ITR Full Form: Which Form, Due Dates, e-Verify and Refund
Independent guide. We are not part of the Income Tax Department, and we never ask for your e-filing password, OTP or bank details.
ITR stands for Income Tax Return. It is the yearly statement you file on the e-filing portal, incometax.gov.in, showing your income, deductions and the tax already paid for you, such as TDS. Filing settles your tax for the year and is the only way to get excess tax back as a refund.
- Full form
- Income Tax Return
- Where to file
- incometax.gov.in (free), log in with your PAN
- Filing now (2026)
- AY 2026-27, for income of 1 Apr 2025 – 31 Mar 2026, under the 1961 Act
- Forms for individuals
- ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4
- Belated return (AY 2026-27)
- Up to 31 Dec 2026, with a late fee
- Revised return (AY 2026-27)
- Up to 31 Mar 2027 (fee after 31 Dec 2026)
- Verify within
- 30 days of uploading
- Helpline
- 1800 103 0025 / 1800 419 0025, 8 am – 8 pm, Mon–Fri
What is an ITR?
An ITR is the form in which you tell the Income Tax Department, once a year, what you earned and how much tax you have already paid. Your employer, bank or client may already have deducted tax (TDS). The return works out your actual tax: you pay any balance, or get the excess refunded.
Two laws, two kinds of year. The Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026. But the return you file in 2026, for income earned from 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026, is for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 and is governed entirely by the 1961 Act, with the old ITR forms. Income from 1 Apr 2026 falls in Tax Year 2026-27 under the 2025 Act; that return is filed after the year ends, normally by July 2027. These are two separate returns; you never file both for the same income.
Who must file an ITR?
For AY 2026-27, an individual must file if any one of these applies during 2025-26:
- Total income, before deductions such as 80C and certain capital-gain exemptions, is above the basic exemption limit.
- You deposited more than ₹1 crore in one or more current accounts.
- You spent more than ₹2 lakh on foreign travel, for yourself or anyone else.
- You paid electricity bills of more than ₹1 lakh in all.
- Business turnover was above ₹60 lakh, or professional receipts above ₹10 lakh.
- TDS plus TCS on your PAN was ₹25,000 or more (₹50,000 if you are 60 or older).
- Savings bank deposits totalled ₹50 lakh or more.
- You are a resident holding any asset, account or financial interest outside India.
Below the limit but tax was cut? If your bank or employer deducted TDS although you owe no tax, the only way to get it back is to file an ITR and claim the refund. Check the credit in Form 26AS or the AIS first (see our TDS guide).
Which ITR form should you use?
Individuals use one of four forms for AY 2026-27. Pick the simplest one you qualify for; the portal also suggests a form if you answer a few questions.
| Form | Who can use it (AY 2026-27) | Cannot use it if you… |
|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident individual, total income up to ₹50 lakh, from salary or pension, up to two house properties (new this year), interest and other sources, agricultural income up to ₹5,000, and long-term capital gains under section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh | Are a director in a company, have short-term capital gains, held unlisted shares, have foreign assets or foreign income, carry forward losses, have business income, or are NRI/not ordinarily resident |
| ITR-2 | Individuals and HUFs with no business or professional income, who can't use ITR-1 (for example capital gains, more than two houses, foreign assets, income above ₹50 lakh, or NRIs) | Have income from business or profession |
| ITR-3 | Individuals and HUFs with business or professional income who can't use ITR-1, ITR-2 or ITR-4 | — |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Resident individuals, HUFs and firms (not LLPs), total income up to ₹50 lakh, with business or professional income on a presumptive basis (sections 44AD, 44ADA, 44AE) plus salary, up to two houses and other sources | Are a director in a company, have short-term capital gains, held unlisted shares, have foreign assets or foreign income, carry forward losses, have business income that is not presumptive, or are NRI/not ordinarily resident. Presumptive income under 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE is what ITR-4 is for; it is optional, not compulsory |
Due dates for AY 2026-27
The Finance Act, 2026 set staggered due dates in section 139(1) of the 1961 Act. For income earned in 2025-26:
| Who | Due date |
|---|---|
| Individuals filing ITR-1 or ITR-2 (any other assessee) | 31 Jul 2026 (passed) |
| Business or profession, accounts not audited (most ITR-3/ITR-4 filers) | 31 Aug 2026 (passed) |
| Companies and taxpayers whose accounts must be audited | 21 Nov 2026, extended from 31 Oct 2026 by CBDT Circular No. 07/2026 dated 28 Sep 2026; audit report by 21 Oct 2026 |
| Taxpayers with international or specified domestic transactions (transfer pricing) | 30 Nov 2026 |
| Missed your date? Belated return | 31 Dec 2026, or before assessment is completed, whichever is earlier |
The same four due dates (31 Jul, 31 Aug, 31 Oct, 30 Nov) continue under the 2025 Act, in the year after each tax year. So the Tax Year 2026-27 return of most salaried people is due on 31 Jul 2027.
Before you start: what to keep ready
- Form 16 from your employer (for tax deducted up to 31 Mar 2026; from Tax Year 2026-27 it becomes Form 130).
- Form 26AS and AIS: check that every TDS entry, interest and dividend matches your records.
- Bank statements and interest certificates for savings and FD interest.
- Proofs for deductions (old regime only): insurance, PPF, home-loan interest certificate, rent receipts.
- Form: usually ITR-1; ITR-2 if you sold shares, mutual funds or property, or income is above ₹50 lakh.
- Regime: the new regime is the default. You can choose the old regime in the return itself, every year.
- Due date (AY 2026-27): 31 Jul 2026; after that, a belated return by 31 Dec 2026.
- Turnover or gross receipts and, for presumptive income (44AD/44ADA), the amounts received through banks or digital modes and in cash.
- Form 16A for TDS cut by clients, plus Form 26AS and AIS.
- Books of account and balance-sheet figures if you use ITR-3; the audit report if your accounts must be audited.
- Form: ITR-4 for presumptive income up to ₹50 lakh total income; otherwise ITR-3.
- Regime: new regime by default. To use the old regime you must file Form 10-IEA before the due date, and with business income you can switch back to the new regime only once in your lifetime.
- Due date (AY 2026-27): 31 Aug 2026 if not audited; 21 Nov 2026 (extended) if audited.
How to file your ITR online
- Log in at incometax.gov.in with your PAN and password. Pre-validate a bank account under My Bank Account if you haven't.
- Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return, select AY 2026-27, Online, your status and form.
- Review the pre-filled data and compare it with Form 16, Form 26AS and AIS. Add any missing income.
- Choose the regime, fill deductions (old regime), and confirm each section.
- If tax is payable, click Pay Now; paying later can mean interest.
- Preview, validate and submit, then e-verify.
You can also file with the free offline utility from the portal's Downloads page, or through a tax professional; the verification rules are the same.
E-verify within 30 days
A return is not complete until it is verified. Since 1 Apr 2024 (Notification No. 2/2024), the time limit is 30 days from uploading.
- Ways to e-verify: Aadhaar OTP (mobile linked with Aadhaar), EVC through a pre-validated bank or demat account, EVC from a bank ATM, net banking, or a digital signature (DSC).
- By post: sign the ITR-V and send it to Centralised Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru 560500. It must reach the CPC within 30 days.
- Verified late? The date of verification is treated as the filing date, so late-filing consequences (fee, interest) follow.
- Never verified? The return is treated as invalid, as if you never filed.
Getting your refund
- Pre-validate your bank account (My Bank Account on the portal). Validation is updated in 10–12 working days. Loan and PPF accounts can't receive refunds.
- Timeline: usually 4–5 weeks after e-verification.
- Track it: e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns → View Details. It shows issued, partly or fully adjusted against old demand, or failed.
- Why refunds fail: account not pre-validated, name in the bank doesn't match PAN, wrong IFSC, account closed, or PAN inoperative (not linked with Aadhaar). Fix the cause, then raise a refund re-issue request.
Belated, revised and updated returns
| Type | When to use it | Time limit for AY 2026-27 | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belated return (section 139(4)) | You missed the due date | 31 Dec 2026, or before assessment | Late fee: ₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh, otherwise ₹5,000; interest on unpaid tax. Business and capital-gain losses can't be carried forward. |
| Revised return (section 139(5)) | You find a mistake in a filed return | 31 Mar 2027 (new from AY 2026-27; earlier 31 Dec), or before assessment | None up to 31 Dec 2026. From 1 Jan to 31 Mar 2027: fee of ₹1,000 (income up to ₹5 lakh) or ₹5,000 (section 234-I) |
| Updated return, ITR-U (section 139(8A)) | You missed income or missed filing, and want to pay the extra tax | 48 months from the end of the AY, i.e. up to 31 Mar 2031 | Additional tax on top of tax and interest, rising the later you file. Can't be used to claim or increase a refund or reduce tax. |
Belated and revised returns for AY 2025-26 and earlier can no longer be filed; only an ITR-U is possible for those years.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not e-verifying: an unverified return is invalid.
- Wrong form: for example ITR-1 when you sold shares (short-term gains need ITR-2). The return may be treated as defective.
- Leaving out income shown in AIS: savings and FD interest, dividends, a second employer's salary.
- Claiming TDS not in Form 26AS: ask the deductor to correct its statement first.
- Choosing the wrong assessment year: income of 2025-26 goes in AY 2026-27.
- Bogus deductions or exemptions: every claim must be backed by proof.
- Bank account not pre-validated or PAN not linked with Aadhaar: your refund fails.
- Missing the regime deadline: business taxpayers who want the old regime must file Form 10-IEA before the due date.
Safety: refund scam messages
The Income Tax Department never asks for your password, PIN or bank details by email or SMS. Messages saying "your refund is approved, click to claim" or "update your bank account to get your refund" are fake. Refunds need no request through a link: bank details are updated only by you, after logging in to incometax.gov.in yourself.
- Don't click links or open attachments in such messages, and never share an OTP.
- Forward phishing emails or fake website addresses to [email protected], with a copy to [email protected].
- Lost money? Call 1930 at once or report on cybercrime.gov.in.
Old and new terms
| What it is | 1961 Act (AY 2026-27 and earlier) | 2025 Act (Tax Year 2026-27 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Year of income | Previous year 2025-26 = AY 2026-27 | Tax year 2026-27 |
| Section for filing | Section 139 | Section 263 |
| Annual tax statement | Form 26AS | Form 168 |
| Salary TDS certificate | Form 16 | Form 130 |
| Revised return limit | End of the AY (31 Mar) | 12 months from the end of the tax year |
| Updated return limit | 48 months from end of the AY | 48 months from end of the year after the tax year |
Timeline
Time limit to verify a return cut to 30 days from uploading (Notification No. 2/2024).
Budget 2026-27 proposes staggered due dates (31 Jul for ITR-1/ITR-2, 31 Aug for non-audit business) and revised returns up to 31 Mar.
Finance Act, 2026 enacts these changes in both the 1961 and 2025 Acts.
Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force; "tax year" replaces previous year and assessment year for new income.
Online filing of ITR-1 and ITR-4 for AY 2026-27 opens.
CBDT Circular 07/2026 extends the audit-case due date to 21 Nov 2026.
FAQs
What is the full form of ITR?
Income Tax Return: the yearly statement of your income and taxes paid that you file on incometax.gov.in.
My income is below the taxable limit. Should I still file?
If TDS was deducted, yes: filing is the only way to get it refunded. You must also file if any mandatory condition applies, such as high electricity bills, foreign travel or large deposits.
Which year do I choose for income earned April 2025 to March 2026?
Assessment Year 2026-27, under the Income-tax Act, 1961, using the AY 2026-27 forms. Tax Year 2026-27 is for income from 1 Apr 2026 and is filed in 2027.
I missed 31 July 2026. What now?
File a belated return by 31 Dec 2026 with the late fee (₹1,000 if total income is up to ₹5 lakh, else ₹5,000) and any interest. After that, only an updated return (ITR-U) is possible.
Was the due date extended for everyone?
No. CBDT Circular 07/2026 extended only the audit-case date (companies and taxpayers whose accounts must be audited) from 31 Oct to 21 Nov 2026. The 31 Jul and 31 Aug dates were not extended.
I made a mistake after filing. Can I correct it?
Yes, file a revised return. For AY 2026-27 you have until 31 Mar 2027; revising after 31 Dec 2026 costs a fee of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 depending on income.
What happens if I don't e-verify?
If you verify after 30 days, the verification date counts as the filing date, with late-filing consequences. If you never verify, the return is invalid.
How long does the refund take?
Usually 4–5 weeks after e-verification, into a pre-validated bank account in your name. Track it under View Filed Returns.
Is an SMS saying my refund is approved genuine?
Not if it asks you to click a link or share bank details. The department never asks for passwords or bank details by email or SMS. Check the status only by logging in to incometax.gov.in yourself.
Official sources
- e-Filing portal – Income Tax Returns FAQs (Income Tax Act, 2025 transition, AY 2026-27 vs Tax Year 2026-27) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Finance Act, 2026 (No. 4 of 2026) – sections 139(1), 139(5), 234-I and 263 amendments (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- CBDT – Circular No. 07/2026 dated 28 Sep 2026 (due date extension for audit cases, AY 2026-27) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Ease of living by direct tax reforms: Union Budget 2026-27 (1 Feb 2026) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – Latest news (ITR forms and utilities for AY 2026-27) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – Returns applicable to salaried individuals, AY 2026-27 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – Returns applicable to individuals with business/profession income, AY 2026-27 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – File ITR-1 (Sahaj) Online FAQs (two house properties, revised return fee) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – File ITR-4 (Sugam) Online FAQs (due date, Form 10-IEA) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – Downloads: ITR utilities for AY 2026-27 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – File ITR-1 (Sahaj) Online user manual (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Income Tax Department – Return of income (who must file, due dates) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – FAQs on 30 days' timeline for e-verification of returns (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – How to e-Verify user manual (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – Refund Status user manual (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- e-Filing portal – My Bank Account FAQs (pre-validation for refunds) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Income Tax Department – Updated return of income (48 months from AY 2026-27) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Income Tax Department cautions about fraudulent mails asking for bank details for refund (18 Sep 2018) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Income Tax Department – Report phishing (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Home Affairs – National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
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