New Delhi, 15 May (H.S.): The Income Tax Department has released the Excel utility forms for ITR‑1 and ITR‑4 for the financial year 2025‑26 (assessment year 2026‑27). Taxpayers can now begin filing their income‑tax returns (ITRs). Taxpayers can visit the department’s official e‑filing portal and download and file their returns using these utilities.

According to the department, salaried individuals and small business owners can file their ITRs by July 31. However, under the new provisions introduced in Budget 2026‑27, small business owners and freelancers (whose accounts are not subject to audit) may file their ITRs by August 31.

Income‑tax expert and Chartered Accountant Amit Ranjan said the Income Tax Department has introduced certain changes in these forms and their utility has now been uploaded. This means the forms are live, and taxpayers can start filing their ITRs.

What is an ITR?

An Income Tax Return (ITR) is a form through which a taxpayer declares their income, deductions, and tax liability before the Income Tax Department. It is mandatory to file the ITR for each financial year by July 31. At present, there are seven different ITR forms (ITR‑1 to ITR‑7), each suited to different categories of taxpayers, types of income, and income levels.

Currently, the utilities for ITR‑1 and ITR‑4 have gone live. The ITR‑1 form, also known as “Sahaj” (simple), is meant for salaried individuals. The ITR‑4 form is designed for small business owners and professionals. These forms are now available to taxpayers on the e‑filing portal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar