Income-tax returns: The Income-Tax Department has enabled Excel Utility for ITR-1 (Sahaj), ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4 (Sugam) online forms for taxpayers on its e-filing portal for financial year 2025-26 (FY26) i.e. assessment year 2026-27 (AY27).
Further, all for FY26 / AY27 have been notified by the department. You can file returns by logging into the e-filing portal with your User ID and password.
To avail excel utility, can visit the porta, download the required ITR form, fill them out, generate a JSON file, and upload it online after proper verification and cross-checking of details. Availability of excel utility means that you can prepare your returns offline before uploading them digitally.
ITR-4 (Sugam): When should taxpayers use it?
Also known as , ITR-4 is applicable for an Individual or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), who is resident other than not ordinarily Resident or a Resident Firm (other than LLP) having total income up to ₹50 lakh and having income from business or profession which is computed on a presumptive basis (under sections 44AD / 44ADA / 44AE of Income Tax Act,1961) and income from any of the following sources:
- Salary or pension
- Other sources (Interest, Family Pension, Dividend etc.)
- Agricultural Income up to ₹ 5,000
- Capital Gain Income u/s 112A of Act,1961 up to up to ₹1,25,000
Other sources which include interest from savings account, interest from deposit (bank/ post office / cooperative society), interest from income tax refund, family pension, interest received on enhanced compensation and any other interest income (such as interest from unsecured loan).
What are the key changes in ITR-4 form for AY27?
- Foreign Asset Reporting: Requirements for reporting foreign retirement benefits have been removed.
- Investment disclosure compulsory: Taxpayers who choose the must report their investments held up to March 31, 2026.
- Two House Properties: Taxpayers can now report income from up to two house properties in , rather than just one house property.
- Unrealised Rent Field: A new, specific field for “rent which cannot be realised” has been added, aiding taxpayers with rented properties.
Step-by-step guide to file new ITR-4
Collect all required documents such as bank statements, AIS/TIS, PAN, , and Form 26AS before starting the filing process.
2. Visit the Income e-Filing Portal and log in using your credentials.
3. Go to ‘e-File’ > ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘File Income Tax Return’.
4. Choose the correct Assessment Year (for example, AY 2026–27 for FY 2025–26) and select the ‘Online’ filing mode.
5. Check and confirm your general details, including personal profile, employment type, and business information.
6. Enter your income details based on the applicable presumptive taxation section:
Section 44AD: 8% or 6% of turnover
Section 44ADA: 50% of gross receipts
Section 44AE: For transport business taxpayers
7. Fill in eligible under sections like 80C, 80D, and others as applicable.
8. Review taxes already paid, including TDS, TCS, and Advance Tax, using Form 26AS and AIS.
9. Validate the to check for any errors. The portal will automatically calculate your tax liability.
10. If additional tax needs to be paid, click on ‘Pay Now’. If no tax is due, continue to the next step.
11. Submit the return and complete verification using OTP, Net Banking, or Electronic Verification Code (EVC).
12. After successful filing, download the ITR-V acknowledgement and keep it safely for future reference.