Income Tax Return Filing FAQs: Everything Salaried Indians Need to Know (2026)

Last Updated on April 23, 2026 by Hemant Beniwal

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin

Every July I receive a surge of messages asking the same questions. Did anything change this year? Do I need to file even if TDS was deducted? What is Form 26AS? How do I e-verify?

Income tax return filing is not complicated – but the questions are real, and the stakes of getting it wrong are real. This post answers the most common questions in plain language, updated for current rules.

My employer already deducted TDS. Do I still need to file?

Yes. TDS deduction and ITR filing are two separate obligations. TDS is the tax withheld at source by your employer. ITR filing is your declaration to the Income Tax Department of your total income from all sources during the year.

Filing is mandatory if your total income exceeds the basic exemption limit, regardless of TDS. Filing is also required if you want to claim a refund of excess TDS, carry forward capital losses, or meet other specific conditions. In practice, virtually all salaried individuals above the basic exemption limit are required to file.

What is the last date for filing ITR?

For salaried individuals and those not requiring a tax audit, the deadline is July 31st of the assessment year. For FY 2025-26 income, the deadline is July 31, 2026.

Missing this deadline does not mean you cannot file – you can file a belated return until December 31st. But a late fee under Section 234F applies: Rs 1,000 if income is below Rs 5 lakh, Rs 5,000 for income above Rs 5 lakh. Interest under Section 234A also applies on any outstanding tax. File on time to avoid both.

What happens if I do not file by the due date?

A late fee under Section 234F applies as described above. Additionally, if you have unpaid tax (tax due after TDS and advance tax credits), interest accrues at 1% per month under Section 234A from the due date until the actual filing date. If you have capital losses you want to carry forward to future years, those cannot be carried forward in a belated return.

What is Form 26AS?

Form 26AS is a consolidated tax credit statement available on the Income Tax portal. It shows all TDS deducted on your income during the year, advance tax you have paid, self-assessment tax payments, and high-value transactions reported by banks and financial institutions. It is essentially the Income Tax Department’s record of what they know about your income and tax payments.

Before filing your ITR, always cross-check Form 26AS with your Form 16 and other income documents. Any mismatch between Form 26AS and your return can trigger a notice. You can access Form 26AS through the Income Tax e-filing portal under “My Account.”

AIS (Annual Information Statement), introduced in 2021, provides even more detail than Form 26AS – including mutual fund transactions, dividends, stock transactions, and foreign remittances. Check both before filing.

What is ITR verification and why is it mandatory?

Filing the return is not the final step. You must verify it within 30 days of filing (reduced from 120 days as of 2023). An unverified return is treated as not filed – the filing is invalid until verification is complete.

You can verify electronically using Aadhaar-based OTP (the fastest method), net banking, bank account EVC, or Demat account EVC. Alternatively, you can print the ITR-V acknowledgement, sign it, and send it to the Centralised Processing Centre in Bengaluru by speed post within 30 days.

For most individuals, Aadhaar OTP verification is the simplest route and takes under two minutes on the Income Tax e-filing portal.

Can I revise my ITR after filing?

Yes. A revised return can be filed if you discover an error or omission in the original return – provided the original return was filed before the due date. You can revise up to December 31st of the assessment year or before the completion of assessment, whichever is earlier.

Common reasons to file a revised return: missing income from interest or dividends that appeared in AIS after the original filing, incorrect deduction claims, or clerical errors in personal details. Filing a revised return does not attract any penalty if done within the allowed window.

Which ITR form should I use?

The correct form depends on your income sources. ITR-1 (Sahaj) is for salaried individuals with income from one house property, no capital gains, and total income up to Rs 50 lakh. ITR-2 is for individuals with capital gains (from mutual funds, stocks, or property) or income from more than one house property. ITR-3 is for individuals with business or professional income in addition to salary.

Most salaried professionals who have invested in mutual funds or sold property during the year need ITR-2. Using the wrong form can result in a defective return notice from the Income Tax Department.

What is Form 10E and do I need it?

Form 10E is required if you received salary in arrears during the year – typically when a pay revision is implemented with retrospective effect. The arrear amount, if taxed entirely in the year of receipt, may result in a higher tax outgo than if it had been received in the years it pertained to. Form 10E allows you to claim relief under Section 89(1) to spread the tax burden.

If you are claiming Section 89(1) relief in your ITR, you must file Form 10E on the Income Tax portal before filing the return – otherwise the ITR will be processed with a mismatch.

Read: Year-End Tax Planning Guide

ITR filing is one of the least glamorous parts of personal finance – and one of the most important. Filed correctly and on time, it is your annual declaration that your financial affairs are in order.

File early. Verify immediately. Keep a copy.