ITR stands for Income Tax Return. It is a form through which taxpayers disclose their income and assets to the Income Tax Department of India. All taxpayers must file their ITR before the due date specified by the department each year. The tax paid by taxpayers depends on factors such as their employment type, direct and passive income sources, and investments.
There are seven different types of ITR forms available to Indian taxpayers. These forms cater to individual taxpayers and organisations. The type of ITR form you must use will depend on whether you are an individual taxpayer or an organisation, your total income, as well as the sources of your income. Here is a list of seven types of Income Tax Return forms:
1. ITR-1 or Sahaj
Individuals who fall under the following categories should opt for the ITR-1 form, also known as Sahaj:
- Salary and pension earners
- Income of up to Rs.50 Lakh
- Income earned from other sources (except winning a lottery or horse racing)
- Agricultural income less than Rs.5,000
- Payments received for a single-house property with certain exclusions
2. ITR-2
Individuals and Hindu United Families (HUF) who fall under the following categories should opt for the ITR-2 form:
- Income exceeding Rs.50 Lakh
- Income received through salary, pensions, capital gains, and other sources (income received from sources other than business or profession)
- Income generated from foreign assets
- Agricultural income exceeding Rs.5,000
3. ITR-3
Individuals and Hindu United Families who fall under the following categories should opt for the ITR-3 form:
- Income from a business or profession
- Income received from being a partner in a firm
- Income received through salary, pension, capital gains, and other sources
- Investments in unlisted equity shares
- Individual director in a company
4. ITR-4 or Sugam
Individuals, Hindu United Families, and firms with an income up to Rs.50 Lakh from businesses or a profession can opt for the ITR 4 form. Moreover, those who have chosen the presumptive income scheme under Section 44AD, Section 44ADA, and Section 44AE of the Income Tax Act are eligible to file their returns using the ITR 4 form.
5. ITR-5
The ITR-5 form is meant for firms, Body of Individuals, co-operative societies, Limited Liability Partnerships, Association of Persons, local authorities, Artificial Judicial Persons, estates of insolvent, estates of deceased, and business trusts (not individual citizens).
6. ITR-6
The ITR-6 form is to be filed electronically by companies, except for those that claim an exemption under Section 11, which is income from a religious or charitable property.
7. ITR-7
Companies filing their return under the below sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961 can use ITR-7:
Section 139(4A): Individuals holding a property for charitable or religious purposes
Section 139(4B): Political parties and affiliates
Section 139(4C): Institutions or associations such as medical institutions, news agencies and establishments, educational institutions, think tanks, and agencies involved in scientific research
Section 139(4D): Colleges and universities, or other institutions where revenue and losses are not required to be reported as per the rules laid under this section of the Income Tax Act, 1961
Aspiring Home Loan borrowers should familiarise themselves with the Indian tax norms and fill out the right ITR form. Borrowers need to submit Income Tax Return documents while availing of a Home Loan. The ITR form serves as income proof for borrowers and establishes their sources of income and creditworthiness.
Here are the various types of ITR forms based on an assessee’s eligibility:
ITR Form Type | Eligible Assessee | Ineligible Assessee |
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ITR 1 | Ordinary residents with a gross income of up to Rs.50 Lakh and with revenue from the following sources:
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ITR 2 |
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ITR 3 |
| Individuals and HUFs without a commercial or a professional income |
ITR 4 |
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ITR 5 |
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ITR 6 |
| Businesses that seek to be exempted from taxation on revenue generated by charitable or religious trusts |
ITR 7 |
| No alternate type of assesse exists |
Individuals who plan on filing an ITR for their Home Loan must select the ITR-1 or ITR-2 form. It applies to salaried and professional borrowers repaying their Home Loans for a self-occupied property.
The form allows you to claim the Home Loan tax benefit of up to Rs.1.5 Lakh on the principal repayment, stamp duty and registration charges. One can also be eligible for deductions worth Rs.2 Lakh on interest repaid annually under Section 24(b).
The process to file your income tax returns on a Home Loan is straightforward and easy to follow. The process can be completed through the following steps:
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Visit the e-filing portal.
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Login with your credentials or register yourself if you are a new user.
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Click on the ‘e-File’ tab and select ‘File Income Tax Return’ from the drop-down menu.
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Choose the year you wish to file the ITR for and then click on 'Continue'.
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Select your profile – individual, HUF, or others.
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Now select the type of ITR form you wish to opt for (ITR-1 or ITR-2 form, in the case of Home Loans).
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Enter your bank account details or validate the existing details.
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At the final stage, you will be redirected to a new page.
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Enter and check all your personal and other details mentioned on this page.
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Confirm the summary and click on 'Submit'.
If you wish to download your ITR-V form or the Income Tax Return Verification form, which the Income Tax Department releases as proof of an individual's e-Filing, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official website of the Income Tax Department and log in to your account.
- Once you log in, click on 'Income Tax Returns' and then on 'View Filed Returns'.
- Next, click on 'Download Receipts' for the form you wish to download.
- If you wish to verify your ITR-V, click on 'Verify Returns'.
- Click on ITR-V/Acknowledgement and the downloading process will be initiated.
- Once the document is downloaded, you will be required to enter your PAN along with your date of birth as a password to open the document.
- If you do not want to e-verify, you can sign the downloaded document and send it to CPC Bangalore to complete the ITR verification process.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Also Read: Tax Benefits on Second Home Loan
Types of ITR Forms: FAQs
The selection of the appropriate Income Tax Return (ITR) form depends on your sources of income, the amount of income earned, and your residential status. It's always recommended to consult with a tax professional or refer to the official website of the tax authority for accurate and personalized advice.
Yes, if you realize that you made an error or omission in your filed ITR forms, there are provisions for rectification or filing revised returns. If you want to make substantial changes to your filed ITR forms, you may need to file a revised return. A revised return can be filed under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act. It allows you to correct any incorrect or incomplete information in the original return.
To check the status of your Income Tax Return (ITR), you can visit the official website. Check the section or option related to "Income Tax Return (ITR) Status" on the website. Click on it and you will be prompted to enter your acknowledgement number. Additionally, provide your valid registered mobile number and click on 'Continue'. You will receive an OTP (One-Time Password) on your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP and click on 'Submit' to complete the process. Once the process is complete, you will be able to view the status of your IT return.
To simplify the tax payment procedure, the Income Tax Department has introduced a dedicated online portal that allows individuals and business organizations to file their income tax returns conveniently. By visiting www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in, you can complete the process of filing your income tax return within a few minutes.
According to the eligibility criteria for income tax return filing, individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and firms have the option to use ITR-1 (Sahaj), ITR-2, and ITR-4S. ITR-1 is suitable for individuals with income from salary or pension, one house property, and other sources excluding business or profession income.
The types of ITR Forms available for individuals are: ITR 1, ITR 2, ITR 3, ITR 4, ITR 5, ITR 6, and ITR 7.
ITR-5, ITR-6 and ITR-7 are the ITR forms that can be used by firms and companies to file their income tax return.
ITR-2 or ITR-3 are the ITR Forms for NRIs which they must fill to file their ITR returns.