Why Should You E-File Your Tax Returns

Everyone falling under the tax bracket has to mandatorily file Income Tax Returns in July of the assessment year. It applies to those too whose tax liability got reduced to nil due to tax exemptions and deductions. Only those who earn less than the tax exemption limit of Rs.250,000 are not required to file any tax returns. 

The Income Tax Return filing receipt serves as an important document. Also, it is much more detailed than the Form 60. 

Form 60 only has information pertaining to your salary account. But ITR receipt has complete information regarding your income from other sources. 

With the facility of e-filing now available, the job of filing tax returns has become even more easy, safe, quick, and convenient. 

Though it is only compulsory for people whose taxable income exceeds Rs.500,000, anyone can e-file their tax returns. 

Benefits of Filing Income Tax Returns

Before we look into the advantages of e-filing your returns, let us first see what benefits you get from filing your Income Tax Returns. 

E-filing of taxes encompasses these benefits as well as having several of their own! 

1. Applying for Loans

All the banks ask for your last two year’s salary slips, Form 16 or TDS certificate, or ITR receipt when you apply for loans. 

It is especially a must when applying for a vehicle loan. 

The ITR receipt comes in handy if the loan application has gotten rejected or the approved loan amount is less than the required amount. 

2. Claiming Tax Refunds

To claim tax refunds from the I-T department, you have to file your returns. Otherwise, you will have to consider excess tax paid as a loss. 

For example, interest earned on fixed deposits is taxable at 10%. 

In case the taxpayer’s taxable income falls below the basic income slab of Rs.250,000, he would still have to file income tax returns, to claim the TDS deducted from FDs as a refund from the I-T department. 

3. Carry Forwarding the Capital Losses

To be able to bring either the long-term or the short-term losses forward to be adjusted against capital gains in the future, you have to file tax returns. 

A long-term capital loss can be brought forward for eight sequential years immediately following the year in which the capital loss occurred. 

Short-term capital loss can be adjusted against long-term or short-term capital gains, unlike the long-term capital loss that can be adjusted only against long-term capital gains. 

4. For Visa Processing

In case you are planning on travelling abroad, be advised, foreign consulates ask for up to past three years ITRs with your Visa application. 

The Middle East and South East Asian countries are not so stringent, but Europe, Canada, and the US are quite strict about this document. 

ITR receipts are proof that the person wishing to travel overseas has an income source in India and does not wish to settle abroad and would return back. 

Indian and many foreign consulates recommend that you should carry some of your income proofs such as ITR receipts, Form 16, salary slips, etc. for your overseas travel. 

5. Buying an expensive Life Cover

Purchasing life insurance policies with an assured sum of Rs.10,000,000 or Rs.5,000,000 is becoming commonplace these days. 

But life insurance companies like LIC, demand to see the ITR receipts to assure themselves of your annual income and premium paying capability. 

This is just one of the documents required for such a high amount policy. 

6. For government tenders

If you want to apply for government tenders, you will be asked to furnish ITR receipts for the last five years. 

This is procedural and is required to check whether you are financially sound to fulfil your payment obligations. 

The number of required ITR receipts vary from department to department. 

7. For the self-employed

Self-employed individuals like partners of a firm, consultants, businessmen, freelancers, and more, do not get Form 16. 

Then, ITR receipts become the most important financial document for them, conditioned to the fact that their annual income is more than Rs.250,000. 

ITR receipts are the only financial document that a self-employed person has that would serve as his income as well as tax payment proofs. 

How can I E-file my Tax Returns

Filing tax returns online is known as e-filing them! 

Mentioned below are the steps that you need to follow for electronically filing your income tax returns. 

• Visit the official website of the I-T department and create a login ID for yourself.
• Register by filling in the relevant details like PAN Number, etc.
• Once the registration process is over you will be taken to a page that gives you your address as per your PAN details. Update your email id, phone numbers, and other such important information, create a password and submit.
• After this, you will find yourself on a webpage with links for different assessment years. Click on the one that is relevant to you.
• Choose the correct category. In case you are a sole earner of your family, download ITR-1 for yourself.
• There is an excel file that needs to be downloaded alongside the form. You will be filling all the pertinent details in it.
• Once the excel sheet is complete, check it, save it, and then upload it. Once it is uploaded ‘Submit Return’!
• After you have submitted your return, an acknowledgement screen will pop-up. You need to take a print out of it, verify it, sign it, and then post it to your jurisdictional income tax assessing office.
• The signed acknowledgement receipt needs to reach the local I-T office within 15 days of filing the I-T Returns form online. You need to ensure this happens otherwise you will have to go through the whole process all over again!
• In case you wish to go completely paperless, there is an option for digital signatures as well. 

Remember to verify your address and other details on the form you are filing online. Ensure that all the pages have your name and credentials. 

Benefits of Electronically Filing your Returns

E-filing the tax returns provides the taxpayer with several advantages. 

1. Quick Processing

ITR acknowledgement is prompt, so is the process of claiming refunds. It is much faster than a paper-filed process of tax filing. 

2. More Accurate

The e-filing software has inbuilt validators that ensure that the connectivity is without issues. This ensures that the errors are minimized considerably. 

Filling up paper forms can lead to errors. The possibility of the same rises substantially when paper forms are being converted mechanically in electronic format! 

3. It Is Convenient

Online filing of form can be done anytime and from anywhere. You are not constrained by time or place. 

Neither are you restricted to a gadget. You can use your PC, tablet, or even the smartphone to file your returns digitally. 

The I-T department’s website is accessible 24 X 7 and so is the e-filing facility. 

4. Better Security

E-filing returns ensure confidentiality of your data. Unlike a paper form, besides you, no one has access to your financial information. 

Your e-information cannot be accessed for misuse either at your CA’s office or by the I-T department. 

5. Old Data Accessibility

E-filing programs have a secure database of all your old files and uploaded data. 

You can access them anytime you are filling out new forms. 

6. Prompt Confirmation

The moment you submit your returns you get an electronic confirmation of receipt of your form by the I-T department. 

You receive it through your registered email and as a pop-up on your screen. 

7. Easy to Use

The e-filing program is user-friendly. You get detailed instructions and easy to understand the language to make filling the e-form a pleasant experience. 

You do not have to be a computer expert to file your tax returns electronically. 

8. E-Banking

The e-filing site gives you the option to link your bank account for direct debit for direct as well as indirect taxes, and deposit of tax refunds. 

You can also choose to debit your account immediately or schedule it for a later date. 

9. Avoid Penalties

Completing the filing of tax returns at your convenience electronically ensures that you complete the process on time. 

This facilitates you in avoiding late payment and other such penalties. 

10. Cost Saving

Original filing of tax returns required reams of printing, photocopying, travelling, posting, and probable duplicitous filling of information. 

Digitally filing tax returns removes all these burdensome tasks and saves you money as well. 

E-filing might save you the cost of hiring a CA to help you with your tax calculations, filing, and refund claiming processes. 

11. Time Saving

You wouldn’t have to stand in queues anymore, nor look for agents to do your return filing for you. 

Also, the e-filing system does all the calculations for you. So you don’t need to get hassled over missed or messed up calculations anymore! 

In the End

Filing returns electronically is a time-saving, safe, paperless, accurate, and convenient process. 

You can file your returns anytime and from anywhere. So why waste time and money scribbling on forms, and pounding away on the calculator, and file your tax returns electronically!