Who should file ITR for FY 2023-24?

Under the old regime, individuals under 60 years of age must file an ITR if their income exceeds Rs.2.5 lakhs, while those over 60 must file an ITR if their income exceeds Rs.3 lakhs.

However, under the new tax regime, the basic exemption limit for any individual is Rs. 3 lakhs.

If you are submitting an ITR for FY 2023-24, the basic exemption limit under the new tax regime is Rs. 3 lakhs. This limit was raised to Rs. 3 lakhs from Rs. 2.5L in the budget 2023, and it applies to ITR filing in the financial year 2023-24.

The tax slab rates for FY 2023-24 are listed here, both under the old and new tax regimes.

For Individuals below 60 years of age –

For Senior Citizens (60-80 years of age) –

For Super Senior Citizens (Aged > 80 years) –

What Happens if Taxable Income is Less than the Basic Exemption Limit?

According to the Income Tax Act of India, people are required to file an ITR only if their annual Gross Total income exceeds the basic exemption limit. However, under certain conditions, you may be obliged to file an ITR even if your income is within the basic exemption limit.

Below is the list of such conditions –

Bank Deposits of 50 lakhs or more: Individuals who have an annual savings bank deposit of Rs.50 lakhs or more in one or more accounts are required to file ITRs.

Current Account Deposits of more than Rs. 1 Crore: If an individual deposits Rs.1 crore or more into one or more current accounts throughout the financial year, he or she must file an ITR.

Annual Sales Turnover above Rs.60 lakhs: Individuals with an annual sales turnover of more than Rs.60 lakh are required to file an Income Tax Return (ITR).

Professional income above Rs.10 lakh: If a professional’s income exceeds Rs.10 lakh within a financial year, he or she is required to file an ITR.

Electricity Bill Exceeding Rs. 1 Lakh: If the electricity bill of an individual for the year exceeds Rs.1 lakh, he or she must file an ITR.

TDS/TCS of Rs.25,000 or more: If a person’s TDS/TCS is Rs.25,000, or more they must file an ITR. Senior citizens, on the other hand, face a Rs.50,000 threshold.

Foreign Assets Income: If an individual owns or receives an asset in a foreign country, he or she is required to file an ITR.

Foreign Travel Expenses: Individuals who spend more than Rs. 2 lakh on international travel for themselves or others throughout the financial year are required to file an ITR.

Resident taxpayers with overseas assets or signing authority: If you are deemed a resident for tax purposes in India and have any assets or interests abroad, you must file an ITR. This includes assets that you directly own or from which you benefit as a beneficiary owner.

Even if you are an authorized signatory to an account managed outside of India, you must file an income tax return. The assets you own outside of India may be movable or immovable. For example, if you travelled abroad and opened an account but failed to close it when you returned to India, you must file an ITR.

What are ITR Filing Benefits?

Easy Approval of Loan: When asking for a loan, banks frequently want your ITR as verification of your income. As a result, filing an ITR simplifies the approval process for your loans.

Tax Refund Claim: TDS may have been deducted from your income even if it is less than the basic exemption limit, or if the TDS deducted exceeds your actual taxable income. In such circumstances, you may claim a tax refund while filing your ITR.

Acts as Income and Address Proof: Your income tax return serves as documentation of your income and investments to various banks and financial institutions.

Quick Processing of Visa: Most embassies require you to provide prior years’ income tax returns when applying for a visa. As a result, filing an ITR can actually help speed up the visa process.

Carry Forward of Losses: Individuals can carry forward losses from the previous year under the Income Tax Act. These losses can be adjusted against future income. However, this benefit is only accessible if you file your ITR within the specified time period.

Help in Buying Term Insurance: Insurance companies frequently demand clients submit their income tax returns as proof of income. The entire coverage amount is decided by the individual’s salary.

Who is Exempted from Filing an ITR in India?

Section 194P, passed in Budget 2021, exempts persons over the age of 75 from filing income tax returns under certain conditions. However, this exemption is subject to the following conditions:

• Senior citizens should be over 75 years old.
• Senior citizens should have been ‘Resident’ in India in past years.
• His only source of income is interest and pension. The interest money earned should come from the same bank from which he or she receives pension income.
• The Senior citizen must file a declaration with the designated bank, specifying certain data.
• The bank must be a specified bank as designated by the Central Bank. Such banks will deduct Senior citizens’ TDS after accounting for deductions and rebates. After the TDS deduction, Senior citizens will no longer be needed to file income tax returns.

What is the Last Date to File ITR for FY 2023-24?

The deadline for filing an ITR is July 31st of each year. However, if you miss the ITR filing deadline, you can file a late return before December 31st.

Hence, the ITR filing deadline for FY 23-24 is 31st July 2024.

What happen if Fail to File ITR?

If you do not file an ITR by the required date, you may face a variety of implications. The following is a list of the consequences.

• Section 234F allows for late filing fees of up to Rs.5,000 (for incomes exceeding Rs.5 lakhs) or Rs 1,000 (for incomes less than Rs.5 lakhs) in case of late filing of ITR.
• Section 234A requires the taxpayer to pay interest at 1% for each month or part of a month beginning on the date following the ITR filing due date, which is July 31st.
• If you do not file your ITR on time, you will be ineligible for the loss carryover benefit.
• Non-filing of an ITR can be considered tax evasion by tax officials, and you could risk imprisonment for 6 months to 7 years.

Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) might be difficult if you are new to taxes, but CA consultants offer CA-assisted ITR filing services that make the process simple and comfortable for you. Whether you need help with deductions, exemptions, or just comprehending your taxable income, online or offline CA services ensure accurate and maximum tax refunds, you can get help from them.