Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Avoid 5 costly ITR filing mistakes before July 31 deadline
As the July 31 deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2026-27 approaches, taxpayers are advised to avoid common mistakes.
These include reporting only salary income, ignoring mismatches in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS, choosing the wrong ITR form, making incorrect deduction and capital gains claims, and forgetting to e-verify the return.
The Income Tax Department advises taxpayers to reconcile information from Form 26AS, AIS, and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) before submitting their returns.
Avoiding these mistakes can help prevent refund delays, tax demands, or notices from the Income Tax Department.
Taxpayers should report all income sources, not just salary, to avoid mismatches with the Income Tax Department's records.
Comparing income in ITR with details in AIS, TIS, and Form 26AS can prevent additional tax demands or scrutiny.
Choosing the correct ITR form is crucial to avoid processing delays or defective returns.
Taxpayers should verify deductions and correctly disclose capital gains to meet eligibility conditions.
E-verifying the return is essential to validate the filing; unverified returns are considered invalid.
- Who
- Taxpayers in India
- What
- Common mistakes to avoid while filing income tax returns
- When
- Before the July 31 deadline
- Where
- India
- Why
- To avoid refund delays, tax demands, or notices from the Income Tax Department
Taxpayer Perspective
Income Tax Department Perspective
Income Reporting
Taxpayer Perspective
Taxpayers may overlook non-salary income sources, leading to underreporting.
Income Tax Department Perspective
The Income Tax Department expects all taxable income to be reported accurately.
Form Selection
Taxpayer Perspective
Taxpayers may choose the wrong ITR form due to lack of awareness.
Income Tax Department Perspective
The Income Tax Department requires the correct form to be used to avoid processing delays.
Deductions and Capital Gains
Taxpayer Perspective
Taxpayers may claim deductions incorrectly or fail to report capital gains.
Income Tax Department Perspective
The Income Tax Department expects accurate reporting of deductions and capital gains.
- Deadline
- July 31
- Assessment Year
- 2026-27
- Form 26AS
- Annual Information Statement
- AIS
- Annual Information Statement
- TIS
- Taxpayer Information Summary
- Form 16
- Salary Income Certificate
- ITR-1
- Income Tax Return Form for Salaried Individuals