The process of E-filing tax returns

BANGALORE, INDIA: Over a few years, there has been enough hue and cry about the problems related to manual tax return filing, which is why government introduced the online facility of tax filing.

The process of online tax filing starts from government's website http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in. The individual first confirms the type of form he requires and then continues with five simple steps of filing which is mentioned below.

Step 1: Select appropriate type of return form (ITR form). The known ITR-4 form, for example, is used by individuals and is applicable for the income from salary/pension, other sources (only interest income or family pension), income/loss from house property, capital gains/loss on sale of investments/property, partner in a partnership firm and proprietary business/profession.

For the firms, associations of persons (AOP), body of individuals (BOI), local authority, companies, trusts, Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) Return go for ITR-5 form for the above mentioned sources of income/loss.

Step 2: After selecting the form, the tax payers need to download the Return Preparation software for the selected return form. This return form could be filled up offline and then save as an XML file. In order to submit it, the taxpayers need to register here https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in by creating own username and password.

Step 3: After logging on to the site, users need to click on the relevant form mentioned in the left panel of the webpage and then select 'Submit Return'. They need to follow the browser to select XML file and upload the saved form.

Step 4: On successful upload, acknowledgement details would be displayed. After this, users need to generate two print copies of acknowledgement/ITR-V Form.

Step 5: This acknowledgement cum verification form has to be filled-up and verified.

A duly verified ITR-V form should be mailed to Income Tax Department – CPC, Post Bag No - 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bangalore - 560100, Karnataka, via ordinary post only within 30 days after the date of transmitting the data electronically. ITR-V sent by Speedpost, Registered Post or Courier will not be accepted.

No Form ITR-V shall be received in any other office of the Income-tax Department or in any other manner. In case the form ITR-V is furnished after the above mentioned period, it will be deemed that the return in respect of which the Form ITR-V has been filed was never furnished and it shall be incumbent on the assessee to electronically re-transmit the data and follow it up by submitting the new Form ITR-V within thirty days.

This completes the Return filing process for non-digitally signed returns. For the digitally signed returns, the entire process is same up to step 3, till the return is digitally signed. On generation of "Acknowledgement", the Return Filing process gets completed there itself and the users may keep a print copy of the Acknowledgement for their record.