Precautions to be Taken While Filing Income Tax Return

Taxpayers should keep in mind the following important steps/points/precautions while filing Income Tax Return (ITR)

The first key precaution is to file an income tax return (ITR) on or before the deadline. Taxpayers should ensure not to wait till the deadline and avoid filing a belated return. Taxpayers may suffer the following consequences if not filed on time:

1. Loss (other than house property loss) cannot be carried forward.
2. Levy of interest under section 234A.
3. Levy of fee under section 234F.
4. Exemptions under sections 10A, 10B are not available.
5. Deduction under Part C of Chapter VI-A shall not be available.

Note: If you file your income tax return (ITR) after the due date, then you may have to pay the following late fee under section 139(1):

1. Rs. 5,000 if your total income is more than Rs. 5 lakh.
2. Rs. 1,000 if your total income is Rs. 5 lakh or less.

Taxpayers should download Form 26AS and confirm the actual paid TDS/TCS/Tax. If any errors are discovered in the return, then suitable actions will be adopted by the department to correct them.

Carefully examine the documents (such as bank statement/passbook, interest certificate, investment proofs) to be uploaded while filing ITR for which deductions are required to be claimed, books of account and balance sheet and P/L A/c (if applicable), etc. Avoid uploading documents other than these.

The taxpayer should choose the right return form based on their situation and fill in all the details carefully.

Taxpayers must confirm the calculation of total income, deductions (if any), interest (if any), tax liability/refund, etc.

If in case any tax is valid according to the rules of income tax return, then it should be paid before filing the return.

Taxpayers should ensure all the details (PAN, address, e-mail address, bank account details, etc.) he/she is providing while filing ITR are correct.

Taxpayers can only proceed with filing the income tax return when all the required details are successfully submitted and confirmed.

In case if you file your income tax return electronically in the absence of a digital signature, then do not forget to post the acknowledgement of filing ITR at CPC Bengaluru.