Income-tax filing: prepare records before choosing a form

Before you start

The appropriate income-tax return depends on your income sources and other circumstances. Begin by identifying the financial year and corresponding assessment year. Do not assume the same return form or filing obligation applies simply because you used it previously.

Your preparation checklist

1. Collect relevant income, tax-deduction and payment records for the selected year.
2. Review information available through official tax statements and investigate mismatches.
3. Check which return form and tax treatment apply to your situation.
4. Review bank details and the available return-verification methods.

Complete the next steps

Use the official e-Filing portal, select the correct year and review prefilled information against your own records. Complete the applicable submission and verification steps and retain the acknowledgement. Check the portal for verification and processing status rather than treating a saved draft as completion.

Open Income Tax e-Filing ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Official destination: https://www.incometax.gov.in. The provider’s current instructions take precedence over this guide.

If something goes wrong

If a refund is delayed, check return processing, verification and bank-related messages through the portal. Do not respond to a refund message by sharing a password or OTP. For uncertain deductions, notices or legal interpretations, consult a qualified tax professional; this preparation guide cannot calculate your liability.