​ITR stands for Income Tax Return​. It is a prescribed form through which the particulars of income earned by a person in a financial year and taxes paid on such income are communicated to the Income-tax Department. It also allows carry -forward of loss and claim refund from income tax department.​Different forms of returns of income are prescribed for filing of returns for different Status and Nature of income. These forms can be downloaded from https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal

The Return Form can be filed with the Income-tax Department in any of the following ways, -

  (i) by furnishing the return in a paper form;

 (ii) by furnishing the return electronically under digital signature;

(iii) by transmitting the data in the return electronically under electronic verification code;

(iv) by transmitting the data in the return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the return in Return Form ITR-V;

Note

Where the return of income is filed in the manner given at (iv) without digital signature, then the taxpayer should take two printed copies of Form ITR-V. One copy of ITR-V, duly signed by the taxpayer, is to be sent (within the period specified in this regard, i.e., 120 days) by ordinary post or speed post to "Income-tax Department - CPC, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengalore-560100 (Karnataka). The other copy may be retained by the taxpayer for his record.

​​​ITR return forms are attachment less forms and, hence, the taxpayer is not required to attach any document (like proof of investment, TDS certificates, etc.) along with the return of income (whether filed manually or filed electronically). However, these documents should be retained by the taxpayer and should be produced before the tax authorities when demanded in situations like assessment, inquiry, etc.

As discussed above, no documents are to be attached along with the return of income, however, in case of a taxpayer who is required to furnish a report of audit under section​ 10(2​3C)(iv), 10(23C)(v), 10(23C)(vi), 10(23C)via), 10A, 10AA, 12A(1)(b), 44AB, 44DA, 50B, 80-IA, 80-IB, 80-IC, 80-ID, 80JJAA, 80LA, 92E, 115JB or 115VW​​​​ or to give a no​​​tice under section 11(2)(a) shall furnish it electronically on or before the date of filing the return of income.

​​​​Return Form ITR - 1 (SAHAJ) cannot be used by an individual:

   •  Who is a Non-resident or Not Ordinarily Resident

   •  Who is a Director of a company

   •  Whose total income exceeds Rs. 50 lakhs

   •  Who has income from more than 1 house property

   •  Who has held unlisted equity shares at any time during the previous year

   •  Who claims deduction under section 80QQB or section 80RRB in respect of royalty from patents or books

   •  Who is a person in whose case tax has been deducted under section 194N.

   •  Who is a person in whose case payment or deduction of tax has been deferred under section 191(2) or section 192(1C)

   •  Who claims deduction under section 10AA or Part-C of Chapter VI-A

   •  Who has brought forward loss or losses to be carried forward under any head

   •  Person claiming deduction under section 57 from income taxable under the head 'Other Sources'(other than deduction allowed from family pension)

   •  Who wants to claim relief under ​section 90 or section 91

   •  Who wants to claim credit of tax deducted at source in the hands of any other person.

   •  Who has any assets (including Financial Interest in an entity) located outside India.

   •  Who has signing authority in any account outside India

   •  Who has any income to be apportioned in accordance with provisions of section 5A

   •  Who has any of the following income:

   a)  Income from Business or Profession

   b)  Capital Gains

   c)  Income taxable under the head 'Other sources' which is taxable at special rate

   d)  Dividend income exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs taxable under section 115BBDA

   e)  Unexplained income (i.e., cash credit, unexplained investment, etc.) taxable at 60% under section 115BBE

   f)  Agricultural Income exceeding Rs. 5,000

   g)  Income from any source outside India

Form ITR - 2 cannot be used by an individual and HUF whose total income for the year includes income from profit and gains from business or profession and also having income in the nature of interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by him from partnership firm​

​​Form ITR – 3 can be used by an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family who is having income from profits and gains of business or profession.​​​ITR – 3 is also required to be filed by a person whose income is chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains ofbusiness or profession” is in the nature of interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by him from a partnership firm.

Form​ ITR – 3 cannot be used by any person other than an individual or a HUF. Further, an individual or a HUF not having income from business or profession cannot use​​ITR – 3.​​

​​​​​​Form ITR – 4 (SUGAM) can be u​sed by an Individual/HUF/Firm (Other than LLP)​ whose total income for the year includes:

(a) Business income computed as per the provisions of section 44AD or​44AE; or​;

(b) Income from Profession as computed as per the provisions of​44ADA; or

(c) Income from salary/pension; or

(d) Income from one house property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or

(e) Income from other sources (excluding winnings from lottery and income from race horses dividend income in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs or unexplained Income, etc. as referred to in section 115BBE)

Further, in a case where the income of another person like spouse, minor child, etc., is to be clubbed with the income of the taxpayer, this return form can be used where income to be clubbed falls in any of the above categories. ​

Form ITR – 4 (SUGAM) cannot be used by an individual/HUF:

• Who is a Non-resident or Not Ordinarily Resident

• Who is a Director of a company

• Whose total income exceeds Rs. 50 lakhs

• Who has income from more than one House Property

• Who has held unlisted equity shares at any time during the previous year

• Who claims deduction under section 80QQB or section 80RRB in respect of royalty from patent or books

• Who claims deduction under section 10AA or Part-C of Chapter VI-A

• Who has brought forward loss or losses to be carried forward under any head

• Who has income of the nature specified in section 17(2)(vi) on which tax is payable or deductible under section 191(2) or section 192(1C).

• Person claiming deduction under section 57 from income taxable under the head 'Other Sources' (other than deduction allowed from family pension)

• Who wants to claim relief under section 90 and section 91

• Who wants to claim credit of tax deducted at source in the hands of any other person.

• Who has any assets (including Financial Interest in an entity) located outside India.

• Who has signing authority in any account outside India

• Who has any income to be apportioned in accordance with provisions of section 5A

• Who has any of the following income:

a)  Income from Business or Profession

b)  Income from Business or ProfessionCapital Gains or Loss

c)  Income from Business or ProfessionIncome taxable under the head 'Other sources' which is taxable at special rate

d)  Income from Business or ProfessionDividend income exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs taxable under Section 115BBDA

e)  Income from Business or ProfessionUnexplained income (i.e., cash credit, unexplained investment, etc.) taxable at 60% under section 115BBE

f)  Income from Business or ProfessionAgricultural Income exceeding Rs. 5,000

g)  Income from Business or ProfessionIncome from any source outside India

h)  Income from Business or ProfessionIncome from speculative business and other special incomes.

i)  Income from Business or ProfessionIncome from agency business or commission or brokerage

In case the assesse keeps and maintains all books of accounts and other documents referred to in section 44AA, and also gets his accounts audited and obtains an audit report as per section 44AB, filling up the Form ITR – 4 (SUGAM) is not mandatory. In such a case, other regular return forms viz. Form ITR – 3 or Form ITR – 5, as applicable, should be used.

​​​Form​ ITR – 5 can be used by a person being a firm, LLP, AOP, BOI, Artificial Juridical Person (AJP) referred to in section 2(31)(vii), local authority referred to in section 2(31)(vi), representative assessee referred to in section 160(1)(iii) or (iv)​, cooperative society, society registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 or under any other law of any State, trust other than trusts eligible to file Form​ ITR – 7, estate of deceased person, estate of an insolvent, business trust referred to in section 139(4E) and investments fund referred to in section 139(4F).

​Form ITR – 5 cannot be used by, a person who is required to file the return of income under section 139(4A) or 139(4B) or 139(4C) or​139(​4D) (i.e., trusts, political party, institutions, colleges).

​​​​Form ITR – 6 can be used by a company, other than a company claiming exemption under section 11 (charitable/religious trust can claim exemption under section 11​).

​​​​​​Form ITR – 6 cannot be used by a company claiming exemption under section 11​ (charitable/religious trust can claim exemption under section 11).​

​​​Form I​TR – 7 can be used by persons including companies who are required to furnish return under section 139(4A) or section 139(4B)​ or section 139(4C) or section 139(4D) ​ (i.e., trusts, political party, institutions, colleges).

​​​​​​​Form ITR – 7 cannot be used by a person who is not required to furnish return under section 139(4A) or section 139(4B)​ or section 139(4C) or section 139(4D)  (i.e., trusts, political party, institutions, colleges). ​