With today, August 31, being the last day to file your Income Tax Return (ITR) for the assessment year 2026-27, taxpayers who are yet to submit their returns should avoid waiting until the last minute.
Filing an ITR involves more than simply entering income details. Errors in personal information, income figures, deductions or bank details can lead to delays in processing or tax notices. Here are eight important things taxpayers should check before submitting their ITR today.
1. Check Your Personal Details
Before submitting the return, verify your PAN, Aadhaar details, name, date of birth, mobile number and email ID. Any mismatch in these details can create problems during ITR processing or verification. Also make sure you have selected the correct assessment year and applicable ITR form.
2. Match Income With Form 16 and Other Documents
Salaried taxpayers should carefully compare the income and tax deducted figures in the ITR with their Form 16. However, Form 16 alone may not capture all sources of income. Check income from interest on savings accounts and fixed deposits, dividends, capital gains, rental income and any other sources. The figures should also broadly match the information available in your Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).
3. Review Your AIS and TIS
The AIS and TIS provide important information reported to the income tax department by banks, employers, mutual funds, companies and other entities. Before filing, check these statements for transactions or income that may have been missed in your return. If you notice incorrect information, you can submit feedback through the income-tax e-filing system.
4. Check TDS and Tax Paid
Verify that all eligible Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) credits have been correctly reflected in your return. Compare the TDS figures in your return with Form 26AS and the relevant certificates. If there is additional tax payable, make sure the required tax is paid before submitting the return.
5. Recheck Deductions and Exemptions
If you are claiming deductions under provisions such as Section 80C, 80D, 80G or other applicable sections, check that you actually meet the eligibility conditions and have entered the correct amounts.
Do not claim deductions merely because they were claimed in an earlier year. Keep supporting documents such as investment proofs, insurance receipts or donation receipts safely in case they are required later. Taxpayers should also ensure that exemptions or deductions claimed are compatible with the tax regime selected.
6. Check Bank Account Details
Make sure the bank account details mentioned in your ITR are correct and that the account is properly pre-validated on the income-tax e-filing portal, wherever required. This is particularly important if you are expecting an income-tax refund. An incorrect or inactive bank account can delay the credit of the refund.
7. Check the Tax Calculation and Refund
Before clicking the final submission button, review the computation carefully. Check your total income, taxable income, tax liability, TDS/TCS credits, advance tax or self-assessment tax and the final refund or tax payable figure. If the return shows tax payable, ensure that the outstanding amount is paid and the correct challan details are entered in the return.
8. Don’t Forget ITR Verification
Filing the ITR is not the final step. The return must also be verified. After submitting the return, taxpayers can generally verify it electronically using methods such as Aadhaar-based OTP, Electronic Verification Code (EVC) or other available options.
Make sure the verification is completed within the prescribed time. An unverified ITR can be treated as invalid if the verification requirement is not completed within the applicable timeline.
Last-Minute ITR Filing: What Taxpayers Should Remember
If you are filing on the last day, take a few minutes to review the return before submitting it rather than rushing through the process. A small error in income, deductions, bank details or tax credits can create unnecessary complications later. Most importantly, save the acknowledgement after filing and complete e-verification. Keep copies of the ITR, computation and supporting documents for your records.
