ITR Filing Checklist for Salaried Employees 2026 — Documents, Steps, Deadline

Filing ITR as a salaried employee is straightforward if you have the right documents. Here is the complete checklist for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27).

Documents Checklist

Mandatory Documents

• Form 16 from employer (Part A + Part B) — issued by June 15, 2026
• Form 26AS — download from incometax.gov.in
• AIS (Annual Information Statement) — download from incometax.gov.in
• PAN card
• Aadhaar card (linked to PAN)
• Bank account details (account number + IFSC for refund)

For Deductions (Old Regime)

• Investment proofs (80C): PPF passbook, ELSS statement, LIC premium receipt, home loan principal certificate
• Health insurance premium receipt (80D)
• Rent receipts (if claiming HRA) — monthly receipts + landlord PAN if rent > ₹1L/year
• Home loan interest certificate (Section 24b)
• NPS contribution statement (80CCD(1B))
• Education loan interest certificate (80E)

For Additional Income

• Capital gains statement from broker (if you sold stocks/MF)
• Bank FD interest certificate (if FD interest > ₹40,000)
• Rental income details (if you have rental property)

Step-by-Step Filing Process

Step 1: Download and Verify Documents (June 15 – July 10)

1. Get Form 16 from employer
2. Download Form 26AS and AIS from IT portal
3. Cross-check TDS in Form 16 with Form 26AS — they must match
4. Check AIS for any income you may have missed (FD interest, dividends, capital gains)

Step 2: Choose Tax Regime (Before Filing)

Use the ITR Tax Calculator to compare old vs new regime with your actual numbers. The new regime is better for most salaried employees with limited deductions.

Step 3: File ITR Online (July 10 – July 25)

1. Login to incometax.gov.in
2. Go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return
3. Select AY 2026-27 and ITR-1 (or ITR-2 if applicable)
4. Verify pre-filled data from Form 16 and AIS
5. Enter any additional income not pre-filled
6. Claim deductions (old regime only)
7. Review tax computation
8. Submit

Step 4: E-Verify (Same Day)

E-verify immediately after filing using Aadhaar OTP or net banking. Do not wait — unverified returns are invalid.

Which ITR Form?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not checking AIS — FD interest, dividends, and capital gains are pre-filled in AIS. Missing them triggers a 143(1) notice.
2. Wrong assessment year — AY 2026-27 is for FY 2025-26 income.
3. Not e-verifying — Unverified returns are treated as not filed.
4. Claiming HRA under new regime — HRA is only available under old regime.
5. Not reporting employer's NPS contribution — It is in Form 16 and must be reported.
6. Missing Form 16 from previous employer — If you changed jobs, get Form 16 from both employers.

Deadline

July 31, 2026 for ITR-1 and ITR-2.

File before July 15 to avoid portal congestion. The IT portal gets extremely slow in the last two weeks of July.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file ITR if my employer deducts TDS?

Yes. TDS deduction does not exempt you from filing ITR. You must file if your income exceeds the basic exemption limit.

What if I have not received Form 16?

Your employer must issue Form 16 by June 15. If they have not, request it formally. You can still file using Form 26AS and salary slips.

Can I file ITR-1 if I have FD interest?

Yes. FD interest is reported under "Income from Other Sources" in ITR-1. However, if FD interest is very high and pushes your total income above ₹50L, you need ITR-2.

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