AY 2026-27 · ITR form guide
Do not choose a return because its name looks familiar. Start with how you earned, then check the form's exclusions and your audit position.
Answer first
No business or professional income: use ITR-1 only when every ITR-1 condition fits; otherwise ITR-2 is generally the next route. Business or professional income: use ITR-3 unless you are eligible for the optional presumptive ITR-4. Salary can appear in ITR-2, ITR-3 or ITR-4 alongside other eligible income—it does not decide the form by itself.
Compare the four forms
These are practical summaries, not complete eligibility lists. One exclusion can change the answer.
Usually the starting point for salary or pension plus limited eligible income, when total income does not exceed Rs.50 lakh and all ITR-1 conditions are met.
Common trap: being salaried does not automatically make ITR-1 valid.
Generally for an individual or HUF without business or professional income whose return is outside ITR-1.
Common trap: capital gains and salary can belong in the same ITR-2.
For an individual or HUF with profits and gains from business or profession when ITR-4 is not available or not chosen.
Common trap: the due date depends on audit status, not only on “ITR-3”.
For a specified resident individual, HUF or firm other than LLP with eligible presumptive income and total income not exceeding Rs.50 lakh, subject to exclusions.
Common trap: low turnover alone does not prove ITR-4 eligibility.
Form summaries checked against the Income Tax Department's AY 2026-27 ITR-1 FAQs, AY 2026-27 ITR-4 FAQs and notified return forms.
Decision route
Yes: move to ITR-3 versus ITR-4. No: move to ITR-1 versus ITR-2.
Yes: ITR-1 may fit a resident individual. No: ITR-2 is generally the relevant individual/HUF form, provided there is still no business or professional income.
Yes: ITR-4 may be chosen for eligible presumptive income. No: ITR-3 is generally used by the individual or HUF.
A director position, foreign asset, capital gain, loss, cash-receipt level or audit requirement can change the answer. Do this before filing—not after a defective-return notice.
Real-world starting points
| Situation | Likely starting form | What must still be checked |
|---|---|---|
| Resident employee with salary, bank interest and otherwise simple eligible income | ITR-1 | Rs.50 lakh ceiling and every ITR-1 exclusion |
| Employee with short-term capital gain from shares | ITR-2 | No business income; all capital-gain details |
| Employee who also runs a proprietorship | ITR-3 or eligible ITR-4 | Business route, presumptive eligibility and other income |
| Proprietor declaring actual sales, expenses, assets and liabilities | ITR-3 | Books, losses and tax-audit position |
| Eligible small proprietor opting for Section 44AD | ITR-4 may fit | Residence, income ceiling, turnover, cash receipts and exclusions |
| Freelancer or consultant | ITR-3 or eligible ITR-4 | Whether the profession and Section 44ADA conditions fit |
Send the types of income you had—salary, rent, shares, business, freelance work or F&O. Do not send passwords or OTPs.
ITR-4 needs a real eligibility check
ITR-4 may look simpler, but it is not a general “small business form”. The taxpayer, income, turnover and exclusions must all fit.
Form and due date are separate questions
Classify the taxpayer and audit position before attaching a date to the form.
| Common case | Due date | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Specified non-audit ITR-1 or ITR-2 filer | 31 July 2026 | Belated-return route may apply after this date |
| Qualifying non-audit business/professional case, including eligible ITR-4 | 31 August 2026 | Do not assume every business case is non-audit |
| Tax-audit case | 31 October 2026 | Audit report has its own earlier compliance timeline |
| Case requiring transfer-pricing report | 30 November 2026 | Special reporting provisions apply |
| Belated return for AY 2026-27 | 31 December 2026 | Or completion of assessment, if earlier; fee, interest and loss restrictions may apply |
The dedicated guide separates July 31, August 31, audit and belated-return cases.
Dates checked against the Income Tax Department's Budget 2026 due-date FAQs and return-filing FAQs.
Continue with your situation
Compare ITR-3 and ITR-4 with records, losses and presumptive eligibility in view.
Open the proprietorship guide →Reconstruct sales from orders, returns, fees, settlements and Section 194-O credit.
Open the online-seller guide →Use a situation-based document list for ITR-3, ITR-4, GST and platform income.
Open the document checklist →Common questions
One return, chosen carefully
A correct return begins with a complete picture—not a form number copied from last year.