travel Allowance) etc. available
  • Best if deductions exceed ₹4–5 lakh
  • Salaried can switch annually

🔤 New Tax Regime (Default)

  • Lower tax slab rates
  • No 80C, 80D, HRA, LTA deductions
  • Standard Deduction: ₹75,000 (salaried / pensioners)
  • Rebate u/s 87A: up to ₹60,000 if income ≤ ₹12 lakh
  • Employer NPS (National Pension System) contribution deductible u/s 80CCD(2)
📌 Finance Act 2025 Update — Effective AY 2026-27:
Under the New Tax Regime, income up to ₹12 lakh is effectively tax-free due to the enhanced rebate under Section 87A (₹60,000 rebate). Important Note: This ₹12 lakh threshold does NOT apply to special rate income like STCG (Short-Term Capital Gains) under Section 111A or LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains) under Section 112A — those are taxed separately at special rates regardless.

10
Claiming Deductions Without Proper Documentation

The Income Tax Department can ask you to substantiate any deduction — even years after filing during scrutiny assessment. Claiming without documents is a risk that can backfire badly.

Deduction / Section Documents to Maintain
Section 80C — LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), PPF (Public Provident Fund), ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Scheme), NSC (National Savings Certificate), School Fees Premium receipts, PPF passbook, ELSS statements, NSC certificates, fee receipts
Section 80D — Medical Insurance Premium Insurance policy document, premium paid receipt (must be non-cash payment — cash premiums are disqualified)
Section 24(b) — Home Loan Interest Interest certificate from lender, possession certificate for under-construction property
HRA (House Rent Allowance) — Section 10(13A) Rent receipts, rental agreement, landlord’s PAN if rent exceeds ₹1 lakh/year
Section 80G — Donations Donation receipt, 80G eligibility certificate, NGO registration details

11
Incorrect Reporting of Capital Gains

📌 Major Amendment — Finance Act 2024 (Effective 23 July 2024 — Fully Applicable FY 2025-26):

Asset Type Old Rate (Before 23 July 2024) New Rate (From 23 July 2024)
STCG (Short-Term Capital Gains) on listed equity / equity MF — Sec 111A 15% 20%
LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains) on listed equity / equity MF — Sec 112A 10% above ₹1 lakh exemption 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh exemption
LTCG on Immovable Property — Sec 112 20% WITH indexation benefit 12.5% WITHOUT indexation (default for assets acquired on/after 23 July 2024)

Special Relief [2nd Proviso to Sec 112(1)(a)]: For Resident Individuals & HUFs who acquired property before 23 July 2024 and sold on/after 23 July 2024 — pay the lower of:
• 12.5% WITHOUT indexation, OR
• 20% WITH indexation

❌ This option is NOT available to NRIs, companies, LLPs, or AOPs.

Common capital gains errors to avoid:

  • ❌ Reporting only “net” profit/loss instead of transaction-by-transaction gains and losses
  • ❌ Not distinguishing between STCG and LTCG — they are taxed at entirely different rates
  • ❌ Setting off LTCG loss against STCG profit — not permitted; LTCG can only be set off against LTCG
  • ❌ Using incorrect Cost of Acquisition — especially the grandfathering price of 31 January 2018 for listed equity held before that date
  • ❌ Ignoring STT (Securities Transaction Tax) eligibility requirement for Section 111A rates

12
Not Disclosing Exempt Income in Schedule EI

A common misconception: “If income is exempt, why report it?” The law requires disclosure of certain exempt incomes — and failure to disclose creates AIS mismatches and notices.

Exempt Income Type Section Disclosure Required?
Agricultural income exceeding ₹5,000 Section 10(1) Yes — used for partial integration calculation
PPF (Public Provident Fund) interest Section 10(11) Yes — disclose in Schedule EI (Exempt Income)
Tax-free bond interest (NHAI, PFC, REC etc.) Section 10(15) Yes — disclose in Schedule EI
LTCG on equity within ₹1.25 lakh exemption limit Section 112A proviso Yes — report the gain amount; claim exemption

13
Entering Wrong Bank Account Details / Not Pre-Validating Bank Account

A single mistyped digit in your IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) or account number can delay your refund by months. Additionally, refunds are now only credited to pre-validated bank accounts on the income tax e-filing portal — even if the account number is correct, without pre-validation, no refund will be processed.

ℹ️ How to Pre-Validate: Log in to incometax.gov.in → My Account → Profile → My Bank Account → Add / Verify → Enter IFSC and account number → Verify via OTP / EVC (Electronic Verification Code) → Enable for refund credit.

14
Incorrectly Claiming HRA (House Rent Allowance) Exemption
Common HRA Mistake Consequence
Claiming HRA without actually paying rent (self-owned property) Disallowance; penalty under Section 270A for misreporting
Not quoting landlord’s PAN when annual rent exceeds ₹1 lakh HRA exemption may be denied by employer / AO
Claiming HRA under New Tax Regime HRA is NOT available under New Tax Regime — entire HRA becomes taxable
Informal rent-to-parents arrangement without actual payment Only valid if genuinely paying rent to parent (who must declare it as rental income); without actual payment it is fraudulent

15
Errors in Home Loan Deduction Claims (Sections 24(b) and 80C)
Nature of Claim Section Limit (Old Regime) New Regime
Principal repayment of home loan Section 80C Within overall ₹1.5 lakh 80C limit ❌ Not available
Interest on self-occupied property Section 24(b) Up to ₹2 lakh ❌ Not available
Interest on let-out / deemed let-out property Section 24(b) Actual interest paid ✅ Available
💡 Critical Trap in Practice:
Many taxpayers with an under-construction property claim Section 24(b) interest during the construction period — which is NOT allowed. Interest during construction is accumulated and then claimed as pre-construction interest in 5 equal instalments starting from the year of possession. Missing this rule leads to inflated deductions and tax demands during assessment.

16
Not Disclosing Foreign Assets in Schedule FA — Critical for NRIs & Returning NRIs
⚠️ Severe Consequences Under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015:
• Flat 30% tax on fair market value of undisclosed foreign assets
• Penalty of 3 times the tax payable (i.e., effectively 90% of asset value as penalty)
• Prosecution for up to 7 yearsApplies to: Residents Ordinarily Resident (ROR) in India who hold foreign bank accounts, foreign shares/securities, ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plans) held abroad, foreign property, or foreign life insurance policies.

17
Not Reporting Crypto / VDA (Virtual Digital Asset) Income
📌 VDA Taxation Rules (Section 115BBH — Applicable FY 2025-26):
• Income from transfer of VDA taxed at flat 30% (plus surcharge and cess)
• VDA losses cannot be set off against any other income
• VDA losses cannot be carried forward to future years
• TDS at 1% under Section 194S on VDA transfer exceeding ₹10,000/year (₹50,000 for specified persons)
Common Crypto Misconception Actual Legal Position
“I only made losses, so I don’t need to report” Wrong — every transaction must be disclosed. AIS will show TDS u/s 194S regardless.
“I just traded crypto-to-crypto, not to INR” Wrong — crypto-to-crypto exchange is a taxable transfer event under Section 115BBH
“I can deduct exchange fees from my VDA gains” Wrong — only cost of acquisition is deductible; no other expense is allowed

18
Errors in Presumptive Taxation Reporting (Sections 44AD / 44ADA / 44AE)
Section Who Can Use Turnover / Gross Receipts Limit (FY 2025-26) Deemed Income
Section 44AD Resident individuals, HUF (Hindu Undivided Family), partnership firms (not LLPs) in eligible businesses Up to ₹3 crore (if 95%+ receipts/payments are digital) or ₹2 crore otherwise 8% of turnover (6% for digital transactions)
Section 44ADA Specified professionals (doctors, CAs, architects, lawyers, engineers, etc.) — resident individuals only Up to ₹75 lakh (if 95%+ digital) or ₹50 lakh otherwise 50% of gross receipts
Section 44AE Goods carriage operators (owning up to 10 vehicles) Per vehicle per month limits apply ₹1,000/ton or ₹7,500/month per vehicle (as applicable)
⚠️ Critical Rule — Section 44AD: If you opt for Section 44AD in one year but declare income lower than the prescribed percentage (or opt out), you cannot return to Section 44AD for the next 5 consecutive years — and must maintain books and get them audited under Section 44AB during this 5-year block if income exceeds the basic exemption limit.

19
Ignoring Advance Tax Liability

If your net tax liability (after TDS credits) exceeds ₹10,000 in a financial year, you are required to pay advance tax in instalments. Failure attracts interest under Section 234B (default in payment) and Section 234C (deferment of instalments) — both at 1% per month on the shortfall.

Instalment Due Date % of Total Advance Tax Payable
1st Instalment 15 June 2025 15%
2nd Instalment 15 September 2025 45% (cumulative)
3rd Instalment 15 December 2025 75% (cumulative)
4th Instalment 15 March 2026 100% (cumulative)

20
Filing at the Very Last Minute
“Tax filing done in a hurry often becomes tax litigation in a hurry.”

Last-minute filing leads to: wrong entries due to haste, missed deductions, portal congestion and timeouts, and missing documents.

Due Dates for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) — Know your specific deadline:

Taxpayer Category ITR Form Due Date
Salaried individuals, capital gains taxpayers ITR-1, ITR-2 31 July 2026
Business / Professionals (non-audit cases) ITR-3, ITR-4 31 August 2026 📌 New extended date — Budget 2026
Tax audit cases (turnover above Section 44AB limits) ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6 31 October 2026
Transfer Pricing cases All relevant forms 30 November 2026
Belated Return [Section 139(4)] All forms 31 December 2026
ℹ️ Source: Official Income Tax Department portal — incometax.gov.in — Income Tax Returns page confirms due dates for AY 2026-27.

If any of the above deadlines are missed, the late filing penalty under Section 234F of the Income-tax Act, 1961 applies:

  • Filed after due date but on or before 31 December 2026: penalty of ₹5,000
  • Filed after 31 December 2026: penalty of ₹10,000
  • If total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh: penalty capped at ₹1,000
21
Not Reporting High-Value Transactions Already Known to the Department

The department receives SFT (Statement of Financial Transactions) reports from banks, mutual fund houses, sub-registrars, and credit card companies. All this flows into your AIS. Not reporting these in your ITR is one of the surest ways to receive a scrutiny notice.

Transaction Type Approximate Reporting Threshold
Cash deposits in savings account ₹10 lakh or more in a year
Credit card payments (cash) ₹1 lakh or more; settlement of ₹10 lakh or more by any mode
Mutual fund purchases ₹10 lakh or more in a year
Purchase / sale of property ₹30 lakh or more
Purchase of shares, debentures, bonds ₹10 lakh or more in a year
22
Not Responding to Defective Return Notice Under Section 139(9)
⚠️ If You Don’t Respond: Your return is treated as not filed at all. This means: no refund, possible penalty for non-filing, and the return loses its legal validity. A defective return notice under Section 139(9) is not a final demand — it is an opportunity to correct the mistake. You typically have 15 days (extendable by the AO) to rectify it. Do not ignore it.
23
Not E-Verifying the Return — The Most Avoidable Mistake
📌 Important CBDT Rule: The ITR must be e-verified (or a physical signed copy sent to CPC Bengaluru) within 30 days of filing. If you miss this window, your ITR is invalid — and you will need to file a fresh return. If the due date has passed, this becomes a belated return with applicable late fees and consequences.

E-verification methods: Aadhaar OTP (fastest — under 2 minutes) | Net Banking EVC | Bank Account EVC | Demat Account EVC | DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) — mandatory for companies.

24
Forgetting the Revised Return Option Under Section 139(5)

Made a mistake after filing? Don’t panic. Under Section 139(5) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, you can file a revised return to correct any omission or mistake. For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), the revised return can be filed on or before 31 March 2027 (extended from 31 December, as per Finance Bill 2026 proposal). There is no legal limit on the number of revisions before this deadline.

📌 Budget 2026 Update — New Section 234I (Late Fee on Revised Return):
A revised return filed after 31 December 2026 but on or before 31 March 2027 may attract a late fee under Section 234I:
• ₹5,000 if total income exceeds ₹5 lakh
• ₹1,000 if total income does not exceed ₹5 lakh
Moral of the story: Always try to revise your return before 31 December 2026 to avoid even this small fee. [Source: Finance Bill 2026 — as proposed; verify on incometaxindia.gov.in/finance-bills]
25
Not Consulting a Tax Professional for Complex Situations

Online tools and pre-filled returns are useful — but they are not a substitute for professional judgement. For situations involving foreign assets, capital gains on property, ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) taxation, business income, multiple sources of income, or notice responses, always engage a qualified tax professional. The cost of professional advice is a fraction of the cost of a tax demand, penalty, or litigation.


🔍 Comprehensive Case Study — The ₹3 Lakh Lesson

📋 Case Study: Mrs. Neha — The IT Professional Who Got Everything Wrong

Profile: Mrs. Neha, 34, IT professional. Salary: ₹18 lakh. Changed jobs in October 2025. Has FD investments, mutual fund SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans), and received RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) from her foreign parent company.

Mistake Made What She Did Correct Approach Consequence
Wrong ITR Form Filed ITR-1 (had mutual fund capital gains) Should have used ITR-2 Defective return notice
Previous Employer Salary Reported only new employer’s ₹9 lakh salary Report total ₹18 lakh from both employers Income mismatch notice + interest
FD Interest Omitted Skipped ₹82,000 FD interest entirely Disclose under Income from Other Sources AIS mismatch; additional tax demand
Dividend Not Reported Forgot ₹14,000 dividend from stocks Report under Income from Other Sources AIS mismatch; interest levied
Foreign Asset Not Disclosed RSU vested and held abroad not in Schedule FA Disclose in Schedule FA (Foreign Assets) Risk of Black Money Act prosecution
No E-Verification Filed but forgot to e-verify within 30 days Verify immediately after filing Return treated as not filed

Total Additional Tax + Interest + Penalties: Approximately ₹3 lakh — all avoidable with 2 hours of careful preparation.


📋 ITR Filing Master Checklist — FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)

Correct ITR form selected based on income type Assessment Year AY 2026-27 selected
AIS downloaded and reviewed; feedback submitted if incorrect Form 26AS checked; TDS matched with Form 16/16A
All employers’ salary included (including previous employer) FD, RD, savings account, Post Office interest reported
Dividend income reported under Income from Other Sources Capital gains — STCG and LTCG — computed and reported separately
Revised capital gains rates (post Finance Act 2024) applied Crypto / VDA income declared at 30% flat rate (if applicable)
Old vs New Tax Regime evaluated; correct regime selected Deductions claimed only with supporting documents retained
Exempt income disclosed in Schedule EI Foreign assets disclosed in Schedule FA (if Resident Ordinarily Resident)
Advance tax paid; Section 234B and 234C interest accounted for Bank account pre-validated on income tax portal for refund
Return e-verified within 30 days of filing — via Aadhaar OTP / Net Banking / Bank Account EVC

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I file ITR using only Form 16?
No. Form 16 only captures employer-related salary and TDS. You must also verify AIS (Annual Information Statement) and TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary) for interest income, dividends, capital gains, and any other income reported by third parties. Filing without reconciling AIS is one of the top triggers for income tax notices today.
Q2. What happens if I choose the wrong ITR form?
Your return may be declared defective under Section 139(9) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. You will receive a notice with typically 15 days to rectify it. If you fail to respond or correct within the timeframe, your return may be treated as invalid — resulting in loss of refund, possible penalty for non-filing, and other consequences.
Q3. Is it mandatory to report exempt income like PPF interest?
Yes — for most categories of exempt income like PPF (Public Provident Fund) interest, tax-free bond interest, and LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gain) within the exempt limit, you are required to disclose them in Schedule EI (Exempt Income) of your ITR. Omitting exempt income can create AIS mismatches and notices.
Q4. Can I revise my ITR after filing if I find a mistake?
Yes. Under Section 139(5) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, you can file a revised return to correct any error or omission. For FY 2025-26, the revised return can generally be filed on or before 31 March 2027. There is no legal bar on revising multiple times before this deadline.
Q5. What is the default tax regime for FY 2025-26 and can I switch?
The New Tax Regime under Section 115BAC is the default regime for FY 2025-26. Under Finance Act 2025, income up to ₹12 lakh is effectively tax-free in the New Regime due to the enhanced rebate under Section 87A. Salaried individuals can switch to the Old Regime at the time of ITR filing. Business taxpayers face more restrictions on switching regimes.
Q6. I made losses in crypto. Do I still need to report it in ITR?
Yes. VDA (Virtual Digital Asset) transactions must be reported in your ITR regardless of profit or loss. Section 115BBH does not allow set-off or carry-forward of VDA losses, but the transactions must still be disclosed. Your AIS will show TDS deducted under Section 194S — non-reporting creates a clear mismatch that will invite a notice.
Q7. Is e-verification mandatory and what is the deadline?
Yes, e-verification is mandatory. Without verification, your ITR is treated as not filed at all. As per CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) rules, you must e-verify within 30 days of filing. The easiest method is Aadhaar OTP — it takes under 2 minutes. Always verify immediately after submitting your return.
Q8. As an NRI, do I need to disclose foreign assets in Schedule FA?
The Schedule FA (Foreign Assets) disclosure obligation applies only to Resident Ordinarily Residents (ROR) in India. NRIs and Resident but Not Ordinarily Residents (RNOR) are not required to disclose foreign assets in Schedule FA. However, NRIs should carefully determine their residential status every year, as it determines their overall tax obligations in India.

🏛️ Official Government Resources — For Authentic Information Only

💻 Income Tax e-Filing Portal
www.incometax.gov.in — File ITR, view AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, pay taxes, track refunds
📄 TRACES Portal (TDS Reconciliation)
www.tdscpc.gov.in — Download Form 26AS, Form 16/16A, verify TDS credits
📰 CBDT Circulars and Notifications
www.incometaxindia.gov.in — All official CBDT circulars, notifications, and press releases
⚖️ Income-tax Act, 1961 (Bare Act)
India Code — Income-tax Act, 1961 — Authentic legislative text
🧮 Official Tax Calculator
Income Tax Department Tax Calculator — Compare Old vs New Regime tax liability

🎯 Final Thoughts — File with Confidence, Not Just Speed

The Income Tax Department is not your adversary — it is your accountability partner. The return you file is your financial autobiography for FY 2025-26. Make it accurate, complete, and honest.

The department already has access to a significant portion of your financial data through AIS, SFT (Statement of Financial Transactions), and Form 26AS. Your responsibility is simply to corroborate it accurately and transparently in your ITR.

Take 2 extra hours before filing. Review your AIS. Reconcile your TDS. Choose your tax regime wisely. E-verify the moment you hit submit. That 2-hour investment today can save you months of notice-chasing tomorrow.

🌟 File Smart. File Accurate. File on Time. 🌟

📌 Disclaimer: This article is prepared for educational and general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation for professional services. Tax laws, rates, and provisions are subject to change. The information provided here is based on the Income-tax Act, 1961, Finance Act 2025, CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) circulars, and rules as publicly available and understood on 28 June 2026. Taxpayers are strongly advised to consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to their individual financial situation. Tax & Finance Hub and the author shall not be liable for any loss or consequence arising from actions taken based on this article.

Abhilash Das

Abhilash
Author | Tax & Finance Hub

With over a decade of hands-on experience in GST (Goods & Services Tax), Income Tax, and financial compliance, Abhilash founded Tax & Finance Hub with one mission: to make taxation simple, practical, and accessible for every Indian. His articles cut through legal jargon to deliver clear, real-world guidance — verified against the latest laws, circulars, and notifications.