Pehli baar ITR (Income Tax Return) file karna thoda overwhelming lag sakta hai. Lekin thodi si preparation ke saath, yeh process bilkul smooth ho sakta hai. Yahan hai aapka step-by-step guide.

1. Kya aapko ITR file karna zaroori hai?

Aapko ITR file karna hoga agar aap inme se koi bhi condition meet karte hain:

• Aapki total income prescribed taxable limit se zyada hai.
• Aapke paas India ya abroad mein assets hain.
• Aapne shares, ESOPs, ya doosre markets mein investments kiye hain.
• Aapke total bank deposits ₹50 lakh se zyada hain.
• Aapke savings/current account ka total balance ₹1 crore se zyada hai.
• Aapne ek saal mein ₹1 lakh se zyada electricity bills pay kiye hain.
• Aapne foreign travel par ₹2 lakh se zyada kharch kiya hai.
• Aapki annual sales value ₹60 lakh se zyada hai (chahe profit kam ho).

2. Apni total taxable income samajhein

Aapki taxable income = total earnings (salary + interest + investments) minus deductions (agar koi ho).

Deductions mein yeh shamil ho sakta hai:

• PPF ya NPS contributions
• Life/Health Insurance premiums
• Home Loan interest
• Rent payments (agar eligible ho)

3. Old regime ya new regime?

New regime mein lower tax rates hain lekin kam deductions milte hain. Old regime mein higher rates hain lekin zyada deductions allowed hain.

Tip: Hamara online tax calculator use karein ya kisi Chartered Accountant se consult karein taaki pata chale kaunsa option aapke liye zyada savings deta hai.

Additional Reading: All About Filing Nil Income Tax Returns

4. Deadline ko mark karein

• Bina penalty ke: 15^th September 2025 tak file karein (FY 2024-25 / AY 2025-26 ke liye).
• Late filing: Aap 31^st December 2025 tak file kar sakte hain, lekin aapko ₹1,000 se ₹10,000 tak penalty deni hogi, jo aapki income aur delay par depend karta hai.

5. Yeh documents ready rakhein

• Form 16 from your employer(s)
• PAN aur Aadhaar card (linked hona zaroori hai)
• Investments ka proof (PPF, FD, insurance receipts, agar applicable ho)
• Home Loan interest certificate (agar hai)
• Koi aur deduction-related receipts

6. Form 16 ko samajhein

Form 16 ko aapki salary report card samajhein — yeh aapka total pay, deductions, aur exemptions dikhata hai. Aapka employer yeh issue karta hai, aur yeh accurate filing ke liye zaroori hai.

7. Form 26AS ko review karein

Yeh form saari income list karta hai jahan TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) laga ho. Ise cross-check karein taaki mismatches na ho jo refunds mein delay kar sakte hain.

Kahan se milega: Aap Form 26AS ko TRACES website ya Income Tax e-filing portal se PAN login ke through download kar sakte hain.

8. Apna AIS (Annual Information Statement) check karein

AIS automatically aapke interest earnings, dividends, share transactions, aur foreign remittances list karta hai. Yaad rakhein ki aapka ITR ka zyadatar data iske basis par pre-filled hoga.

Kahan se milega: Income Tax e-filing portal par login karein, ‘Services’ section mein jayein, aur Annual Information Statement (AIS) select karke view ya download karein.

Additional Reading: Everything You Need To Know About Income Tax Return For Freelancers

9. E-verification complete karein

Filing tab tak complete nahi hota jab tak aap 30 din ke andar ITR ko e-verify nahi karte. Bina iske, aapka return “invalid” mark ho sakta hai aur refunds delay ho sakte hain.

E-verify karne ke tareeke:

• Aadhaar OTP
• Net banking
• Electronic Verification Code (EVC)

10. Sahi ITR form chunein

• ITR-1: Salary, ek house property, aur doosre sources se income ke liye.
• ITR-2: Individuals/HUFs bina business income ke.
• ITR-3: Individuals/HUFs with business/professional income.
• ITR-4: Presumptive business/professional income ke liye.

Samay par ITR file karna sirf penalties avoid karne ke liye nahi, yeh aapka financial record clean rakhta hai, jo loans, visas, aur future investments ke liye crucial ho sakta hai. Agar aap sure nahi hain, pehle saal professional help lein – yeh peace of mind ke liye worth hai.

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