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Documents Needed for Filing Income Tax Returns in India

Updated on: Jul 24th, 2023

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10 min read

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The last date to file ITR for individuals is 31st July unless extended by the government. 

It is necessary to prepare and gather various documents such as salary/income details, bank statements, and previous tax statements to file the Income Tax Return (ITR). The specific procedure for filing varies depending on the income type and its sources, such as salary, business income, investment income, and others. While organizing the required documents is an important part of the process, this article will provide a comprehensive discussion on the documents necessary for filing Income Tax Returns in India.

Choosing the applicable ITR form

Taxpayers have to choose the correct ITR form applicable to them. The income tax department has launched pre-filled ITR forms for AY 2023-24. Determining which ITR form to choose can be challenging but if you file with Cleartax, we auto-suggest the correct ITR form for you based on your income details.

For Salaried Employees

If you are a salaried employee, gather these documents to e-file your income tax returns in India. Go through this list to see the documents you’ll need to do your taxes.

  • PAN
  • Form-16 issued by your employer
  • Month wise salary slips

It is essential to gather the information on all taxable allowances received and the amount claimed as exemption out of such allowances e.g., house rent allowance, leave travel allowance etc and disclose the same in the IT return.

Did you know that Form-16 is all you need to e-file your income tax returns on Cleartax? It’s that simple really. Got your Form-16? Start income tax e filing.

Documents related to interest income

  • Bank statement/passbook for interest on a savings account.
  • Interest income statement for fixed deposits.
  • TDS certificate issued by banks and others.

Cleartax automatically gives you a tax benefit as per Section 80TTA when you enter your income from savings account interest. You won’t need all the documents listed here as they vary on a case-by-case basis.

Form 26AS

Form 26AS is a summary of taxes deducted on your behalf and taxes paid by you. This is provided by the Income Tax Department. It shows details of tax deducted on your behalf by deductors, details on tax deposited by taxpayers and tax refund received in the financial year. This form can be accessed from the I-T Department’s website. Learn how to access your Form 26AS.

Section 80 Investments

Section 80C investment documents. The investment made under PPF, NSC, ULIPS, ELSS, LIC qualify for deductions under Section 80C. Make sure you have the slips, receipts of all the investment made for tax saving purpose. Also, these documents should be preserved for a couple of years for the safe side.

Documents Required to Claim the Following Expenses as Deductions

Keep these documents at hand to claim the following expenses as deductions :

  • Your contribution to Provident Fund
  • Your children’s school tuition fees
  • Life insurance premium payment
  • Stamp-duty and registration charges
  • Principal repayment on your home loan
  • Equity Linked Savings Scheme/Mutual funds investment
  • The maximum amount that can be claimed under Section 80C is Rs 1.5 lakhs.

Click here to see the detailed list of all the deductions available under Section 80. To know more about how to claim deductions against your home loan, Click here.

Other Investment Documents

  • Interest paid on housing loan: Interest on a housing loan is eligible for tax saving up to Rs 2,00,000. This is for a self-occupied house. For let out or deemed let out property, there is no limit of interest on housing loan.

From FY 2017-18, the total loss from house property available for set off against other income is capped at Rs 2 lakhs and therefore, interest on housing loan is eligible for tax saving up to Rs 2,00,000 for let out a property as well.

  • Education loan interest payments.
  • Stock trading statement: The stock trades that were made during the year may be taxed under Capital Gain.

Documents Required for Income Tax Returns Filing

The income tax return you file is an ‘annexure less’ return, i.e. no documents or proofs are required to be attached with the returns. The Income Tax Act specifies obtaining certificates and proofs to claim deductions, which makes it ambiguous for the taxpayers as to whom they must hand over those certificates and proofs. 

The taxpayers must preserve those certificates and receipts for future references and need not attach or send them to anyone. In case an assessing officer (AO) sends a notice asking for documents or clarification about the transactions mentioned in the returns, the taxpayer will have to submit the proofs to the AO.

FAQs

Is a PAN Card required to file income tax returns now?

According to the most recent regulation starting from the fiscal year 2021-22, individuals can file their income tax returns by using their PAN or Aadhar numbers interchangeably.

Can ITR be filed without Form 16?

In the past, Form 16 was a fundamental document for salaried employees when filing their income tax returns (ITR). It was considered essential, and most salaried employees relied on it for ITR filing. However, even if you don't possess Form 16, several alternative documents can be utilised as a reference point for filing ITR. Furthermore, platforms like Tax2win assist you in filing your ITR without Form 16. All you need is a basic understanding of your income and other earnings details.

Does any document need to be provided claiming section 80DD in ITR?

You must provide a disability or severe disability certificate only if specifically requested by the Income Tax Department. You may not need to submit this certificate when filing your returns.

Do we need to produce documents when filing returns?

There is generally no requirement to present documents during the filing of tax returns. Documents are usually only required to be submitted if the return is chosen for scrutiny by the tax authorities. In such cases, the documents can be uploaded on the Income Tax Portal under the e-proceedings tab.

Which documents need to be produced to file ITR for agricultural income?

When it comes to filing returns for agricultural income, typically, no documents are required. However, in the case of exempt agricultural income, the taxpayer must provide details in Schedule EI (Exempt Income) of the income tax return form. This ensures that the exempt agricultural income is properly accounted for in the return.

Do we need a bank statement to file for ITR?

When filing your income tax return (ITR), you typically need to provide specific bank details, including your account number, IFSC code, and the bank's name. However, a bank statement may be required in certain situations, such as when determining interest income or other income credited to your bank account. The bank statement helps in accurately reporting and assessing such income sources.

According to the most recent regulation starting from the fiscal year 2021-22, individuals can file their income tax returns by using their PAN or Aadhar numbers interchangeably.

Related Articles

How to file the income tax return

How to view and download Form 26AS

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