Checked against the Income-tax Act
Plain-language answers on filing your ITR — forms, deductions, the two regimes, AIS, refunds and notices. Every guide is checked against the Income-tax Act and official CBDT sources before it is published.
New to filing?
ITR filing basics
You must file an income tax return if your income before deductions is above the basic exemption limit, or if certain conditions apply, such as large TDS. Here is how to check, and why filing can help even when it is optional.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR forms: which one to file
ITR-1 is for simple salary and interest income, ITR-2 adds capital gains and more than one house, ITR-3 is for business with books, and ITR-4 is for presumptive income. Use this guide to pick the right form.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
A tax year is the 12 months from 1 April in which you earned your income, such as 2025-26. You file the return after that year ends. Learn how it works, which year you are filing for, and why the Income-tax Act, 2025 uses one single term.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Tax regimes, slabs and rates
The new regime has lower rates and a higher rebate but allows very few deductions. The old regime has higher rates but lets you claim deductions like 80C, 80D and home loan interest. Compare slabs, deductions and examples.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
TDS, TCS, AIS, Form 26AS and Form 168
Newest guideAIS is the Income Tax Department's complete record of income and transactions reported against your PAN by banks, employers, brokers and others. Learn what it contains, how it differs from TIS, and how to correct wrong entries.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
Missing the ITR due date does not close the door. You can still file a belated return, but you may pay a late fee and interest, and you lose the old regime and most loss carry-forwards. Here is exactly what changes and what to do.
5 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Capital gains and investments
Gains on listed shares are short-term if sold within 12 months and long-term after that. Short-term gains are taxed at 20% and long-term gains at 12.5% above ₹1,25,000. Intraday and F&O are taxed as business income.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Tax regimes, slabs and rates
The standard deduction cuts your taxable salary or pension without any proof. It is ₹50,000 in the old regime and ₹75,000 in the new regime on the 2025-26 rules. Learn who gets it and how it interacts with other deductions.
3 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Deductions and exemptions
Section 80D lets you deduct health insurance premiums for yourself, your family and your parents. Learn the limits (₹25,000 and ₹50,000), the ₹5,000 for a preventive check-up within them, the ₹1,00,000 overall cap and the regime rule.
3 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Deductions and exemptions
Section 80C lets you deduct up to ₹1,50,000 a year for specified savings and payments, but only in the old tax regime. See what the cap includes, which investments and payments qualify, and the details you must report for each.
3 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Tax regimes, slabs and rates
The section 87A rebate can reduce your tax to nil. In the new regime it covers income up to ₹12 lakh, with marginal relief just above. In the old regime it covers income up to ₹5 lakh. Learn the limits and what it does not cover.
3 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Special taxpayers and life situations
Senior citizens get a higher exemption limit, extra health insurance and interest deductions in the old regime, and some may not need to file. Learn the age bands, slabs, deductions, which form to use and what to watch for.
5 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Special taxpayers and life situations
Pension is taxed as salary, with a standard deduction. Family pension is taxed as other income with its own deduction. Senior citizens get a higher exemption in the old regime and a savings interest deduction. See which ITR form to use and what to check.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
For the tax year 2026-27 the usual ITR due date is 31-Jul-2027 for most individuals, with later dates for some business cases and audit cases. Here are all key dates, plus the late fee and interest if you miss them.
5 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR forms: which one to file
ITR-1 (Sahaj) is the simplest return form, for resident individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh from salary, one house, interest and small capital gains. Check the conditions and see how to fill it.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Tax regimes, slabs and rates
The new regime slabs run from nil up to ₹4 lakh to 30% above ₹24 lakh, with a rebate that makes income up to ₹12 lakh tax free. See the slab table, the rebate, the standard deduction, surcharge and cess, plus tax at common salaries.
3 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Refunds, e-verification, notices and corrections
Your refund moves through four stages: filed, verified, processed and refund issued. Learn how to check each stage, what interest you earn on a refund, and the usual reasons a refund is delayed.
5 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Salary and employment
Form 16 is the TDS certificate your employer gives you for salary. Learn what Part A and Part B show, which lines matter when you file, and how to check Form 16 against your AIS and Form 26AS.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
You can file your income tax return entirely from a phone. Here is what to keep ready, the steps in order, how to e-verify with an Aadhaar OTP, and how to avoid common slips on a small screen.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Business, professionals and freelancers
Creator income from YouTube, brand deals and sponsorships is taxed as business or professional income. Learn how presumptive taxation (50% under 44ADA), ITR-3 and ITR-4, TDS from brands, and the dates work.
5 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Salary and employment
A salaried person needs Form 16, the AIS and Form 26AS or Form 168 to file. Learn how salary income is worked out, which form and regime to choose, what to check against the department's records and how to finish by e-verifying.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
Filing your income tax return online takes eight steps: check if you must file, gather your documents, pick the right ITR form and tax regime, compute your tax, submit, and e-verify within 30 days.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Refunds, e-verification, notices and corrections
You must e-verify your income tax return within 30 days of filing, or it is treated as never filed. Learn the e-verification methods, including Aadhaar OTP, and what to do if you miss the deadline.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
ITR filing basics
After you file, three things matter: was the return filed, was it e-verified within 30 days, and has it been processed. Here is how to check each, and what each status means.
4 min readUpdated 26-Oct-2026
Each guide is written in plain language from the Income-tax Act itself.
The TaxCare editorial team checks every guide against the Income-tax Act and official CBDT sources before it is published.
Every guide shows the date it was last updated, so you can see how current it is.
TaxCare fetches your AIS and TDS from the Income Tax portal, checks every figure and files the return that saves you the most. 25% off your first filing.