Step by step guide of e-filing income tax return

31The income Tax department –Govt of India has introduced online submission  of Income tax returns called e-filing which facilitates  fast processing of income tax returns and refunds.  A simple application based on MS excel makes the ITR form filling easy. Here go through the steps  to fill your income tax returns.

Go to this link https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/selectforms.do and understand the appropriate form.

Download the appropriate return preparation software and help guide to fill the form.  It is an MS excel application .https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/downloads.do

Open the downloaded Excel file and fill the required details. Remember you must enable the Macro and Active X contents in MS Excell. In Excel 2007 you will get an info bar to enable the same.  Take adequate care to fill PAN, date of birth, Gender, Status, Residential status, Address, bank account number etc. For example to fill ITR-1 you need the following:

• Form 16 – Giving details of Salary Income and Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from Employer

• Rental Income details (along with Form 16A in case any Tax has been deducted) and Statement of Interest paid on Housing loan from Bank

• Interest of FD, Savings Bank etc details (along with Form 16A in case any Tax has been deducted)

• Life insurance / health insurance premium, donation receipts

• Tax payment challans and TDS certificates

After filling the complete details save the file and press the “validate” button in the excel sheet. Correct the errors if any and  click “Generate XML ”  button. The xml file is generated and saved by default in the same directory or location where the Excel file is saved.

Go to  https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/portal/login.do and login with your user id and password.  If you have not registered register with your PAN. Your PAN will be the user id. A valid e mail id is also mandatory.

After logged in, select the form Type and AY 2010-11 from the drop down menu under the submit return section. Upload your XML file (generated in the previous step). Select the “ No “button for  “Do you want to digitally sign the file?”  . If you have class –II digital certificate, select the “Yes” option  (Digital signature certificates (DSC) are the digital equivalent that  is electronic format of physical or paper certificates)  . Now you will get a “success screen” and a link to download ITR V form (Income Tax Verification). A copy of the same will be mailed to your email id also.
In the case of  digitally signed return–, the return filling process is completed and only to retain the acknowledgment for  your reference.

Note : ITR V is a pdf file and password protected. The password will be your PAN number in small letters plus date of birth in ddmmyyyy format without spaces

Take  print  of  ITR V in an A4 size paper  in two copies (Inkjet or Laser print with Black ink only) . One copy of ITR V, duly signed by the taxpayer, has to be sent by ordinary post to Income Tax Department – CPC, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bangaluru–560100 (Karnataka) immediately. The other copy may be retained by the assessee for his record. The form must reach the destination within 120 days after the date of transmitting the data electronically.

Important:   ITR-V sent by Registered Post or Courier will not be accepted. The signature in ITR V must be in BLUE ink.

See the flow chart of complete process

Call center at CPC provides information and updates on the following:

1. Status of receipt of ITR-V at CPC
2. Processing status of e-filed returns
3. Refund issues
4. Any other information related to processing of returns at CPC

This service is available on working days and call are answered in English,Hindi,Kannada on the following telephone numbers ;

Toll free: 1800-425-2229
Direct: 080-22546500

service available in English,Hindi,Kannada languages

Click here for the interactive video Demo of  E filing

Last date of efiling has been extended up to 31  Jul 11