The Income Tax Department's e-filing portal opens for AY 2026-27 returns on July 1, 2026. If you're a salaried taxpayer with income under ₹50 lakh, ITR-1 (Sahaj) is your form — and with AIS pre-fill, most people can file in 20-30 minutes.
The 5-document checklist
1. Form 16 from your employer — should arrive by June 15. Check Part B for the exact gross salary, deductions claimed, and TDS. 2. AIS (Annual Information Statement) from the e-filing portal. Cross-verify every entry — any mismatch with your Form 16 is a refund delay waiting to happen. 3. Bank interest certificates (FD, SB account). Banks upload to AIS, but cross-check — some co-op banks still lag. 4. Section 80C/80D proofs if you claimed them in the old regime: ELSS, PPF, life insurance, health insurance premiums. 5. Home loan interest certificate if you're claiming Section 24(b) in the old regime.
New vs old regime — choose wisely
The new regime is default. For AY 2026-27, the rebate under Section 87A extends to ₹7 lakh taxable income — meaning zero tax up to ₹7.75 lakh gross (after ₹75,000 standard deduction). If your 80C/80D/home loan deductions total under ₹2 lakh, new regime almost always wins.
Old regime still beats new if: you have a home loan with ₹2L+ interest, you max out 80C + NPS 80CCD(1B), and you claim HRA for a metro rent of ₹20k+/month.
Filing window
- July 1 - July 31: regular filing, no late fee
- August 1 - December 31: late filing with ₹1,000-5,000 fee (Section 234F)
- December 31: last date for belated returns
Refund timelines
Most ITR-1 refunds are processed within 15-20 days of e-verification. E-verify immediately after filing — via Aadhaar OTP is the fastest.
Common mistakes
1. Not e-verifying (return becomes invalid after 30 days). 2. Forgetting to report bank savings interest even if below ₹10,000 (90G deduction doesn't mean non-reporting). 3. Claiming HRA without actually paying rent — the department cross-checks with landlord PAN when rent exceeds ₹1L/year.
Use our old-vs-new regime calculator to confirm your choice before filing.