E-Filing of ITR for 2025 Has Begun: Everything You Need to Know
E-Filing of ITR for 2025 Has Begun: Everything You Need to Know
The Department of Income Tax in India formally launched the online portal for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for the Assessment Year 2025–26. All taxpayers—individuals, salaried professionals, freelancers, and businesses alike—can now start submitting their returns for financial year 2024–25. Online filing of ITR, or e-filing, is a quick and easy way to comply with your tax dues from the comfort of your home or office.
Why File ITR Online?
Online filing of ITR streamlines the tax return process with simple-to-complete forms, pre-filled information, and step-by-step instructions. The official portal of the Income Tax Department (https://www.incometax.gov.in) provides free filing services, along with links for downloading utility tools and help manuals. This avoids human mistakes, provides instant submission, and facilitates quicker processing of tax refunds.
Key Highlights for ITR Filing 2025
1. E-Filing Well in Advance: The portal is open for FY 2024–25, allowing proactive filers to file their returns long in advance of the July 31, 2025 deadline (for most of them).
2. Pre-filled ITR Forms: Salaried taxpayers will see most of the information—such as salary, TDS, interest income—auto-populated from Form 26AS and AIS.
3. New vs. Old Tax Regime: Taxpayers will have to select either the new concessional regime or the old regime with deductions.
4.Revised Forms: The ITR forms have been revised with small changes in income heads, disclosure standards, and reporting of capital gains.
5Verification Mandatory: Don’t forget to e-verify your ITR within 30 days of filing through Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or other electronic means.
Who Needs to File ITR?
•Those earning over the basic exemption limit
•Those with more than one source of income (e.g., capital gain or rent income)
•Self-employed persons, freelancers, and consultants
• NRIs with income taxable in India
• Those seeking tax refunds or possessing foreign income/assets
Advantages of Early E-Filing
• Quicker refund processing
• Patience to make corrections or updates
• Prevention of last-minute server problems
• Saving interest under Section 244A (if applicable)
• Assurance before the deadline
Procedure to File ITR Online in 2025
1. Go to https://www.incometax.gov.in
2. Log in using your PAN/Aadhaar-linked credentials
3. Choose “File Income Tax Return”
4. Select the correct assessment year (2025–26)
5. Pick the relevant ITR form (ITR-1, ITR-2, etc.)
6. Fill or authenticate pre-filled details
7. Submit and e-verify
Seismic Changes in ITR Filing for AY 2025–26
1.Mandatory Choice Between Old and New Regime
Taxpayers need to choose explicitly between the old tax regime (with allowances) and the new regime (lower tax rate without most of the allowances). For salaried taxpayers, the new regime is now the default. Nevertheless, one can opt for the old regime while filing the return.
2.New ITR Forms
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has simplified and streamlined ITR forms, particularly for those with capital gains. The new forms have more understandable sections for:
Reporting ESOPs (Employee Stock Options)
Foreign income and assets
Crypto and virtual digital asset transactions (VDA)
3.
AIS and TIS Integration
Increased focus has been on cross-verifying pre-filled information with AIS (Annual Information Statement) and the new TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary). Taxpayers need to ensure uniformity to escape scrutiny.
4. New Tax Reporting for Freelancers & Gig Workers
The individuals earning income from the platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, or freelance websites need to report their income correctly under “Income from Business/Profession.”
5. Revised TCS Rates and Thresholds for Foreign Remittances
With the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), new TCS rates are being introduced for foreign expenses. The reporting of foreign travels and investments is detailed now.
6. More Severe Penalty for Delayed Filing
₹1,000 to ₹5,000 late fee is charged for returns submitted beyond the due date, based on income classes.
ITR Filing Deadlines in 2025
Category of Taxpayer Due Date
Individual / Salaried Employees (not requiring audit) July 31, 2025
Businesses requiring Audit October 31, 2025
Transfer Pricing (TP) Cases November 30, 2025
Belated or Revised Returns December 31, 2025
Last Words
Online filing of ITR for 2025 has officially begun. Whether you’re a seasoned taxpayer or a new filer, availing digital filing platforms guarantees a seamless experience. Begin early, prepare your documents, and take the help of a tax expert if necessary. Filing on time not only saves penalties but also creates a financially responsible profile.
