How to file Income Tax Return using ITR Form-1 (Sahaj): Step-by-step guide

Produced by: Hitansh Gaur
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh

Taxpayers need to file income tax returns at the end of each financial year. To file it with ITR Form-1 (Sahaj) certain requirements are needed to be fulfilled

Income Tax Return

For filing ITR-1 forms, a taxpayer should have a registered user ID, an active Permanent Account Number and the PAN should be linked to his/her Aadhar. Other requirements are at least one pre-validated bank account, which is nominated for refund, a valid mobile number linked with the person’s Aadhaar/e-filing portal/bank account/NSDL/CDSL

Requirements for ITR Form-1

A person needs to file five sections under ITR-1 which are - personal information, gross total income, total deductions, tax paid, and total tax liability

Sections under ITR Form-1

Step 1: Using the registered ID and password, log in to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal 
Step 2: Find the option called e-File on the dashboard and do the following: e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return. Select the Assessment Year as 2023-24, click Continue

Step-by-step guide for ITR
filing using  ITR Form-1

Step 3: Select the Online mode of filing and click Proceed. In case of an already filed Income Tax Return which is pending for submission, click Resume Filing 
Step 4: If you want to discard the saved return and start preparing a new one, click Start New Filing. Select the Status which is applicable to you, click Continue

Select the mode of filing

Step 5: You will get two options for selecting the type of Income Tax Return. If you are not sure which ITR to file, select ‘Help Me’ and click Proceed to decide which ITR Form to use. After you select the correct ITR form, proceed with the filing of your Income Tax Return. If you already know which ITR to file then select the option - "I know which ITR Form I need to file". Select the applicable Income Tax Return form and click Proceed with ITR

Choosing the correct
ITR form

Step 6: After selecting the ITR form, note down the list of documents needed and then click ‘Let’s Get Started’ 
Step 7: Tick the checkboxes as per your applicability and click Continue. Review the pre-filled data carefully before filling in additional data if needed. Click ‘Confirm’ at the end of each section

Required Documents for
ITR, Review info

Step 8: Now, enter the income and deduction details in their respective sections. Complete and confirm all the sections of the form then click Proceed

ITR-1 (Sahaj) Filing:
Income and Deductions

Step 9: Your tax return or liability will now be calculated. There are three possible outcomes - first, you’ll have a tax liability, in which case you’ll see the option of ‘Pay Now’ and ‘Pay Later’. Second outcome can be that you have no tax liability to pay after computation. The third possibility can be that you are eligible for a refund. Both, in case of no liability or refund, you’ll be taken to ‘Preview and Submit Your Return’ page

ITR Filing: Tax Calculation- Liability or Refund

Step 10: Now, you’ll see the ‘Preview and Submit’ page. Enter Place, select the declaration checkbox then click ‘Proceed to Validation’ 
Step 11: After validating, you’ll again see the ‘Preview and Submit’ page. Now, click on the option ‘Proceed to Verification’

ITR Filing: Preview, Validate

Step 11: Select the preferred option for verification and click Continue. Select the e-Verify option to e-Verify your ITR and then click Continue 
Step 12: Once your return is e-verified, you will see a success message displaying the Transaction ID and Acknowledgement Number

ITR Filing: E-Verification,
Acknowledgement Number