Income Tax Return Forms : How to Fill & Download

Updated: 28-04-2025 07:04:09 AM

Income Tax Return forms are tax authority-approved document formats used to file income tax returns for all income earned during a particular financial year. The forms can be classified into two broad categories – those applicable to individuals and those applicable to firms and companies.

Types of Income Tax Return (ITR) Forms

As per the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Forms ITR 1, ITR 2, ITR 3, and ITR 4 apply to individuals. On the other hand, ITR 5, ITR 6 and ITR 7 apply to firms and companies. Use the Income Tax Calendar to know about the due dates of all ITR forms. Let us understand about some of the most important Income Tax Forms:

1) ITR 1 – Sahaj

Form ITR 1, also known as SAHAJ, is applicable only to individuals. This form can be used in the following cases:

• When individuals earn income through a salary or a pension
• When individuals earn income through a single house property (except when the loss is carried forward from the previous year)
• When individuals earn income from other sources, like dividends, interest, etc.

Also Read: ITR 1 – Sahaj

ITR -1 is not applicable in the following cases:

• Individuals having multiple house properties
• Individuals having income from a business or profession
• When the total income of individuals includes income/loss from capital gains
• When the income of individuals includes winnings from the lottery or horse racing
• When the agricultural income of an individual exceeds Rs. 5,000
• Individuals who earn income from any country outside India
• When an individual is claiming Double Taxation Relief under Section 90/90A/91 of the IT Act
• A resident is having any asset (including a financial interest in any entity) located outside India or signing authority in any account located outside India
• The tax assessee is a company director
• The tax assessee has investments in unlisted equity shares

If the income of the spouse or minor child is to be clubbed with the income of an individual, he/she can file the return in ITR 1 if such income falls under the above applicable criteria.

2) ITR 2

Individuals or HUFs can use this form in the following cases:

• When there is an income from a salary/ pension
• When an individual/ HUF has income from house property
• When the total income of individuals/ HUFs includes income from capital gains
• When the total income of an individual/ HUF includes income from other sources, including windfall income, such as winning of lottery or horse racing

ITR Form 2 cannot be used if the tax assessee has income from business or profession.

In case the income of a spouse or a minor child is to be clubbed in the income of an individual, he can file a return in ITR 2 if such income falls under the above criteria.

Read in Detail: ITR 2

3) ITR 3

This form is applicable to individuals/HUFs having income from a business/profession. This form can be used by individuals or HUFs in following cases:

• When there is an income from a salary/pension
• When an individual/HUF has income from house property
• When there is income from a business or profession of the partnership firm (including LLP) in which an individual/HUF is a partner. Such income may include any income like salary, bonus, interest, commission or remuneration from the firm.
• When the total income of an individual/HUF exceeds Rs. 50 lakh for the financial year.
• When the total income of individuals/HUFs includes income/loss from capital gains
• When the total income of an individual/HUF includes income from other sources, including windfall income, like winning lottery or horse racing
• For businesses with a presumptive turnover of over Rs. 2 crore annually.

This form shall be applicable even if the partner in the partnership firm does not have any income in the form of salary, remuneration, etc., except the share of profit of the firm, which is exempt under Section 10(2A) of the Income Tax Act.

This form is not applicable when the total income of individuals/HUFs includes income from his/her proprietorship firm.

Suggested Read: ITR 3

4) ITR 4

Form ITR 4, also known as SUGAM, can be filed by individuals/HUFs and firms apart from LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) with income from business or profession. Consultants such as interior decorators, architects, technical or professional consultants who charge money for professional advice can also opt for ITR Form 4. ITR 4 is also applicable to those opting for income tax computation under Section 44AD, Section 44ADA or Section 44AE.

ITR 4 is not applicable in the following cases:

• Annual income of the assessee is more than Rs. 50 lakh.
• The income tax assessee is a company director.
• The income tax assessee is invested in unlisted equity shares.

Read in Detail: ITR 4

5) ITR 5

This ITR form is to be used by the following entities for filing their Income Tax Return:

• Firms
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
• Body of Individuals (BOIs)
• Association of Persons (AOPs)
• Co-operative Societies
• Artificial Judicial People
• Local Authorities

Also Read: ITR 5

6) ITR 6

Form ITR 6 applies to companies.

• All the companies, except those claiming exemption as per Section 11 are required to file their returns in Form ITR 6.
• Companies that claim exemption under Section 11 are those companies that have income from property held for charitable or religious purposes.
• All the companies eligible to file ITR 6 need to file their returns electronically and sign through a digital signature.

Read in Detail: ITR 6

7) ITR 7

Persons who have to file their returns under Section 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C), 139 (4D), 139 (4E) or 139(4F) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 need to use form ITR 7. The following categories are required to furnish their return under the aforesaid sections:

• Section 139(4A): The ITR under this section applies to every person, individual or company who is in receipt of income derived from property held under trust or other legal obligation wholly for charitable or religious purposes or in part only for such purposes. All people falling under the aforesaid category shall furnish a return in ITR 7, if the total income without giving effect to the provisions of sections 11 and 12 exceeds the maximum amount that is not chargeable to income tax.
• Section 139(4B): Return u/s 139(4B) is required to be furnished by any political party, if the total income without giving effect to the provisions of section 13A exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income tax.
• Section 139(4C): Following entities fall under Section 139(4C) which are required to file return in the Form 7
  • Research association referred to in Section 10(21)
  • News agency referred to in Section 10(22B)
  • Association or institution referred to in Section 10(23A)
  • Institution referred to in Section 10(23B)
  • Any fund, university, education institution, or hospital, referred to in Section 10(23C)
  • Mutual Fund referred to in Section 10(23D)
  • Securitisation trust referred to in Section 10(23DA)
  • Venture capital company or venture capital fund referred to in Section 10(23FB)
  • Trade union or association referred to in Section 10(24)(a) or Section 10(23)(b)
  • Body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission (by whatever name called) referred to in Section 10(46)
  • Infrastructure debt fund referred to in Section 10(47)
• Section 139(4D): Every university, college or other institution which is not required to furnish a return of income or loss under any other provision of this section shall furnish the return in respect of its income under this section.
• Section 139(4E): Every business trust which is not required to furnish a return of income or loss under any other provision of this section shall furnish the return in respect of its income under this section.
• Section 139(4F): Every investment fund referred to in Section 115UB that is not required to furnish a return of income or loss under any other provision of this section shall furnish the return in respect of its income under this section.

Also Read: ITR 7

How to Download ITR Forms

You can download ITR Forms for free from the Income Tax Department’s official website.

For downloading Form ITR 1, a taxpayer needs to follow the steps mentioned below:  

Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax Website

Step 2: Click “Offline Utilities” under Download section

Step 3: Click “Income Tax Return Preparation Utilities”

Step 4: Choose your Assessment Year

Step 5: Click on “Excel Utility” for filling the details by hand under the relevant ITR column and download the file

Step 6: Extract the downloaded file and fill in the required details

Why is it important to file ITR?

All individuals and entities must file ITR, who earn a taxable income in India. It informs the Income Tax Department about the taxes payable and the amount paid by you as income tax.

• This legal document acts as proof that you have paid all due taxes.
• It can also be used for availing credit, such as a personal loan or a credit card.
• It can also be used to claim a refund of extra taxes paid during the financial year.

Who needs to file ITR?

• All individuals earning an income that can be taxed need to file an ITR
• Any entity carrying out financial activities in India is liable to file ITR
• Companies, firms, trusts, HUFs, LLPs, etc., also need to file ITR
• Individuals having an income below the taxable income threshold shall file ITR so that they have a valid document proof of income when they need one at the time of Visa application or availing credit in future.

ITR Forms FAQs

Q. What happens if I choose the wrong ITR form?

Ans: The Income Tax Department may treat your return as defective if you file a wrong ITR form. Thus, you will have to file a fresh form again, delaying the processing of ITR and affecting your tax refund or compliance.

Q. Who should file ITR-1 and who should avoid it?

Ans: Residents, other than not ordinarily resident, having a total income up to Rs. 50 lakh from salary, one house property, family pension, and other sources (like interest) should file ITR1.
Individual taxpayers having income components of capital gains, income from business/profession, multiple house properties, foreign assets/income, or agricultural income over Rs. 5,000 should avoid filing ITR 1.

Q. Can ITR-2 be filed by freelancers?

Ans: No, freelancers should not file ITR-2. Freelance taxpayers earning income from their work, business or profession, should file ITR-3 or ITR-4 when opting for presumptive taxation under Section 44 ADA.

Q. Can a salaried individual file ITR-4 under the presumptive scheme?

Ans: No, a salaried individual cannot file ITR-4 just for salary income. ITR-4 is meant for those having business or professional income under the presumptive taxation scheme, not for pure salary earners.

Q. How to report capital gains in ITR-3?

Ans: In ITR-3, one can report capital gains under the ‘Capital Gains’ schedule by selecting the correct type (short-term or long-term), entering sale and purchase details, and calculating gains after applying exemptions or deductions if eligible.