ITR-3 vs ITR-4: Difference and Who Can File?

Forms of Income Tax Returns differ based on various factors like individuals residential status, sources of income and so on. 

Both form ITR-3 and ITR-4 are meant for assessees having business income. The main difference between ITR-3 and ITR-4 is that ITR-3 is meant for business maintaining proper books of accounts, whereas ITR-4 is meant for small business taxpayers opting for presumptive taxation.

ITR 4 can be filed by the taxpayers who have income from Long Term Capital Gains under section 112A, not exceeding Rs 1.25 lakhs, provided he does not have any carry forward of capital losses. 

This article provides a comprehensive understanding of the eligibility for ITR-3 and ITR-4 (Sugam).

ITR-3

Eligibility Criteria For Filing ITR-3

Individuals and Hindu Undivided Family(HUFs) are eligible to file ITR-3 if they have income from business or profession. Applicability for ITR-3 filing: 

• Income from business or profession (both tax audit and non-tax audit cases presumptive taxation is not opted)
• Salary income
• Rental income from house property
• Short or long-term capital gains
• Interest, dividends, winning from the lottery and any income from other sources.
• Income (interest and remuneration) as a partner in a firm

Who Is Not Eligible To File ITR-3 Form?

• Individuals and HUFs without income from a business, profession, or partnership firm are not eligible to file the ITR-3 Form. 
• Companies, charitable and religious trusts, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), firms, local authorities, bodies of individuals and associations of persons.

Due Date for Filing ITR-3  (For Assessment Year 2025-26)

ITR-4 or Sugam

Who Can File ITR-4?

Resident Individuals, HUFs and partnership firms are eligible to use ITR-4 if they satisfy a few conditions. Below are the conditions for applicability for ITR-4 filing:

• Total income is up to Rs. 50 lakhs
• Business or professional income is computed on a presumptive basis under Section 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE.
• Income from Salary/pension,
• Rental Income from one house property, 
• Agricultural income (up to Rs. 5,000)
• Capital Gains Income (only u/s 112A not exceeding Rs.1.25 lakhs)
• Income from other sources such as interest, dividends, family pension, etc.

Who Cannot File ITR-4?

• Non-residents or Resident but not ordinarily resident (RNOR)
• Tax payer having income from the following sources:
  • Total Income from all the sources, exceeding Rs. 50 lakhs
  • Income from more than one house property
  • Agricultural income of more than ₹5,000
  • Capital Gains Income (He can still file ITR-4 if his capital gains under section 112A do not exceed ₹1.25 lakhs and he has no other capital gains income)
  • Foreign Income and Assets
  • Lottery or owning and maintaining race horses
  • Income taxable under Section 115BBDA (Dividend from the domestic company in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs) or Section 115BBE (tax on undisclosed income and investments)
• A person is a director in any company
• Individuals have held unlisted equity shares at any time during the year 
• Taxpayers whose income tax is deferred on ESOPs
• Claiming relief u/s 90 or DTAAs

Freelancers such as bloggers, content writers, digital marketers, etc., can also file ITR-4. The due date for filing ITR-4 for Assessment Year 2025-26 is 31 July 2025.

Presumptive Taxation

1. Section 44AD

• Small business owners whose turnover does not exceed Rs. 2 crore (Rs.3 crore in case of online transactions) can opt to pay tax under a presumptive scheme.
• Under Section 44AD, taxpayers can declare 8% or 6% (in case of online transactions) of the turnover as income and are not required to maintain books of accounts. This is applicable only to Traders and manufacturers, not applicable to service professionals.

2. Section 44ADA

Professionals whose receipts in a year are up to Rs. 50 lakhs (Rs 75 lakhs from FY 2024-25 onwards, where receipt is via digital mode) can declare 50% of such receipts as income. Tax will be calculated on such declared income. Professions who can avail presumptive scheme under section 44ADA are:

• Architecture
• Accounting
• Engineering
• Legal
• Architect
• Medical
• Interior decoration
• Technical consultancy
• Film artists include actors, directors, producers, cameramen, singers, lyricists, costume designers, story writers, dialogue writers, editors, etc.
• Authorised Representative- This does not include a person who is carrying on an accountancy or legal profession or is an employee of the person represented. 
• Company Secretary
• Information Technology

3. Section 44AE

A taxpayer engaged in the business of plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages can opt for 44AE if he does not own more than 10 goods carriages at any time during the year. 

ITR-3 and ITR-4 Difference

Case 1: Atul runs a cloth retail shop and has opted for the presumptive income scheme.

Atul can choose to file ITR-3 or ITR-4 (provided is gross turnover is less than Rs 2 crore).

Case 2: Neha is an interior decorator and wants to know which ITR form should she file?

As a professional, as long as her gross receipts from her profession do not exceed Rs.75 lakh, she can opt for presumptive scheme of tax and file her return with the ITR-4 Form.

Case 3: Deepika had opted for presumptive income for FY 2023-24. She runs a wholesale business, and her turnover for FY 2024-25 was Rs 2.20 crores.

Since Deepika’s turnover exceeds Rs 2 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Hence she has to file ITR-3 as ITR-4 is not applicable in cases where turnover exceeds Rs 2 crore.

Case 4: Rahul is an insurance agent whose income was Rs 18 lakhs in the financial year 2024-25. He wants to file an ITR-4.

Those running insurance commission businesses cannot file ITR-4. Therefore Rahul has to file ITR -3 for the financial year 2024-25.

Case 5: Shashank is a practising heart specialist. His turnover for the financial year 2024-25 is Rs 85 lakhs. Shashank wants to file an ITR-4.

Shashank has his own practice and continues in the profession. Hence, he can file ITR-4 only if his annual receipts are less than Rs.75 lakhs. If his income is more than Rs.75 lakhs, he has to file ITR-3.  

Case 6: Prashant has two businesses. He has a manufacturing business with a turnover of Rs 2.4 crores and another business of truck hiring and leasing, which is eligible for presumptive income as per section 44 AD and AE. Prashant wants to know which ITR to file.

Even though Prashant runs a business which is eligible under section 44AE, he shall have to file ITR-3 since his business income from manufacturing exceeds Rs 2 Cr. for which a tax audit will be application. Return of income must include income from all sources and given Prashant’s first business, ITR-3 shall be applicable for filing his consolidated income details.

Case 7: Ashish is in the business of plying, hiring, or leasing goods carriage. In the financial year 2024-25, he owned 13 lorries.

The presumptive method of taxation under section 44AE applies only in cases where not more than 10 trucks are owned. Therefore, Since Ashish owns more than 10 trucks, he has to file ITR-3.

Case 8: Vijay is in the business of plying, hiring, and leasing goods carriages and owns 5 goods carriage during the year but Vijay chooses not to opt for the 44AE scheme and want to declare income lower than the income estimated under section 44AE.

Vijay can declare income lower than what is calculated under section 44AE however, he shall have to maintain books of accounts as prescribed and will have to file ITR-3 for his income.

* all names are fictitious and used only for the purpose of illustration.