Income Tax Department Urges Taxpayers to File ITR Before July 31 Deadline:

The Income Tax Department has urged taxpayers to file their Income Tax Returns (ITR-1 and ITR-2) before the July 31, 2026 deadline to avoid any penalties and last-minute rush.

How to file ITR Online

• Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal using your PAN and password.

• Click on e-File, select Income Tax Returns and click on File Income Tax Return.

• Choose the suitable Assessment Year (AY 2026-27) and select Online as the mode of filing.

What You Need to Have Before You File

Before you get started, please have the following documents ready:

Form 16/16A – This is a statement of your salary, interest income and tax deducted by your employer/bank.

Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS) – Displays your tax credits and financial transactions.

Other financial documents – Bank statements Salary slips Investment proofs.

Choose the right return form:

• ITR-1 for salaried individuals and simple incomes eligible for it.

• ITR-2 For persons having income from other sources such as capital gains, owning more than one property.

Before Submission

• Verify your personal, income and bank details with AIS and Form 26AS, which are pre-filled.

• Preview your return and perform the validation check to correct any errors.

• If everything is good, then you can file your return.

• Complete the process by e-verifying your return using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or any other available online method.

Over 4 Crore ITRs Already Filed

The Income Tax Department said on Monday that more than 4 crore income tax returns have already been filed for Assessment Year 2026-27.

In a post on X, the department said, "4 Crore ITRs for AY 2026-27 filed and counting! Avoid the 31 July, 2026 deadline stress and file your ITR-1 & ITR-2 early."

"I'll Do It Tomorrow" often turns into deadline-day panic.
Don't wait for July 31, 2026 to file your ITR-1 & ITR-2 for AY 2026-27.
Reconcile your documents and file ITR-1 & ITR-2 for AY 2026–27 today!
🔗 https://t.co/GYvO3mStKf#ITR #ITRFiling #FileNow@nsitharamanoffc… pic.twitter.com/Vt6NnB9tg3

— July 28, 2026