FAQs on Filing the Return of Income

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  • Last Updated on 25 June, 2021

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Q1. How to create account on the website of E-filing portal of Income-tax Dept.?

Click on the following link and fill all the required information to create an account on e-filing portal:  Income Tax E-Filing Registration

Q2.I have forgotten the login details of https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. How can I get a new password from the Income-tax Department? 

1. Click on ‘Forget Password’ or on the following link: https://portal.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/ResetPassword/UserIDCapturePage.html 2. Enter your user ID (i.e., your PAN) and the Captcha (i.e., the security random code) and click on continue (visually challenged users can use OTP option instead of entering Captcha code) 3. In the password reset page, one of the following options can be selected:       a) Answer the secret question; or       b) Upload the digital signature certificate; or       c) Using OTP ; or       d) Using Aadhaar OTP       e) Login through your net-banking account. 4. Enter new password twice and click on ‘Reset Password’ to generate new password; 5. If you are unable to retrieve your password, send an email request from registered email-id to validate@incometaxindia.gov.in with following details:    a) PAN;    b) Name of the assessee appearing on the PAN card;    c) Date of Birth/Date of incorporation;    d) Name of father appearing on the PAN card;    e) Registered PAN Address; New password will be communicated to you by the income-tax department via email.

Q3. How can I login at https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in through Net Banking facility? 

E-filing portal of Income tax department has provided a new facility for login. Taxpayer can now use the Net Banking facility to login at e-Filing Portal. This option is provided at the bottom of login page.

When user uses the net banking facility to log-in, he shall get an OTP (one time password) on his registered mobile number, which can be used to log-in. User shall not be required to enter the password (created at e-filing website) and the Captcha code. This facility shall be useful for the users who have forgotten their passwords and are unable to reset it.

Q4. What are the modes of filing return of income? 

Return of income can be filed in paper mode or in e-filing mode. If return of income is filed through electronic mode, then the assessee has following three options: 1. E-filing using a Digital Signature (DSC) 2. E-filing without a Digital Signature 3. E-filing under Electronic Verification Code (EVC) If return of income is filed using a DSC or under EVC, then there is no requirement of sending the signed copy, ITR V (i.e., acknowledgement of return filed electronically) to Bangalore CPC. However, if the return is filed without using DSC or without EVC, the assessee shall send the signed copy of ITR V on the following address within 120 days of uploading the return either by ordinary post or by speed post only: Income Tax Department – CPC, Post Bag No.-1, Electronic City Post Office, Bangalore -560100, Karnataka 

Q5. Who are required to file return of income electronically?

The general rule is that electronic filing of return of income is mandatory for all assessees. However, a person can furnish the return of income in paper form in ITR 1 or ITR 4 in any of the following circumstance: 1. Taxpayer is an individual and his age is 80 years or more during the previous year 2. Taxpayer is an Individual, HUF or Partnership Firm and his/its income during the previous year does not exceed Rs. 5 lakhs and no refund is claimed in the return of income.

Q6. When is it mandatory to file return of income? 

It is mandatory for a company and a firm to file its return on income. However, for an individual, HUF, AOP or BOI it is mandatory to file return of income if his/its gross total income (without giving effect to provisions of section 10(38) or section 10A or section 10B or section 10BA or Chapter VI-A deduction) exceeds the maximum exemption limit.

Q7. Is it mandatory to file return of income if I have a PAN? 

No, it is not mandatory to file return of income if your income is less than maximum exemption limit, irrespective of the fact that you have been allotted a PAN.

Q8. I am an Individual and resident of India. Do I need to file return if my income is below taxable limit but am having an account in a foreign bank? 

Yes, it is mandatory for you to file the income-tax return. In view of newly inserted proviso to section 139(1), it is mandatory to file income-tax return, if following conditions are satisfied:
 
1. The assessee is resident and ordinarily resident in India
 
2. He has signing authority in any account or any asset or any financial interest in any entity located abroad.
 
The assessee is required to provide requisite details of such account, assets or financial interest in the return of income.

Q9. Is there any restriction on number of returns that can be filed using same email-ID or same mobile number? 

Only 10 returns can be filed using same email-id or same mobile number. This is to ensure that family members and related business concerns (not exceeding 10 separate users) not having personal email or mobile number can be covered under a common email or mobile number, but it is advisable that taxpayers should have their own unique email ID and Mobile number registered with the Department.

Q10. What are the due dates for filing of income-tax returns for the year ending March 31, 2018?

 

Particular of Assessee

 

 

Due Date

Company (Private, Public or Foreign Co.)

September 30, 2018

Any assessee who is required to furnish TP Report in Form No. 3CEB

November 30, 2018

Any assessee whose accounts are required to be audited

September 30, 2018

Co-operative Society

September 30, 2018

Other Cases

July 31, 2018

Q11. If the last date to file income-tax return is a public holiday, whether the next day would be treated as “last date of filing”? 

Normally, income-tax department continues its operation during the last days of filing of income-tax return even if the last day eventually falls on Sundays or on holidays. However, if department is closed on the last due date, then the immediately next working day of the department would be considered as the last date of filing of income-tax return.
 
Since most of the taxpayers are required to file return of income electronically, it would be not be relevant for them if Dept. is not working on the last day of the Financial Year which happens to be a public holiday.

Q12. I am 30 years old salaried person and my income for Assessment Year 2018-19 is Rs. 6,00,000. Whether I can file return of my income in paper mode, i.e., physically?

It is mandatory to file return of income electronically when income exceeds Rs. 5 Lakhs during the previous year 2017-18. As your income is above Rs. 5 lakhs you cannot file return of income in paper mode.

Read: Income-tax Returns for a Salaried Taxpayer

Q13. My total income is Rs. 4 lakhs and I want to claim income-tax refund. Whether I can file my return of income in paper mode?

No, you cannot file return of income in paper mode as e-filing of return is mandatory for claiming any income-tax refund.

Q14. I am 82 years old and my income is Rs. 8,00,000. Do I need to file return of income electronically?

It’s up to you. You have an option to file return of income electronically or in paper mode as super senior citizens (i.e., individuals aged 80 years or more) are exempt from filing return of income in electronic mode.

Q15. I am 85 years old and want to claim income-tax refund. Do I need to file return of income electronically? 

Super senior citizens are exempted from filing return of income in electronic mode even for claiming tax refunds. Thus, you can file your return of income either electronically or in paper mode.

Q16. I am 65 years old senior citizen and my total income is Rs. 6,50,000. Can I file my return of income in paper mode? 

You are required to file your return of income electronically as your income exceeds Rs 5,00,000. An option has been given to file return of income in paper mode only to the resident individuals whose age is 80 years or more.

Q17. How to file return electronically?

Income-tax return can be filed electronically with the help of following instructions:
 
1. Visit https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in;
 
2. Choose the applicable ITR form (Refer to FAQ No. 1) and download excel utility or java utility. Assessees, who are required to file ITR-1 or ITR-4, may also file the return directly from e-filing portal without downloading the Excel or Java utility.
 
3. Prepare the ITR in Excel utility or Java utility and generate XML file.
 
4. If you don’t have an account on the website of incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in, you need to create the account first from the following link.
5. After creation of account, you need to login in and then click on link of ‘Filing of Income Tax Return’ given on the Dashboard. 6. Select the ‘Assessment Year’, and ‘Form Name’ and Submission Mode. 7. Select ‘Upload XML’ under submission mode and then click on the option to verify Income-tax return. If you don’t want to verify return later on then just select ‘I don’t want to verify this Income Tax Return………’ and click on continue to upload generated XML file. 8. Click on Choose file to select the generated XML file and Submit it. 9. On successful submission of ITR form, a pop-up menu will be displayed on the screen to e-verify uploaded return.

Q18. Can I file return of income even if my income is below taxable limits? 

Yes, you can file return of income voluntarily even if your income is less than the maximum exemption limit.

Q19. What documents are to be enclosed along with the return of income? 

Income-tax returns are annexure less. Hence, there is no need to enclose any document(s) along with the return of income. Thus, documents like TDS certificate, balance sheet, Profit & Loss A/c, Capital A/c, proof of investments, etc., are not to be attached along with the return of income. However, these documents should be retained and may have to be produced before the Assessing Officer whenever he requires you to do so.

Q20. The Finance Act 2016 and Finance Act 2017 has revised the provisions relating to filing of revised and belated returns. What are the applicable provisions for ITR filing relating to A.Y. 2017-18 and A.Y. 2018-19?

Section 139 of the Income-tax Act deals with the provisions relating to filing of ITR. The Finance Acts 2016 and 2017 had substantially amended the provision relating to revised and belated return. The limitation period for filing of belated return and revision of return have been explained below:

Assessment Year

Due dates for filing of

Original Return

Belated Return

Revised Return

2017-18

31-07-2017

31-03-2018

31-03-2019

2018-19

31-07-2018

31-03-2019

31-03-2019

 

Refer FAQ16, for due dates applicable in case of Corporate taxpayers and other assessees.

 

 

 

Q21. I e-filed my return and identified ‘mistake apparent from record’. Can I rectify it with CPC in paper form?

No, the CPC doesn’t accept any manual correspondence. You have two options to rectify this mistake. You can either file revised return or file rectification request via incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.
 
1,00,000 shall be carried forward for set-off in subsequent years.
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Disclaimer: The content/information published on the website is only for general information of the user and shall not be construed as legal advice. While the Taxmann has exercised reasonable efforts to ensure the veracity of information/content published, Taxmann shall be under no liability in any manner whatsoever for incorrect information, if any.

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