Period check: AY 2026–27 concerns FY 2025–26 under the 1961 Act. Tax Year 2026–27 concerns April 2026–March 2027 under the 2025 Act. Familiar old section names below are explanatory labels, not current filing references.
Choose the income period before a form
AY 2026–27 relates to FY 2025–26. The new Tax Year 2026–27 is a later income period ending March 2027. Do not treat filing an AY 2026–27 return as filing a return for income earned throughout April 2026–March 2027. Use the official portal's available forms and guidance for the selected period.
Reconcile records
Collect salary certificates, tax-credit statements, bank interest, other income and deduction evidence. Reconcile the reported salary and withholding against employer records. A tax deducted in an earlier income period does not become a new-period credit merely because its deposit occurred after April 2026.
Select a form from current eligibility
The right form depends on residency, income sources, capital gains, assets and other conditions. Do not choose a form solely because you are salaried. Read the Department's current form eligibility and use the utility for the exact AY or Tax Year shown.
Verify regime and deductions
Check the applicable regime, eligible exemptions and deductions, and taxes already paid. The salary and TDS calculator helps inspect a salary-only estimate but does not compute every return schedule, foreign income or special-rate capital gain.
Submit and retain acknowledgement
Follow the official validation, payment if required, submission and verification process. Retain the acknowledgement and review later communications. This guide does not promise a future form, screenshot layout or filing deadline; verify the current portal notice and any applicable extension before filing.
Official sources and scope
Source review: 2026-10-08. Check the relevant notification and your own records before filing or settling an entitlement.