Income Tax Returns: Best Online Platforms To File ITR Besides The Tax Portal, Fees Explained:

The deadline for Income Tax Return (ITR) filing is nearing and taxpayers now have the facility to file their returns online through numerous ways.

Besides the Income Tax Department’s e-filing platform, several fintech and financial platforms also provide digital tax filing services through tie-ups with tax service providers.

Created to streamline the filing process, they provide pre-filled tax information, automatic import of investment data, and assisted filing by experts for those with more complex sources of income.

The Main Platform For Filing ITR

The Income Tax Department's e-filing portal is still the official platform for filing income tax returns online.

Taxpayers can log in using their PAN, choose the correct ITR form, check their income and deduction details, pay any pending tax and complete e-verification after submitting the return.

The portal also provides pre-filled information from records such as Form 16, the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS), wherever available.

Fintech Apps Offer More Filing Options

Several financial platforms now allow users to file their ITR directly through their apps, removing the need to visit separate websites.

Paytm has partnered with ClearTax to offer ITR filing services. The platform provides automatic tax data fetching, pre-filled information and one-click import of trading data from multiple brokers for taxpayers with capital gains. The service starts at Rs 11.

Angel One also offers ITR filing services to its customers. Investors can now import capital gains data directly from their Angel One accounts thus reducing manual data entry. The platform offers both self-filing and assisted filing.

PhonePe, JioFinance roll out ITR filing services using TaxBuddy. These services provide options for both do-it-yourself filing and assisted filing, with plans for self-filing starting at Rs 24.

These services are available for salaried individuals as well as taxpayers earning income from capital gains, business, cryptocurrency, foreign income and NRI-related taxation.

What Can You Do on These Platforms?

Digital ITR filing platforms usually offer services such as:

• Importing capital gains data from brokers and investment platforms

• Using available tax records to pre-fill return details

• Comparing the old and new tax regimes before filing

• Helping users choose the correct ITR form

• Calculating tax payable or expected refunds

• Providing assistance for complex tax returns

• Helping taxpayers respond to eligible income tax notices

Do You Need to File an ITR When No Tax Is Payable?

Filing an ITR is not only about paying tax. It also serves as an official record of your income and can be useful when applying for loans, credit cards, visas or other financial services.

Even if no tax is payable, filing an ITR can help maintain a proper financial record for future needs.

However, filing may not always be mandatory. Taxpayers should check their income, deductions and the tax regime applicable to them before deciding whether they need to file a return.

Who Can Benefit from Assisted ITR Filing?

Most of the people with simple sources of income like salary, bank interest and standard deductions are able to file their returns by themselves.

However, taxpayers with multiple sources of income like shares, mutual funds, futures and options (F&O), income from business, foreign assets or capital gains may find assisted filing useful to ensure accurate reporting and compliance.

Documentation Required to File Your ITR

Taxpayers should organise these documents before filing an ITR:

• Aadhaar and PAN

• Form 16 (for employees)

• Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)

• Certificates of bank interest

• Broker & mutual fund capital gains statements

• Details of deductions claimed under section 80C and 80D.

• Information on rent, loans or foreign income where applicable

What should taxpayers be checking before they file their return?

Even if a platform provides pre-filled details, taxpayers should double-check all the details before submitting their return.

They should ensure that all income is reported accurately from all sources, only claim deductions if you are entitled to them, and the tax regime you have opted for is the most suitable for your financial situation.

Depending on the simplicity/complexity of income and the level of support while filing, the taxpayer can opt for Income Tax Department portal, self-filing platforms and assisted filing services.