ITR filing basics · Tax Year 2025-26
Common mistakes people make while filing ITR
Most ITR problems come from a short list: the wrong form, income missing from the return, TDS you cannot claim, wrong bank details, and forgetting to e-verify. Learn each mistake and how to avoid it.
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The mistakes that cause most trouble are: choosing the wrong ITR form, leaving out income the department already knows about, claiming TDS that is not in your statement, entering wrong bank details, picking a regime without comparing, and not e-verifying within 30 days. Each can be caught before you submit by comparing your return with your AIS and Form 26AS or Form 168.
The rules in this guide are those TaxCare applies for the tax year 2025-26. The tax year 2026-27 values are carried forward and are provisional.
1. Choosing the wrong ITR form
ITR-1 is only for resident individuals with total income up to ₹50 lakh, one house property, salary or pension and other sources, long-term capital gains on listed shares within ₹1,25,000, agricultural income up to ₹5,000, no loss to carry forward, and no foreign assets. Capital gains beyond that, a second house or a director role moves you to ITR-2. Business income moves you to ITR-3 or ITR-4.
Read which ITR form should I file. A wrong form can make the return defective.
2. Leaving out income the department knows about
Banks, employers, brokers and others report your income to the department. Savings interest, fixed deposit interest, dividends and share sales are the usual ones people forget. If your return shows less than the AIS, you may receive a notice. Check your AIS first. If an entry is wrong, give feedback on it instead of ignoring it.
3. Claiming TDS that is not in your statement
TDS credit comes from Form 26AS (up to the tax year 2025-26) or Form 168 (from 2026-27). If your employer deducted tax but did not deposit it or reported it under another PAN, the credit will not show. Claim only what appears there, and ask the deductor to correct the rest.
4. Not matching Form 16 with AIS
Your Form 16 and your AIS can show different salary or TDS. Do not file until you understand the gap. See Form 16 does not match AIS: what to do.
5. Wrong bank account for the refund
The refund goes to the account named in the return. A closed, wrong or unvalidated account makes the refund fail. Check the account number and IFSC, and make sure the account is validated on the portal before you file. See refund failed: bank account not validated.
6. Picking a regime without comparing
The new regime has lower rates and a rebate that makes tax nil up to ₹12 lakh of taxable income, but allows few deductions. The old regime allows 80C, 80D, home loan interest and others. Compare both with your numbers. See old vs new tax regime and is the new regime better for you.
7. Claiming deductions you cannot prove, or in the wrong regime
Deductions such as 80C and 80D are not allowed in the new regime. Keep premium receipts, loan interest certificates and donation receipts. Also respect the caps: 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD(1) together are limited to ₹1,50,000.
8. Forgetting the second employer or the old employer
If you changed jobs, your income and TDS from both employers go in one return. See how to file ITR with multiple Form 16s.
9. Filing late without knowing the cost
A late return costs a fee of up to ₹5,000, interest of 1% per month on unpaid tax, and the old regime. See what happens if you miss the ITR due date.
10. Not e-verifying
This is the costliest mistake. A return is complete only after e-verification, which must be done within 30 days of filing. An unverified return is treated as never filed, the refund does not move, and you may be filing late again. An Aadhaar OTP is usually the quickest way. See how to e-verify your ITR.
11. Not keeping the acknowledgement
Save the acknowledgement number and the filed return. You need the 15-digit acknowledgement number to revise the return later.
12. Not revising when you find a mistake
If you find an error after filing, a revised return fixes it. Do it early: in TaxCare's rules the window runs to 31 March after the tax year, with a ₹5,000 fee (₹1,000 up to ₹5,00,000 income) if you revise after 31 December.
These are the figures for the tax year 2025-26. TaxCare's figures for 2026-27 are provisional, so check the window again before you rely on it for that year.
A short checklist before you submit
- The form fits your income.
- Salary, interest, dividends and capital gains match your AIS, or the difference is explained.
- TDS matches Form 26AS or Form 168.
- The regime is the lower tax for you.
- The bank account is correct and validated.
- You can e-verify right away.
How TaxCare helps
TaxCare picks the form from your data, brings in your salary, TDS and other income from the portal, and checks them against your AIS and Form 26AS or Form 168. It compares both regimes, shows the gaps it finds, and does not submit anything until you approve. After filing it reminds you to e-verify. For doubtful cases you can ask a Tax Expert. See pricing.
This guide gives general information and is not professional tax advice.
Questions on this topic
What is the most common ITR mistake?
Not e-verifying. A return that is not e-verified within 30 days is treated as never filed, and any refund is not processed.
Can I fix a mistake after filing?
Usually yes, with a revised return. In TaxCare's rules, a return for the tax year 2025-26 can be revised until 31 March after the tax year, with a fee if you revise after 31 December.
What happens if I leave out some income?
The department compares your return with its records. If your return shows less income than the AIS, you may get a notice. Report the income, or give feedback on the AIS entry if it is wrong.
Does filing the wrong ITR form matter?
Yes. The return can be treated as defective and you may be asked to file the right form.
Ready to file your ITR?
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