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How to file your income tax return online in India in 2025

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How to file your income tax return online in India: A guide for 2025.

Learn how to file income tax returns online in 2025 and keep your documents secure with Acrobat.

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Published by Adobe Acrobat India on 23 October 2024

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The importance of filing IT returns

Types of ITR forms: What to choose

Documents required for ITR filing

How to file an income tax return online: A step-by-step guide

Ensuring document security with password protection

Frequently asked questions

As we jump into the second half of 2024, it is important that you prepare your documents to file your upcoming tax return in 2025. The recent Union budget reflected a slight change in the tax slabs, offering much-needed relief to middle-class sections. Raising the standard deduction from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 for salaried individuals is quite beneficial. Even the first layer of payable tax of 5% is now applicable for incomes up to ₹7,00,000. This action will benefit the low-income groups by providing them with a higher disposable income.

So prepare yourself for the next cycle as we present you with a thorough understanding of how to file an ITR online. With this detailed guide, you can avoid potential errors and undue tax deductions in the future.

Dig deep and understand the complete, step-by-step guide on how to file an income tax return in 2025 and keep your ITR documents secure.

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The importance of filing IT returns.

From a broader perspective, timely filing of IT returns is essential. The government can use your tax money to provide appropriate infrastructure and upgrades, which would, in turn, benefit you.

In this blog, we will give you a combined approach to how to file income tax returns online for salaried employees, professionals, entities, and more. Identify which ITR type you fall into and then follow the generic steps mentioned later in this blog. Also, learn how to use Adobe to digitise and organise your ITR documents.

Types of ITR forms: What to choose.

7 types of ITR forms in India.

Different ITR forms are available for individuals in India based on factors such as income, profession, and entity. The Income Tax Department offers seven types of ITR forms, each catering to different categories of taxpayers. Here is a summary of the available ITR forms:

ITR Type

Description

ITR-1 (Sahaj)

This form is suitable for residents of India with a total income of up to ₹50 lakh. It includes income from salaries, one house property, other sources such as interest, and exempted income up to ₹5,000.

ITR-2

Individuals or Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) without income from the profits and gains of a business or profession should use this form.

ITR-3

This form applies to individuals or HUFs with income from the profits and gains of a business or profession, making it suitable for salaried individuals, professionals, businessmen, and retired persons.

ITR-4 (Sugam)

If you are an individual, HUF, or firm (other than LLP) who is a resident with a total income of up to ₹50 lakh and income from business and profession computed under sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE (presumptive taxation), you should select this form.

ITR-5

This form is applicable to entities other than individuals, HUFs, companies, or those filing Form ITR-7.

ITR-6

Use this form if you manage a company other than those claiming exemption under Section 11 (income from property held for charitable or religious purposes).

ITR-7

This form is intended for individuals and companies required to furnish returns under sections 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C), or 139(4D) (charitable or religious trusts, political parties, scientific research associations, etc.).

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If you are still determining which ITR form applies to you, seeking guidance from a tax professional to ensure a seamless filing process is advisable.

Additionally, it's important to note that whether you are a resident Indian, NRI, or OCI cardholder, if you own property, have investments, or earn income in India, you are required to file taxes in India.

Documents required for ITR filing.

Documents required for ITR filling

Please make sure to have the following documents ready for filing your income tax return:

Your income statements and salary slips
Your bank statements
Form 16, Form 16A, Form 26AS, AIS
Capital gain statements
Investment details
Relevant books of accounts

If you have any of these documents in paper format, you can use Adobe Acrobat to convert them into PDFs for easy access. This will allow you to quickly find and refer to the information on your computer screen without searching through physical documents.

Digitise your ITR filing documents with Adobe.

Use Adobe Acrobat online services to expedite your online ITR filing.

Step 1: Scan your physical documents using Adobe Scan or your regular camera scanner.

Step 2: In the case of an image format, choose Adobe image to PDF Converter from our online tool page.

Adobe Acrobat JPG to PDF converter online tool

Step 3: Upload your file and sign in to continue.

Step 4: Acrobat will convert your scanned document into a PDF for easy access and sharing.

Step 5: Download the file to save it to your desired location.

How to file an income tax return online: A step-by-step guide.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to file an income tax return online:

1. Identify your ITR.

Choose the most suitable type of ITR from the seven options available. Note that the default tax regime is the ‘New Tax Regime’. If you want to switch to the old tax regime, you can opt-out.

Step 1: Go to ‘e-File’ in the bar menu, select ‘Income Tax Returns’ and then ‘File Income Tax Returns’.

Select file income tax from e file option

Step 2: Select the Assessment Year, Filing Type, and ITR Type from the drop-down lists.

Select assessment year, filing type and ITR type

Step 3: You will be navigated to the form page containing some pre-filled details from 26AS and AIS. Verify these details and fill in the relevant ITR schedule.

Step 4: Verify your TTI (Total Taxable Income). If it’s correct, proceed to verify your TI (Total Income).

Step 5: Select whether to pay tax and check if it is payable or refundable in your case.

3. Validate your details.

Validate your details

The ITR portal will verify all your filled-in data. In case of any mismatch or discrepancy, it will generate an automatic error message. Rectify any errors and missing details and request a repeat validation. If all details are correct, you will receive an error-free ITR.

4. Proceed to the final verification.

Once all details are correctly input, click ‘Submit your ITR’ to complete the process.

5. Add a digital signature.

Add digital signature

You will need to add a digital signature to fully close your ITR submission and verification. To obtain a digital signature, you can procure one from government-approved third parties like eMudhra. Adobe Acrobat offers electronic seals in partnership with eMudhra’s digital signature certificates to ensure the validity and authenticity of Indian documents. Without this step, your ITR will be considered invalid.

6. Verify your ITR in the absence of a digital signature.

select e verify return

There are six ways to verify your ITR if you do not have a digital signature. You can choose either:

Aadhaar OTP verification with a linked phone number is the most used method.
E-verify later (within 30 days)
Netbanking
Through bank ATMs
Through the DEMAT account
Through manual verification that includes physically signing the printed ‘Acknowledgement’ and sending it to CPC, Bangalore, via post within 120 days.

7. Receiving ITR verification documents.

Before filing your ITR, download the AIS (Annual Income Statement), which will be password protected and the 26AS form, both available in PDF version.

select view form 26AS

Once you close all tasks on your end, you will receive the following ITR documents:

ITR form
ITR receipt, acknowledgement, or ITR-V form

Now download the form

After the assessment from the IT department is complete, you will be able to download the Assessment Order/Intimation. This will also be password protected (same as your AIS form).

Ensure you keep these documents secure and limit any unauthorised access, as they contain crucial information.

Ensuring document security with password protection.

Secure document with password with Adobe Acrobat

Your ITR documents, especially your downloaded receipts and forms, are extremely confidential and contain crucial information regarding your financial transactions to date. A breach of these details can result in serious complications. Hence, storing these documents securely in your system is best advised. Use the Adobe Acrobat Password Protect tool to limit unauthorised access to these documents. Share with the concerned people freely without worrying about your data security.

Leverage Adobe to further manage your documents. Merge, organise, or share them; Acrobat offers 20+ online tools to streamline your PDFs.

Frequently asked questions.

How to file an ITR after the July 31, 2024 deadline?

If you miss the July 31, 2024 deadline, you can file a belated return by December 31, 2024. However, a late fee and interest on any tax due may apply. Use the same process as a regular return, but select the option for a belated return in the ITR form.

Can I file my ITR without Form 16?

Yes, you can file your ITR without Form 16. You need to gather other proof of income, such as salary slips, bank statements, and Form 26AS, which shows details of tax deducted at source (TDS).

Can I get a copy of my income tax return online?

Yes, you can download a copy of your filed income tax return online from the Income Tax e-Filing portal. Log in, go to the 'View Returns/Forms' section, select the relevant assessment year, and download the ITR-V (Acknowledgement) or the Return form.

How to e-verify your income tax return online after filing it?

To eVerify your ITR online, log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal and go to the 'e-Verify Return' option under the 'My Account' tab. You can eVerify using methods such as Aadhaar OTP, net banking, bank account number, or demat account number.

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The information provided on this page is intended to help individuals and business owners understand general tax implications, including filing taxes during the 2025 tax season. Adobe does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. For specific tax concerns, always consult a licensed tax professional to ensure compliance with current tax laws and regulations applicable to your situation. This material is provided on an "as-is" basis. Adobe disclaims any representations, guarantees, or warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or accuracy. Adobe assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided here and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disclaims any liability for reliance on this material.

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