How to file your ITR-1 yourself on income tax e-filing portal: Complete guide

5 min read | Updated on June 28, 2025, 10:58 IST

SUMMARY

Filing a return by yourself on the e-filing portal is easy nowadays, especially for taxpayers using ITR-1. This form is also known as "Sahaj", which means simple. However, you should always consult a tax expert in case of any complication, confusion, or difficulty to ensure your returns are filed correctly.

Here's a self-filing guide for ITR-1. | Image source: Shutterstock

Taxpayers eligible for the ITR-1 form can now file their returns for AY 2025-26 (FY 2024-25) online, either through a tax-filing platform or directly on the ITR e-filing portal of the Income Tax department.

If your total income is below ₹50 lakh from sources such as salary, pension, one house, bank deposits, LTCG from equity up to ₹1.25 lakh, etc., then you can file your return with ITR-1.

However, there are more conditions for ITR-1 that we have explained in this article on who can use this form and who cannot.

Filing a return on the e-filing portal is easy nowadays, especially for taxpayers using the ITR-1. This form is also known as "Sahaj", which means simple.

The following is a self-filing guide for ITR-1 that you may use to file your returns quickly.

However, you should always consult a tax expert in case of any complication, confusion, or difficulty to ensure your returns are filed correctly.

How to file ITR-1 by yourself.

Hoping that you have checked your eligibility for ITR-1, you can now follow the steps below to file this return form by yourself on the e-filing portal.

Step 1: Log in to the e-filing portal using your user ID and password. Alternatively, you can also access the e-filing website through netbanking.

Step 2: On the dashboard, click on e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return.

Step 3: Select Assessment Year as 2025–26 and Mode of filling as Online, then click Continue

Step 4: If you have already filled the return and it is pending for submission, then you can click on "Resume Filing". You can also discard the saved return and start preparing the return afresh by clicking in "Start New Filing."

Step 5: Select status from Individual, HUF, or Others as applicable to you and click "Continue"

Step 6: Now select the ITR form "ITR-1" and click "Proceed with ITR-1."

Step 7: After selecting the ITR form, note the list of documents needed as shown in a window, and click on "Let’s Get Started."

Step 8: Now select the checkbox applicable to you regarding the reason for filing ITR and click "Continue."

Step 9: Now review your pre-filled data and edit it if necessary. Click "Confirm" at the end of each section.

There are five pre-filed sections that you need to validate/edit before submitting. Once all pre-filed data is validated or edited, you will be taken to the summary section.

The pre-filled sections are as follows:

A. Personal information: In this section, you need to validate the pre-filled personal data taken from your e-Filing profile. You will not be able to edit some of your data directly in the form.

However, you can make necessary changes by going to the profile section. You can also edit your contact details, filing type details, and bank details in the form.

B. Gross total income: In this section, you need to review the pre-filled information and confirm/edit your income source details from salary /pension, house property, long-term capital gains under section 112A, and other sources (such as interest income, family pension, etc.).

There are several sub-sections under this section where you can review/edit pre-filled details:

Income from salary
Income from house property (here you need to verify pre-filled value from Form 16/AIS about income from one house property and details on interest on home loan under Section 24(b).
Income from other sources
Exempt income
Long-term capital gains u/s 112A

C. Total deductions: In this section, you can add, delete, and confirm any deductions applicable to you to claim under Chapter VI-A of the Income Tax Act. This is relevant for the old tax regime. This year, you are required to provide some additional information related to various deductions etc.

If you are in the new tax regime, you will see only deductions under Section 80CCD (2)- Employer's Contribution to Tier-1 NPS Account and Section 80CCH - Amount deposited in the Agniveer Corpus Fund.

D. Tax paid: In this section, you are required to confirm taxes paid by you in FY 2024-25. The tax pay may include TDS from salary, TDS on any other income, TCS, Advance Tax, and Self-Assessment Tax.

You should verify all the taxes that you paid in the previous year with your Form 16/Form 16A, Form 26AS, and AIS.

E: Total tax liability: In this section, the e-filing portal will show your total tax liability after computing all the details that you have validated in the above sections.

Step 10: If there is any additional tax liability, you will get the option to either "Pay Now" or "Pay Later" at the bottom of the page.

If there is no tax liability or if you are eligible for a Refund, you will be taken to "Preview and Submit Your Return Page".

Step 11: After reviewing and submitting the return, you should select the declaration checkbox and click on "Proceed to Validation". After the "Internal Validation" is successful, click on "Preview" of return and proceed to validation. After this, the return will be validated with "Upload Level Validation". Once this is done, you can proceed to verification.

Please complete the ITR verification before the due date. It can be easily done online through Aadhaar OTP or net banking.

As of June 25, 2025, over 54 lakh taxpayers have already filed their returns for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26). Of them, more than 50 lakh returns have been verified by taxpayers, while the tax department has processed only 10,802 returns.