What is the story about?
With the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline approaching, taxpayers have multiple options to submit their returns online. Apart from the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, several fintech and financial platforms now offer digital tax filing services through partnerships with tax service providers.
These platforms aim to simplify the filing process by offering features such as pre-filled tax details, automated import of investment data and expert assistance for taxpayers with complex income sources.
Income Tax Department portal: The primary platform for filing ITR
The Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal remains the official platform for taxpayers to file their returns online.
Taxpayers can log in using their PAN details, select the applicable ITR form, verify income and deduction details, pay any tax due and complete e-verification after submission.
The portal also provides access to pre-filled information based on available records, including details from Form 16, Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), wherever applicable.
Fintech apps expand ITR filing options
Several financial platforms have introduced in-app tax filing facilities, allowing users to access tax services without separately navigating to external platforms.
Paytm has partnered with ClearTax to offer ITR filing services through its app. The facility includes automated tax data fetching, pre-filled information and one-click import of trade data from multiple brokers for taxpayers with capital gains. The service starts at ₹11.
Angel One has also partnered with ClearTax to provide tax filing services to its customers. Investors can import capital gains data linked to their Angel One accounts, reducing manual entry while preparing their returns. The platform offers both self-filing and expert-assisted options.
PhonePe and JioFinance have launched ITR filing services through TaxBuddy. The services offer do-it-yourself and expert-assisted filing options, starting at ₹24 for self-filing plans.
These facilities are available for salaried individuals as well as taxpayers with income from sources such as capital gains, business, cryptocurrency transactions, foreign income and NRI-related taxation.
What can taxpayers do through these platforms?
Digital ITR filing platforms typically provide services such as:
Filing a return is not only linked to tax payment. An ITR also acts as an official record of income and can be useful while applying for loans, credit cards, visas or other financial requirements.
“Even when no tax is payable, an ITR remains an important financial document as it helps create a formal record of income and can support future financial requirements,” said Kumar Binit, CEO, airpay money.
However, it may not be mandatory always.
Taxpayers should review their income details, deductions and applicable tax regime before submitting their returns to ensure accurate reporting.
Who should consider expert-assisted filing?
Taxpayers with simple income sources such as salary, bank interest and standard deductions may be able to complete their returns through self-filing options.
However, individuals with multiple income sources, including shares, mutual funds, futures and options (F&O), business income, foreign assets or capital gains, may prefer expert assistance to ensure correct reporting and compliance.
Documents required while filing ITR
Before starting the filing process, taxpayers should keep the following documents ready:
While digital platforms can reduce manual effort, taxpayers should verify all pre-filled information before filing. Income from all sources should be reported correctly, deductions should be claimed only when eligible, and the selected tax regime should align with the taxpayer’s financial situation.
The choice between the Income Tax Department portal, self-filing platforms and expert-assisted services depends on the complexity of the taxpayer’s income and the level of support required.
These platforms aim to simplify the filing process by offering features such as pre-filled tax details, automated import of investment data and expert assistance for taxpayers with complex income sources.
Income Tax Department portal: The primary platform for filing ITR
The Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal remains the official platform for taxpayers to file their returns online.
Taxpayers can log in using their PAN details, select the applicable ITR form, verify income and deduction details, pay any tax due and complete e-verification after submission.
The portal also provides access to pre-filled information based on available records, including details from Form 16, Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), wherever applicable.
Fintech apps expand ITR filing options
Several financial platforms have introduced in-app tax filing facilities, allowing users to access tax services without separately navigating to external platforms.
Paytm has partnered with ClearTax to offer ITR filing services through its app. The facility includes automated tax data fetching, pre-filled information and one-click import of trade data from multiple brokers for taxpayers with capital gains. The service starts at ₹11.
Angel One has also partnered with ClearTax to provide tax filing services to its customers. Investors can import capital gains data linked to their Angel One accounts, reducing manual entry while preparing their returns. The platform offers both self-filing and expert-assisted options.
PhonePe and JioFinance have launched ITR filing services through TaxBuddy. The services offer do-it-yourself and expert-assisted filing options, starting at ₹24 for self-filing plans.
These facilities are available for salaried individuals as well as taxpayers with income from sources such as capital gains, business, cryptocurrency transactions, foreign income and NRI-related taxation.
What can taxpayers do through these platforms?
Digital ITR filing platforms typically provide services such as:
- Importing capital gains data from brokers and investment platforms
- Using available tax information to pre-fill return details
- Comparing tax regimes before filing
- Helping select the appropriate ITR form
- Calculating tax payable or refund eligibility
- Providing expert assistance for complex returns
- Supporting taxpayers in responding to eligible income tax notices
Filing a return is not only linked to tax payment. An ITR also acts as an official record of income and can be useful while applying for loans, credit cards, visas or other financial requirements.
“Even when no tax is payable, an ITR remains an important financial document as it helps create a formal record of income and can support future financial requirements,” said Kumar Binit, CEO, airpay money.
However, it may not be mandatory always.
Taxpayers should review their income details, deductions and applicable tax regime before submitting their returns to ensure accurate reporting.
Who should consider expert-assisted filing?
Taxpayers with simple income sources such as salary, bank interest and standard deductions may be able to complete their returns through self-filing options.
However, individuals with multiple income sources, including shares, mutual funds, futures and options (F&O), business income, foreign assets or capital gains, may prefer expert assistance to ensure correct reporting and compliance.
Documents required while filing ITR
Before starting the filing process, taxpayers should keep the following documents ready:
- PAN and Aadhaar details
- Form 16 for salaried individuals
- Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)
- Bank interest certificates
- Capital gains statements from brokers and mutual funds
- Details of deductions under sections such as 80C and 80D
- Details of rental income, loans or foreign income, wherever applicable
While digital platforms can reduce manual effort, taxpayers should verify all pre-filled information before filing. Income from all sources should be reported correctly, deductions should be claimed only when eligible, and the selected tax regime should align with the taxpayer’s financial situation.
The choice between the Income Tax Department portal, self-filing platforms and expert-assisted services depends on the complexity of the taxpayer’s income and the level of support required.
