ITR filing deadline 2026: 5 checks you must complete before submitting your income tax return

Before filing your ITR, compare the salary details mentioned in your Form 16 with the information available in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS. Also ensure that the TDS deducted by your employer is correctly reflected in Form 26AS. If you notice any mismatch in salary, TDS or other income, get it corrected before submitting your return.

Do not rely only on Form 16 while filing your return. Keeping all relevant documents ready helps ensure that you don't miss any taxable income or eligible deductions. These include bank interest certificates, savings account and fixed deposit interest details, capital gains statements from brokers or mutual funds, rental income details (if applicable), and home loan interest certificates.

Before filing your return, compare your tax liability under the old and new tax regimes, wherever applicable, and choose the one that helps you save more tax. Also check whether any self- assessment tax is still payable and clear the dues before submitting your ITR.

Choosing the wrong ITR form can result in your return being treated as defective. Also verify that your PAN, Aadhaar, bank account details, IFSC code, email address and mobile number are correct before filing your return.

Filing your ITR is not complete until it is successfully e-verified. You can verify your return using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, Electronic Verification Code (EVC) or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Once verified, download and save the ITR acknowledgement for future reference.

Before submitting your return, ensure you have:
● Selected the correct ITR form
● Verified PAN, Aadhaar and bank account details
● Reconciled Form 16, AIS and Form 26AS
● Included bank interest, capital gains and other taxable income
● Verified deductions under the chosen tax regime
● Paid any pending self-assessment tax
● Successfully submitted and e-verified the ITR
● Downloaded and saved the acknowledgement

July 31, 2026 is the due date for filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 for salaried individuals, pensioners, students and other taxpayers who are not required to get their accounts audited. This year, the filing process has become smoother as the Income Tax Department resolved several technical issues and released the ITR forms for AY 2026-27 earlier than last year, helping distribute the filing load over a longer period.