Income Tax Return Filing – Which ITR form to use?

It is income tax (IT) return filing season. And as usual, it is a time for much confusion!! And the most puzzling thing for most of us: Which form to use to file the income tax return? Here is your guide to the most commonly used income tax return forms.

Form ITR1

ITR-1 is the most basic IT return form, and is applicable only for people having most basic incomes!!

It is for individuals having income from:

• Salary / Pension / Family Pension
• Interest

Thus, it is for people having a salary (or pension) and having savings bank accounts, fixed deposits, National Savings Certificates (NSCs), or other interest bearing instruments.

Form ITR-1 is not for people having capital gains, or for people having income from house property or business / profession.

Thus, ITR1 is not for you if:

• You are filing on behalf of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
• You have sold shares / mutual funds in the past year (FY 07-08)
• You have sold house / land in the past year (FY 07-08)
• You have paid EMI for your house to repay your home loan
• You have rented out your house
• You have income from your business or profession

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 1

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 1 Instructions

Download Income Tax Return Acknowledgement

Form ITR2

ITR-2 is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) having income from:

• Salary / Pension / Family Pension
• Interest
• House Property
• Capital Gains

ITR2 is for you if:

• You have income from salary or pension
• You have savings bank accounts, fixed deposits, National Savings Certificates (NSCs), or other interest bearing instruments
• You have sold shares / mutual funds in the past year (FY 07-08)
• You have sold house / land in the past year (FY 07-08)
• You have paid EMI for your house to repay your home loan
• You have rented out your house
• You are filing on behalf of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) that doesn’t have income from business or profession

ITR2 is not for you if:

• You have income from your business or profession

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 2

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 2 Instructions

Download Income Tax Return Acknowledgement

Form ITR3

From ITR-3 is for individuals or HUFs that are partners in firms, but who are not carrying out business or profession under any proprietorship.

ITR3 is for you if:

• You are a partner in a firm
• You are filing on behalf of an HUF that is a partner in a firm

ITR3 is not for you if:

• You have a proprietary business
• You are filing on behalf of an HUF, and it has a proprietary business
• You or your HUF are not a partner in any firm

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 3

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 3 Instructions

Download Income Tax Return Acknowledgement

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Form ITR4

Form ITR-4 is for individuals and HUFs that have income from a proprietary business or profession.

ITR4 is for you if:

• You have a proprietary business
• You are filing on behalf of an HUF, and it has a proprietary business

ITR4 is not for you if:

• You or your HUF do not have a proprietary business

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 4

Download Income Tax Return Form ITR 4 Instructions

Download Income Tax Return Acknowledgement