It’s the final day to file your belated or revised Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the assessment year (AY) 2024-25. While the original deadline was December 31, 2024, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) earlier announced its extension by 15 days to give extra time to the taxpayers to comply.

Missing the deadline means the taxpayers lose the last chance to file or revise their return for AY 2024-25.

The Income Tax Return, commonly known as ITR, is a prescribed form through which the particulars of income earned by the taxpayers in a given fiscal year as well as taxes paid on such income are communicated to the Income Tax Department. There are different forms of returns of income, prescribed for filing of returns, depending on the various status and nature of income.

In simple terms, an I-T refund is received by the taxpayer if the total amount paid in taxes exceeds the actual amount due (either by way of TDS, TCS, advance tax or self-assessment tax).

Where and how to file Income Tax Returns?

According to the official website of the Income Tax Department, taxpayers can file it in two different modes – online and offline. Here’s a step-by-step guide to both the modes.

1. Offline Mode

Taxpayers can file their Income Tax Returns either fully online or via the partial offline mode. To e-File the ITR through the upload JSON method, users are required to download either of the following ITR utilities:

Common offline utility (ITR-1 to ITR-4) and ITR 5, 6, and 7 separately.

Excel utility (ITR-1 to ITR-7).

Step 1. Visit the official Income Tax e-filing portal at https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/

Step 2. On the homepage, click the ‘Downloads’ option and then Income Tax Return to download the applicable ITR utility.

Step 3. The ITR return file is downloaded in the ZIP file format. Extract the utility ZIP file and open the Utility from the extracted folder.

Step 4. Taxpayers have to manually fill in the income and other required information applicable to the particular financial year. You can also import data in the JSON utility instead of manually filling in the data.

Step 5. Once all the documents are ready, log in to the e-Filing portal with your User ID and password. You can also directly upload the JSON from the utility and simultaneously e-verify return or e-verify later on.

Step 6. To verify your Income Tax Return, select one of the available options.

Step 7. Once you have fully revised all your details, click on the ‘Submit’ button. Now, your form is submitted and a confirmation email will be shared.

2. Online Mode

While filing ITR through online mode, taxpayers are required to enter the relevant data directly online at the e-filing portal and then submit it.

Step 1. Open the Income Tax e-Filing portal at https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.

Step 2. Log in by providing your User ID and Password and click on ‘Continue’.

Step 3. On the homepage, click on the ‘e-file’ option and then the ‘Income Tax Returns and File Income Tax Return link.

Step 4. Once the ITR page opens, select ‘Assessment Year’ and then in the mode of filing select online and then continue.

Step 5. Then, click the Start Filing option. If you have already filled the ITR and it is pending submission, then you can click on Resume Filing. However, if you wish to discard the saved return and start preparing the return afresh, then click on Start New Filing.

Step 6. Select from ‘Individuals/HUF/Others’ and then select the ITR form depending on your profile.

Step 7. Once you click on ‘Let’s get started’, you will be asked to select one of the applicable options from “Are you filing an Income Tax Return for any of the following reasons?”

Step 8. Click the continue option and read the instructions carefully to fill in all the applicable and mandatory fields.

Step 9. Once you are done with confirmation of all tabs, click on “Proceed”.

Step 10. Select the “Preview return” to check the first check box and click on “Proceed to preview”.

Step 11. Preview your return and then click Proceed to Validation.

Step 12. Once it is validated, you will have to then click on “Proceed to verification”.

Step 13. On Complete your Verification page, you will have to select your preferred option and then click on Continue.

Step 14. On the e-verify page, opt for the option via which you wish to e-verify the return and click Continue.