Income tax e-filing portal: How to track status, submit your income tax return

Taxpayers are advised to submit their income tax return (ITR) as soon as possible. With only two days left for the September 15 deadline, collect all the important documents and file your returns to avoid penalties. The income tax return (ITR) filing deadline is less than two days away. For the assessment year 2025-26 (AY26), the due date for filing ITR was extended to September 15, from July 31, as there were many changes in the ITR forms this year. Nearly 6 crore ITRs have already been filed as of September 12, according to the IT department data. If you haven’t filed it yet, make sure you do it in the next two days to avoid penalties and charges and missing out on many benefits. Here is how you can file your ITR on the e-filing portal and check the status afterwards: Filing ITR on e-filing portal Step 1: Download Form 26AS and AIS from the e-filing portal and keep all other relevant documents (like PAN, Aadhaar card, rent receipts, etc) handy Step 2: Go to incometax.gov.in and log in with your PAN/Aadhaar and password. You can also do this via your bank’s NetBanking. Step 3: Navigate to the e-file section and choose File Income Tax Return Step 4: Select the assessment year 2025-26 Note: If you wish to file under the old tax regime, ensure you choose it by opting out of the new regime on the portal. The default regime is the new regime. Step 5: Choose the relevant ITR form. You can take the help of the guidelines available on the e-filing portal to determine the form you need to file. Step 6: Review and verify all the information in various schedules. All details, including personal information, salary details, TDS, etc., would be pre-filled. Verify and confirm. Step 7: Choose the deductions/exemptions available to you as per your regime. Step 8: Correct errors (if any). Submit. Don’t forget to e-verify your return. Without e-verification, the process remains incomplete, and if you fail to verify within 30 days, your ITR will become invalid, and you will have to file again. Checking ITR status Step 1: Log in to the e-filing portal Step 2: Go to the e-file section. Under Income Tax Returns, choose View Filed Returns. Step 3: On the View Filed Returns page, you can use the Filter option to choose the ITR by Assessment Year or Filing Type Step 4: Click on View Details. Here you can see all the details and your return’s life cycle, including whether there is any action pending from your side. Taxpayers are advised to file their ITR before September 15 to receive their refunds and avoid any charges.