Procedure for Electronically Filing Tax (Offline Filing)

The offline electronic filing (e-filing) mode is applicable for all Income Tax Retun (ITR) Forms. In the offline e-filing mode, you have to fill the ITR form offline, and then submit it on the Income Tax Department website.

Step 1: Select ITR Form

For offline mode, you have to download the appropriate ITR Form from the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal. If you want to know which ITR form you have to fill, read here.

A pre-filled form can also be downloaded if you log in to the e-filing portal. From your account, you can choose to ‘Download Pre-Filled XML’. Import this to fill personal and other details into your ITR forms.

Step 2: Fill in Details

You can fill in the downloaded ITR form offline. Ensure that you fill the form completely and provide all the necessary details correctly. Validate all the tabs in the form.

Note that ​​​​​​​​​​ITR forms are attachment less forms and, hence, you are not required to attach any document (like proof of investment, TDS certificates, etc.) along with the return of income. Keep the ITR forms safely as they may be asked by the tax authorities when demanded in situations like assessment, inquiry, etc.

Step 3: Compute your Tax Liability

Compute total income for the financial year and compute your tax liability. You can also take the help of a Chartered Accountant for this. After this, collect all the documents and verify all the taxes deducted from your income. This way you can compute the total income chargeable to tax. After computing your total income, you have to calculate your tax liability. You can do this by applying the tax rates in force as per your income slab.

Step 4: Deductions

Once you have computed your tax liability, deduct the taxes that have been already paid by you through TDS, TCS and Advance Tax, and add interest payable (if any). This will tell you if all the taxes are already paid by you or any additional tax has to be paid, or if you have paid any excess taxes and a refund is due to you.

Step 5: Submit ITR Form

Generate and save the form. After preparing the form offline, you can then submit it online by logging in to the e-filing portal.

Step 6: Upload ITR Form in XML Format

After selecting the ‘e-File’ menu, leading to the ‘Income tax return’ page, you will have to select the assessment year, ITR form number, and whether your ITR is an original/revised return. You can then upload your form in the XML format. You have several options for verifying your form, and can choose to verify your form at the time of submission or later.

Once the verification is done, you can check your ITR status here.