fb


What precautions should I take to avoid issues while filing ITR Online?

What precautions should I take to avoid issues while filing ITR Online?

Introduction

A person must submit an Income Tax Return (ITR) form to the Indian Income Tax Department. It includes details on the individual's earnings and the yearly taxes owed. The information included in an ITR must be specific to a fiscal year that begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year. This form contains details on the person's income and the amount of tax that must be paid on it within a specific fiscal year, that is, from 1 April of the current year that is 2023 to 31 March of the next year that 2024. Because the taxpayer, whether an individual or a business, may file their ITR online from the ease of their own home, the process has become very simple.

Precautions to be taken:

1. Filing return on time

Taxpayers frequently have a tendency to wait until the very last minute to file their returns. This frequently causes a great deal of discomfort. And even if a taxpayer intends to file the return online to avoid the lengthy lines at the counters receiving paper returns, doing so too close to the deadline is not advised because the peak server load on the e-filing website during the final few days may make the entire online filing experience quite frustrating. Any return filed after the clock strikes midnight on the last day will be considered to have been filed the next day. Even though all taxes have already been paid, according to the tax laws, these losses cannot be carried forward to be offset against the income of coming years unless such a return has been completed by the deadline. This error is typically made by taxpayers who are completing a loss return for the first time.

2. Personal information to be filed correctly

  • Schedule Name: Must be consistent with the PAN Schedule Name: 

  • Date of birth: Must be consistent with the PAN birthdate In the case of senior persons, errors here will result in the computation of greater taxes. 

  • Address: The fields House/Flat No., City, and PIN Code must be filled in. Refund delays will come from incomplete forms. 

  • Email Address: The foundation of all communication from CPC, must be filled out accurately. A mistake will prevent you from receiving all of CPC's notifications. It is possible to avoid using an auditor's or tax professional's 

  • Mobile Number: Enter your whole mobile number without the +91 prefix. For every SMS-based communication, this is crucial. 

  • Gender: Must correspond to the PAN database. Computational errors occur if the PAN database is inaccurate. 

  • Status: Must be completed accurately Residential Status that is As NOR and NRI statuses are ineligible for several benefits offered to resident assessees, they should only be disclosed when pertinent.

3. Diverse sources of Income

There are several ways for someone to make money. A person who is salaried makes money from the wage that is paid to him at the end of each month. A person who receives a salary may also make money via real estate investments, business or other professional income, and capital gains. Last but not least, a person can also get money through winning the lottery, receiving dividend payments, earning interest on deposits, etc. Taxpayers are required to report all of their income, including interest from savings accounts, fixed deposits, rental income from real estate, income from short-term capital gains, and any other sources. Whether the income is taxable or exempt, must be stated.

4. Different ITR Form Types

The taxpayer should choose his ITR form with extreme caution. There are seven different ITR form types available, and the taxpayer must submit his ITR in the appropriate format according to his circumstances. Depending on the taxpayer's category and income level, different applications fall under different categories. ITR-1 SAHAJ, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4 Sugam, ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7 are the seven various ITR forms.

  • ITR-1 SAHAJ: This form is for people whose combined income does not exceed Rs. 50 lakh. Such a person either receives income from a wage, a single residential property, and additional sources like interest income or agricultural revenue of up to Rs. 5,000.

  • ITR-2: This ITR form is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who do not get income from a company or profession-related profits and gains.

  • ITR-3: This ITR form is for both people and HUFs who get income from gains and earnings from a job or business.

  • ITR-4 Sugam: This ITR form is for people, HUFs, and firms (excluding LLP) who are residents and whose total income does not exceed Rs. 50 lakh, as well as for those who have income from their profession and business that is determined under various sections like 44AD, 44AE, or 44ADA.

  • ITR-5: Individuals, HUFs, businesses, and people filing ITR-7 are not eligible to use this ITR form.

  • ITR-6: This form is for businesses only, except those that cite Section 11's exemption.

  • ITR-7: This form is for individuals and businesses that must submit ITRs alone in accordance with sections 139(4D), 139(4C), 139(4B), or 139 (4A).

5. Deductions to be assessed

The maximum deduction for investments made under Sections 80C, 80CCC, and 80 CCD is Rs. 1.50 lakh. Additionally, it should be reminded that the entire deduction for investments made under Section 80C, pension fund contributions made under Section 80CCC, or employer pension plan contributions made under Section 80CCD is limited to Rs 1.50 lakh. A person may also claim reimbursement under Section 80C for the cost of their children's tuition as well as the repayment of the home loan's principle.

6. Interest and surcharge

 The effects of mistakes made when filing returns Returns may be categorized as defective under Section 139(9), and in certain circumstances, the return may be deemed valid or non-est. ITD is not developing this idea to address specific problems kinds in an effort to reduce complaints in the future. Computational errors - It has been noted that the majority of faults in the electronic filing are attributable to data filing errors by the assessee. This includes incomplete key schedules, inaccurate details, etc., which prompt rectification requests, etc., and delay the processing's completion. When computing surcharges and cess, exercise caution. It should be mentioned that if the total income does not exceed Rs 100 lakh, a 10% surcharge is not necessary to be added to the tax. Even if the total income is less than Rs 100 lakh, a 4% cess must still be added to the tax amount. The correct procedure is to first add a 10% surcharge to the tax, if applicable, and then add a 4% cess on top of the total of the tax and surcharge.

7. Essential documents

The taxpayer should have a number of documents on hand when filing their ITR online. PAN cards, Aadhar cards, Form 16 (for salaried employees), bank account information, Form 26AS, a summary of any house loans, tax-saving documentation, information on any capital gains, rental income, foreign income, dividend income, and Forms 16A, 16B, and 16C are a few of them.

8. If tax has been deducted, filing returns is not necessary

On salaries and interest income, employers and banks must deduct taxes at the source, respectively. If a person’s yearly income is more than Rs. 2.5 lakh, then one must file an income tax return. In the income tax return, you must declare the income from which tax has been withheld and claim TDS as a credit.

9. If tax is withheld from interest income, an ITR is not required to be filed

Most taxpayers have a savings account. Additionally, some taxpayers hold bank fixed deposit accounts. Numerous people like using savings bank accounts or fixed deposit accounts as a means of saving money. Interest is paid by banks and other financial institutions on these account balances. On the interest given on fixed deposits, banks deduct tax or perform a TDS. On interest accumulated in a savings account, there is no TDS. However, the interest added to your savings account and fixed deposit account counts as additional income.

10. Verification of details

It's possible for certain taxpayers to misrepresent their Permanent Account Number ("PAN"). It is important to fill out the right PAN in a legible fashion. Given that all notices and other correspondence from the tax authorities are posted to this address, due attention must be used when entering the address. The bank account number must be entered precisely in the event of a refund. If the refund is chosen to be deposited directly into the bank account via ECS, proper care should be made to enter the MICR code accurately. Any error could result in issues with tax refund credits and subsequent annoyance.

Conclusion

The majority of people are conscious that they must pay the government the proper tax on whatever income they make over a certain threshold each year. However, the majority of people become confused about how to submit their income tax returns throughout tax season. These returns, sometimes referred to as ITRs, are as essential to maintaining your tax obligations as paying them. If you don't tell the authorities, you may eventually be subject to fines and trouble since it could turn into tax evasion. As a result, everyone in the taxable category is required to submit income tax forms on a regular basis. The Income Tax Department has repeatedly reminded people that they must submit their ITRs before the deadline.

eStartIndia is one of the leading cloud-based platforms that help you to file your ITR (Income tax returnwithout any hassle at an affordable cost.

Author:

Archita Sharma
Kanpur
Archita Sharma, IV year BA.LLB (Hons.) student from PSIT College of Law


Leave a Comment



Previous Comments


Related Blogs