Public Checklist: First-Time ITR Filing for Salaried Employees

First-Time ITR Filing for Salaried Employees

Created by Cheli

Step-by-step guide to file Income Tax Return without a chartered accountant, including required forms, verification points, and common pitfalls.

25 Items
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Published May 17, 2026
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Checklist Items (25)

Gather Personal & PAN Details

Collect your PAN card, Aadhaar number, and bank account details for refunds.

Verify PAN status

Ensure PAN is active on the Income Tax e‑filing portal.

Link Aadhaar to PAN

If not linked, complete the linking process to avoid rejection.

Collect Salary & Tax Documents

Obtain all salary-related proofs for the financial year.

Form 16 from employer

Ensure it includes gross salary, TDS, and deductions.

Form 16A/16B (if any)

For TDS on interest, rent, or other incomes.

Bank interest certificates

Collect statements showing interest earned on savings and fixed deposits.

Proof of deductions (section 80C, 80D, etc.)

Gather receipts for life insurance, PF, ELSS, medical insurance, education loan interest, etc.

Choose Filing Mode

Select the most convenient method for a first‑time filer.

Online via e‑filing portal

Recommended for speed and automatic verification.

Offline utility (JSON/Excel)

Download ITR‑1 utility, fill offline, and upload.

Select Correct ITR Form

For salaried individuals with only salary, one house property, and few other incomes, use ITR‑1 (Sahaj).

Confirm eligibility for ITR‑1

No capital gains, business income, or more than one house property.

Download ITR‑1 utility (if offline)

Choose the latest version for the assessment year.

Fill ITR‑1 Sections

Enter details systematically to avoid errors.

Personal Information

Enter PAN, name, DOB, address, and filing status.

Salary Details

Copy figures from Form 16: gross salary, exempt allowances, and TDS.

Other Income

Report interest from savings (Section 80TTA) and fixed deposits.

Deductions Under Chapter VI‑A

Enter amounts for 80C, 80D, 80G, 80E, etc., with supporting proofs ready.

Tax Computation & Verification

Check total tax, TDS, and payable/refundable amount.

Validate, Pay & Submit

Final checks and submission steps.

Run utility's validation

Fix any error codes before proceeding.

Cross‑check TDS with Form 26AS

Log in to the TRACES portal and confirm TDS entries match Form 16.

Pay any additional tax

Use Net Banking, NEFT/RTGS, or UPI to pay via challan 280.

E‑verify return

Choose Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or EVC for instant verification.

Save acknowledgement (ITR‑V)

Download PDF; keep it for records and future reference.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Checklist of frequent errors and how to prevent them.

Mismatch between Form 16 and Form 26AS

Reconcile differences before filing; request employer corrections if needed.

Incorrect bank account for refund

Double‑check IFSC and account number; errors cause refund delays.

Omitting deductions

Ensure all eligible 80C/80D proofs are entered; use maximum limits.

Filing wrong ITR form

Verify eligibility criteria; using ITR‑1 for capital gains leads to rejection.

Missing signature in offline filing

If uploading a signed XML, include DSC signature; otherwise e‑verify.

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