ITR Filing Update: Filing for ITR 1 & ITR 4 Now Live – Check Eligibility & More Details Here

ITR Update 2026: Attention, taxpayers! ITR filing for assessment year (AY) 2026-27 is now live.  The Income Tax Department has now enabled Excel utilities for ITR 1 and ITR 4 on the official portal (incometax.gov.in).

What’s New in ITR Filing 2026 

The Income Tax Department has officially released Excel utilities related to ITR 1 (Sahaj) and ITR 4 (Sugam) for the assessment year (AY) 2026-27. From this year, taxpayers can use both offline Excel utilities as well as the online e-filing portal for the submission of their returns. As a result, the process to file ITR has become easier. 

ITR Update 2026: Who’s Eligible? 

The eligibility for ITR filing is dependent on whether you opt for ITR 1 (Sahaj) or ITR 4 (Sugam). 

For ITR 1 (Sahaj) 

ITR 1, also known as Sahaj, is meant for: 

• Individuals with income from salary or pension, two house properties, family pension, and other sources such as interest income (from bank interest or post office interest).

• Individuals with long term capital gains up to Rs 1.25 lakh under Section 112A. 

• Individuals with agricultural income up to Rs 5,000    

For ITR 4 (Sugam) 

The eligibility for ITR 4, also known as ‘Sugam’, includes resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and firms (other than LLPs) having a total income up to Rs 50 lakhs. Individuals with long term capital gains up to Rs 1.25 lakh under Section 112A are also eligible. 

Sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE are all meant for eligible individuals filing ITR 4 (Sugam).

ITR Update 2026: Where to File 

To file the income tax return (ITR), two methods are available. Taxpayers can either go to the Income Tax Department’s official website (incometax.gov.in) and fill out their details. 

Alternatively, you can also download the Excel utilities from the website, fill in all details offline, generate the JSON file and then finally upload it on the income tax e-filing portal for submission.  

How to File ITR: Step by Step Guide  

The step by step process for filing ITR online is as follows: 

1. Go to the Income Tax Department’s official website (incometax.gov.in) and login with your details (ID, password). 

2. Collect all the documents that are relevant to you. 

3. Choose from either ITR 1 (Sahaj) or ITR 4 (Sugam), depending on your exact eligibility criteria. 

4. Then, choose the Income Tax e-filing portal to proceed. Fill in your personal information along with income details. 

5. Preview and verify all your details extremely carefully. Then, click on ‘Submit’.

6. Complete e-verification of your return through either Aadhaar OTP, net banking or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is purely for informational purposes, as tax related details are subject to change by the government. Before making any big financial decisions, kindly consult a CA.