Income Tax Return: Meaning, Importance And Steps To File ITR Online

In India, individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, firms, companies, etc., who earn beyond the basic exemption limit, have to pay income tax for each financial year diligently. Furthermore, to provide the government with information related to earnings during a financial year, a taxpayer has to file Income Tax Returns. ITR is a type of form that assesses have to fill out, declaring their taxable income, expenses, losses and deductions. Filing ITR is mandatory for those with an annual income of more than Rs. 2.5 lakh and a failure to do so can lead to hefty penalty fees.

This article will help you get an overview of ITR and its importance. 

What Is ITR?

For every financial year, starting from April 1 and ending March 31 next year, people earning over a certain limit have to file ITR. It helps the Income Tax Department to calculate one’s net tax liability. Furthermore, tax authorities can assess whether assesses are understating their income or overstating their losses through ITR. Thus, it helps to ensure that there is no tax evasion. 

Keep in mind that ITR filing is not mandatory for all income earners. Only those up to the age of 59 years, earning more than Rs. 2.5 lakh, have to file income tax returns. Meanwhile, for individuals above 60 years, the exemption limit is Rs. 3 lakh.

While filing ITR, one has to specify how much income they make from different sources. As per Indian tax laws, income is categorized under the following heads:

• Income from salary
• Income from house property
• Capital gains
• Income from profits and gains of business or profession
• Income from other sources, like dividends, securities, interest on deposits, royalty, mutual funds, lottery, etc.

Also Read – Income Tax On Interest Earned From Fixed Deposits

Why Should You File ITR?

It is compulsory for an Indian citizen to file an ITR if the following conditions are applicable:

• If your yearly gross income exceeds the following exemption limits: 

Details	Income (in Rs.)
Below 60 years	Rs. 2,50,000
Above 60 years to below 80 years	Rs. 3,00,000
Above 80 years	Rs. 5,00,000

• If you wish to get a refund of tax
• In case you have made investments or have income from foreign assets during a fiscal year
• If you want  to avail a loan or apply for a visa
• When taxpayers are firms or companies regardless of loss or gains

Under certain conditions, you may have to file an income tax return form even when your earnings don’t exceed the exemption limit. The situations are as follows:

• Deposition of a lump-sum amount of above Rs. 1 crore in one or many current accounts
• Have spent above Rs. 2,00,000 for a foreign tour involving self or some other individuals 
• Expenditure of above Rs. 1,00,000 on electricity

Due Date to File ITR for FY 2021-22

For FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23), the due date for filing income tax returns is as follows:

Category of Taxpayer	Due Date
Individual/HUF/AOP/BOI (not requiring an audit of books of accounts)	July 31 2022
Businesses (requiring audit)	October 31 2022
Businesses (Requiring Transfer Pricing report)	November 30 2022

*Note that these dates can also get extended. Thus, pay attention to any notice released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. 

Different Types of ITR Forms

In total there are almost 9 types of ITR forms available, but only 7 forms are taken into consideration by individuals when filing returns: The various types of income tax returns forms are as follows:

• ITR-1
• ITR-2
• ITR-3
• ITR-4
• ITR-5
• ITR-6
• ITR-7

Note* – ITR 5, ITR 6, and ITR 7 forms are only available for companies/organisations.

What is ITR-1?

Such an ITR form is for Indian residents whose earnings for the assessment year 2021-22 cover:

• Pension income or salary income
• Earnings from house property (except for situations when a loss has been carried forward from preceding years)
• Other earning sources (apart from horse racing and lottery)
• Income from agriculture not exceeding Rs. 5,000

Also Read – Section 194K Of The Income Tax Act

Non-Eligibility for ITR-1 Form 

This income tax return form is not applicable in the following cases:

• Earning is above Rs. 50,00,000
• Income from agriculture is above Rs. 5,000
• Capital gains have tax implications
• Income includes earnings from profession or business
• Earnings from more than 1 residential property
• You are a firm’s director
• Investments in unlisted shares during the fiscal year
• A resident individual who is an owner of assets (this includes a monetary interest in an entity) in a foreign country and has signing authority in any account outside the country 
• If you are a non-resident or RNOR
• You have foreign earnings or assets
• Tax has been deducted u/s 194N of ITA. TDS deduction has taken place u/s 194N on cash withdrawals that exceed a specific limit, provided some specific conditions are mentioned.

What Is ITR-2? 

This income tax return form is meant for HUFs and individuals whose earnings cover:

• Pension income or salary
• House property income
• Other earning sources (inclusive of horse racing and lottery)

Total earnings from the above-mentioned pointers should exceed Rs. 50,00,000.

• If you are a firm’s individual director 
• When you have invested in unlisted shares during the fiscal year
• In case you are a non-resident or RNOR
• You have earned from capital gains
• Foreign income or foreign assets
• Income from agriculture above Rs. 5,000

ITR-2 is applicable when the earnings of another individual (such as a family member) are to be added to a taxpayer’s earnings and such incomes come under the categories mentioned above.   

Non-Eligibility for ITR-2 Form 

Taxpayers who earn from professions or businesses cannot file the ITR-2 form. An assessee who needs to file ITR for business income can use the following two forms.

What Is ITR-3? 

HUFs and individuals who are earning from their professions or who conduct businesses can file the ITR-3 form. The following income sources qualify for this form:

• Profession or business
• A firm’s individual director
• You have been investing in unlisted shares during the fiscal year
• Return covers earnings from pension, salary, residential property or other sources
• A person earns income as a partner of a company

What Is ITR-4?

Such an income tax return form is available for partnership firms (except LLPs), HUFs, and individuals who are Indian residents and whose earnings comprise the following:

• Business income as per presumptive earning scheme u/s 44AE or 44AD
• Income from a profession as per presumptive earning scheme u/s 44ADA
• Earnings from pension or salary up to Rs. 50,00,000
• Earnings from a residential property that does not exceed Rs. 50,00,000 (excluding carried forward loss amount or any loss that is to be carried forward)
• Other earning sources which do not exceed Rs. 50,00,000 (apart from horse racing and lottery)  

A freelancer having earnings from the above-mentioned sources can choose a presumptive taxation scheme if his/her gross receipts do not exceed Rs. 50,00,000.   

Non-Eligibility for ITR-4 Form 

• Earning is above Rs. 50,00,000
• You have earnings from more than 1 residential property
• In case of having a loss that can be brought forward or needs to be carried forward 
• You own a foreign asset
• You have the authority to sign in an account outside India
• Having earnings from a foreign country
• If you are a firm’s director
• You have invested in unlisted shares in the fiscal year
• You are a non-resident/RNOR
• If you earn foreign income or own foreign assets   
• If you can be assessed in terms of earnings of any other person concerning which there has been a tax deduction in the hands of that person.   

What Is ITR-5?

ITR-5 is an income tax return form applicable for an investment fund, business trust, Estate of insolvent, Artificial Juridical Person, Body of Individuals, Estate of deceased, Association of Persons, and Limited Liability Partnership. 

What Is ITR-6?  

This return form must be filed electronically and is available to companies (except for companies that claim exemption u/s 11). Section 11 specifies earnings from properties used for religious or charitable purposes. 

What Is ITR-7?

Such a form is required for persons who need to file returns under the following sections:

• Section 139(4A) includes any person earning from a property used for religious or charitable purposes (partially or wholly) and is held legally or under a trust. 
• As per Section 139(4B), a political party needs to file its returns if the earning (without following Section 139A) is above the exemption limit.
• Section 139(4C) covers income earned by the following:
  • A medical institution, hospital, educational entity, university, or fund
  • Institution mentioned u/s 10(23B)
  • An institution or association specified u/s 10(23A)
  • New agency
  • Scientific research institution
• According to Section 139(4D), any institution, college and university must furnish their returns in case they are not required to file ITR as per other sections of the Income Tax Act. 
• As per Section 139(4E), a business trust should file its ITR if it is not required to furnish its return as per other sections of the IT Act. 
• Section 139(4F) covers the income of an investment fund specified u/s 115UB. Such funds do not need to furnish returns under other provisions of the IT Act.

Steps to File ITR Online

The Income Tax Department introduced an updated version of the ITR e-filing portal that has made filing income tax returns more accessible and easier. Here are the steps to file ITR online:

Step 1: Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal.

Step 2: New users need to click on the ‘Register’ Yourself’ button. Meanwhile, existing users can log in using their UAN and password.

Step 3: Click on the ‘e-File’ menu and select ‘Income Tax Return.’

Step 4: Select assessment year, form type, filing type, and submission mode (online). Then, click on ‘Continue.’

Step 5: Next, you will be asked to select a reason for filing ITR. Read the options and select the one that is applicable.

Step 6: Fill in your bank details or validate existing bank information. 

Step 7: Upon being redirected to a new page, you will see the income tax returns form. Most of the details are pre-filled. Verify all the details and fill in the blank columns. 

Step 8: ‘Submit’ the ITR and choose a verification option. The verification process is mandatory, and you can opt for the ‘I would like to e-Verify’ option.

Which ITR Form To File?

Particulars	ITR-1	ITR-2	ITR-3	ITR-4	ITR-5	ITR-6	ITR-7
Applicability	HUF, Individual (Resident)	HUF, Individual	HUF, Individual, Partner of a firm	HUF, Individual, Firm	Partnership firm or LLP	Company	Trust
Salary	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Business Income	No	No	Yes	Presumptive Income	Yes	Yes	Yes
House Property	Yes (one)	Yes	Yes	Yes (one)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Capital Gains	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Exempt Earnings	Yes (Income from agriculture below Rs. 5,000)	Yes	Yes	Yes (Income from agriculture below Rs. 5,000)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lottery	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Foreign Income/Assets	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Sources	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Before tax filing, examine the ITR form types carefully. 

Final Word

The income tax return forms provide information about expenses, income and other relevant tax implications. ITR helps assessees compute tax liability, plan tax payables and get refunds for overpaid taxes. The different ITR forms cater to the various requirements of the taxpayers during a financial year. 

FAQs on Types of ITR Forms

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