For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), salaried employees with no capital gains file ITR-1; those with capital gains or multiple employers file ITR-2. The standard deduction is ₹75,000 under the new tax regime. Under Finance Act 2025, zero tax is payable up to ₹12 lakh income under the new regime. This checklist covers every document and verification step a CA needs before filing.
Related Reading
- Itr Filing Due Dates Fy 2025 26
- Section 87A Rebate Zero Tax Fy 2025 26
- Standard Deduction New Tax Regime Fy 2025 26
Before You File: The Complete Checklist
Most errors in salaried ITRs happen because a document was missed or a figure was not cross-checked. Run through this checklist before you (or your CA) files your return for FY 2025-26.
Identity and Login
- PAN card (PAN must be linked to Aadhaar — verify at incometax.gov.in)
- Aadhaar number (for OTP-based e-verification)
- Income tax portal login credentials (PAN + password)
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP)
Income Documents
- Form 16 Part A — issued by employer via TRACES; shows TDS deducted quarter-wise
- Form 16 Part B — salary breakup, exemptions, deductions your employer considered
- Form 16 from all employers — if you changed jobs during FY 2025-26, get Form 16 from each employer
- Salary slips — useful if Form 16 is delayed or for verifying monthly breakup
- Form 26AS — download from income tax portal; cross-check TDS with Form 16
- AIS (Annual Information Statement) — download from income tax portal; shows all income reported against your PAN including interest, dividends, capital gains
Other Income Sources
- Bank statements — to calculate interest income on savings and FDs; check all bank accounts
- FD interest certificates — issued by banks; often easier than computing from statements
- Dividend income statement — from your Demat account or Registrar; dividends above ₹5,000 from a company attract 10% TDS (Section 194)
- Rental income details — annual rent received, municipal taxes paid, home loan statement if applicable
- Any other income — income from part-time work, online platforms, freelance projects (if under ₹75L, may be declared under 44ADA in ITR-4 separately)
Capital Gains Documents (If You Traded)
- Equity capital gains statement — download from Zerodha / Groww / Angel One / your broker for FY 2025-26; shows STCG and LTCG scrip-wise
- Mutual fund capital gains statement — available from your AMC or CAMS/KFintech consolidated account statement
- Real estate sale documents — if you sold property; need purchase deed (for cost), sale deed, and indexed cost computation
- ESOP/RSU statements — if your employer granted ESOPs that vested/were exercised; perquisite value and sale gain both taxed differently
Deduction Proofs (Old Regime Only)
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- 80C proofs:
- EPF passbook / Form 12BB from employer
- PPF passbook showing contributions in FY 2025-26
- ELSS investment statement (Mutual Fund SIP or lump sum)
- LIC policy premium receipts
- Home loan principal repayment certificate from lender
- Children's tuition fee receipts
- NSC, SCSS, 5-year FD receipts
- 80D — health insurance: Premium payment receipt for self, spouse, children, and parents
- Home loan interest certificate: Annual statement from bank/NBFC showing principal + interest breakup for Section 24(b) — up to ₹2 lakh on self-occupied property
- HRA documents: Rent receipts with landlord signature and PAN (if annual rent exceeds ₹1 lakh)
- 80E education loan interest: Certificate from lending institution
- 80G donations: Receipts from eligible registered organisations with their 80G registration number
- NPS (Section 80CCD(1B)): NPS statement showing contribution in FY 2025-26 — up to ₹50,000 additional deduction
Tax Payment Records
- Advance tax challans — if you paid advance tax in June, September, December, or March; Challan 280 receipts
- Self-assessment tax challan — if you are paying tax before filing your ITR
- All tax payments appear in Form 26AS — cross-check challan details
Bank Account Details
- Account number and IFSC of the bank account where you want your refund credited
- Account must be pre-validated on the income tax portal (Settings → My Bank Accounts)
Key Pre-Filing Checks
- PAN–Aadhaar link is active (check on incometax.gov.in)
- TDS in Form 26AS matches Form 16 Part A — report any mismatch to your employer before filing
- All income in AIS is accounted for in your return — even if not taxable, it must be correctly reflected
- Choose the correct ITR form (ITR-1 vs ITR-2 if you have capital gains)
- Regime choice is correct — compute both if unsure
- Bank account is pre-validated for refund
After Filing
- E-verify within 30 days of submission (Aadhaar OTP is fastest)
- Save the ITR Acknowledgement (ITR-V) — you will receive it by email
- Check refund status after 10–30 days on the portal
File with a CA — Nothing Left to Chance
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important document a salaried employee needs for ITR filing?
Form 16 from the employer — specifically Part A (TDS summary) and Part B (income details including salary breakup, allowances, and deductions). Form 16 must be cross-checked against the AIS (Annual Information Statement) and Form 26AS before filing. Any mismatch between Form 16 and TDS reflected in Form 26AS needs to be resolved with the employer before filing.
What is the ITR filing due date for salaried employees in FY 2025-26?
31 July 2026. For employees who do not require a tax audit (most salaried individuals), this is the deadline to file without penalty. Filing after 31 July 2026 attracts a late fee of ₹5,000 (₹1,000 if income below ₹5 lakh) under Section 234F, plus interest on any unpaid tax under Section 234A.
Does switching employers during the year affect ITR filing?
Yes. If a client changed jobs during FY 2025-26, they will have two Form 16s — one from each employer. The new employer may not have accounted for the salary from the previous employer when computing TDS. CAs must aggregate both Form 16s, compute total taxable income, and check whether additional tax is due (or if a refund is owed).
What is the standard deduction for salaried employees in FY 2025-26?
₹75,000 under the new tax regime (Finance Act 2024) and ₹50,000 under the old tax regime. The standard deduction is available to all salaried employees and pensioners without any proof — it is deducted automatically before computing taxable salary.
Which ITR form should a salaried employee with mutual fund redemptions use?
ITR-2. Any capital gains — including mutual fund redemptions — disqualify ITR-1. Use ITR-2 to report both salary income and capital gains from MF redemptions. Equity MF LTCG goes in Schedule CG Part B(3) and must also be reported in Schedule 112A scrip-wise if LTCG is under Section 112A.
What should a CA verify in Form 26AS before filing ITR for a salaried client?
TDS deducted by employer (matches Form 16 Part A), any other TDS on bank interest or professional fees, advance tax payments (Challan 280), self-assessment tax paid, high-value transactions in the SFT section (property purchase, securities transactions), and the AIS for any income sources the client may have forgotten to disclose.