ITR Filing 2026: With the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline fast approaching, taxpayers rushing to file their returns should take a few minutes to verify the details before clicking the final ‘Submit’
button. A small error, such as selecting the wrong ITR form, omitting an income source or entering incorrect bank details, could delay your refund or even result in a notice from the income tax department.
Here are the key checks every taxpayer should complete before filing the return.
Verify Personal Details
Begin by checking your basic information, including your PAN, Aadhaar, name, date of birth, mobile number and email address. Also ensure that the bank account selected for receiving any tax refund is pre-validated and the account details, including the IFSC code, are accurate.
Ensure You Have Chosen the Correct ITR Form
Selecting the appropriate ITR form is one of the most important steps in the filing process. The form depends on the nature of your income, such as salary, business income, capital gains or foreign assets. Filing your return using an incorrect form may render it defective, requiring fresh compliance.
Match Income With Tax Records
Before submitting your return, reconcile your income with Form 16, Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). While Form 16 contains salary details provided by your employer, AIS may include additional income such as interest, dividends or securities transactions that must also be reported.
Report Every Source of Income
Ensure that all taxable income has been disclosed in the return. Apart from salary, taxpayers should include savings account interest, fixed deposit interest, dividend income, rental income, pension, freelance or consultancy income, capital gains from shares, mutual funds or property, and income from virtual digital assets, wherever applicable.
Verify TDS and Tax Payments
Check whether the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) reflected in your return matches the details available in Form 26AS and AIS. Also verify that any advance tax or self-assessment tax paid during the financial year has been correctly reported.
Claim Eligible Deductions
Review all deductions and exemptions that you are eligible to claim under the applicable tax regime. This may include deductions for investments, health insurance premiums, additional NPS contributions, home loan interest and eligible donations, wherever applicable.
Check Capital Gains Reporting Carefully
Taxpayers who sold shares, mutual funds, property or any other capital assets during the financial year should ensure that capital gains have been computed and reported correctly. Incorrect reporting may result in tax demands or notices later.
Disclose Foreign Assets and Overseas Income, If Applicable
Resident taxpayers who hold foreign bank accounts, overseas investments or have earned foreign income must disclose these details wherever required in the income tax return. Non-disclosure can attract penalties under the Income Tax Act.
Verify Bank Account Details
A simple error in the bank account number or IFSC code can delay your tax refund. Confirm that the correct bank account has been selected for receiving any refund.
Pay Outstanding Tax Before Filing
If your tax computation shows any outstanding liability, pay the self-assessment tax before filing the return. Ensure that the challan details are correctly mentioned in the ITR.
Preview and E-Verify the Return
Before submitting, carefully review your total income, deductions claimed, tax liability and refund amount. After filing, complete the e-verification process through Aadhaar OTP, net banking or any other available mode. An ITR is considered complete only after it has been successfully e-verified.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Tax experts advise taxpayers to avoid common mistakes such as choosing the wrong ITR form, ignoring discrepancies between AIS and Form 26AS, failing to disclose interest or dividend income, incorrectly reporting capital gains, entering incorrect bank details or forgetting to e-verify the return. Filing well before the deadline can also help avoid last-minute portal congestion and reduce the chances of errors.
