An income tax return is a document filed with the tax authorities that outlines an individual’s or entity’s income and tax liabilities. It serves as a record of one’s financial activities throughout the year. Income tax forms play a crucial role in the tax filing process by providing a structured format for taxpayers to report their income, deductions, and credits accurately. These forms ensure compliance with tax laws and help calculate the correct amount of tax owed or refund due.
Overview of ITR Forms
The income tax department has released the ITR-6 excel utility for the fiscal year 2024-25. Prior to this, the department enabled the excel utility for ITR-1, ITR-2, and ITR-4 for fiscal year 2024-25. These forms are available under the ‘downloads’ option on the e-filing page. Every taxpayer should file his ITR on or before the specified due date.
To determine which Income Tax Return (ITR) form one needs to file, one should consider various factors such as sources of income, residential status, and specific financial transactions. Below is a general guideline for the seven ITR forms and their purposes:
- ITR-1 (Sahaj): This form is for a resident individual having income from salaries, one house property, other sources (interest, etc.), and total income up to Rs 50 lakh or agricultural income up to Rs 5000.
- ITR-2: It is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUF) not having income from profits and gains of business or profession.
- ITR-3: It is for individuals and HUFs having income from profits and gains of business or profession.
- ITR-4 (Sugam): This form is for individuals, HUFs, and firms (other than Limited liability partnerships) being resident having total income up to Rs 50 lakh and having presumptive income from business and profession. It should be noted that any individual receiving money as a freelancer from the aforementioned sources is eligible for a presumptive scheme if their gross revenues do not exceed Rs 50 lakh.
- ITR-5: It is for people other than individuals, HUF, companies, and persons filing Form ITR-7.
- ITR-6: It is for companies other than companies claiming exemption under section 11.
- ITR-7: It is for persons including companies required to furnish return under sections 139(4A) or 139(4B) or 139(4C) or 139(4D) or 139(4E) or 139(4F).
It is important for every taxpayer to be mindful of these forms and their respective purposes to ensure accurate and timely filing of taxes. Understanding the appropriate ITR form to use can streamline the tax filing process and contribute to overall financial compliance.
