Not Sure Which ITR Form to File?

Every taxpayer has to file an Income Tax Return (ITR), but picking the right form can feel confusing. With so many ITR forms out there — ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, and more — it’s easy to get lost. The form you need depends on how you earn your income — whether you’re salaried, self-employed, have capital gains, foreign income, or even crypto profits.

This guide will help you understand each form in plain English — with simple breakdowns. So, before you rush to file, take a minute to see which ITR form actually fits your case.

Let’s make tax filing less taxing!

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟭 – For Salaried Individuals with Simple Income   👤 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Resident Individual (not NRI or Not Ordinarily Resident) * Salary or Pension Income 👨‍💼 * 🏠 One House Property * 💵 Other sources like interest, family pension * 🌾 Agricultural Income up to ₹5,000 * 💰 Total income ≤ ₹50 lakhs   🚫 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Director in a company 👨‍💼 * Held unlisted shares 📈 * Foreign income or assets 🌐 * Deferred ESOP tax 🧾 * Losses carried forward ❌ * Total income > ₹50 lakhs 🚫

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟮 – For NRIs, Investors, & Partners (No Business Income)   🌍 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Individuals or HUFs (Not eligible for ITR-1) * Income from 💼 Salary, 🏘 Multiple House Properties, 💹 Capital Gains * NRI/Resident with foreign income 🌎 * Agricultural income > ₹5,000 🌾 * 👥 Partners in Firms/LLPs (no business income) * 👥 Director in a company anytime in the year   🚫 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Business or professional income holders

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟯 – For Business Owners, Freelancers, Professionals   👨‍💼 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:  𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗨𝗙𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵:   * Business income 💼   * Professional income 🧑‍⚕️   * 👥 Partner in firm/LLP with business income   * 📊 Capital Gains, Multiple incomes   * 📈 Hold unlisted equity shares anytime in the year   *👥 Director in a company anytime in the year * 🧾 Must file ITR-3 if we’re not eligible to file ITR-1, ITR-2, or ITR-4.

 

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟰 – For Presumptive Taxpayers   🏠 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Resident Individuals / HUF / Firm (not LLP) * Total Income up to ₹50L * Presumptive Income:    🛍 Business (44AD)    📚 Profession (44ADA)    🚚 Transport (44AE) * Income from 💼 Salary + 🏠 1 House Property + 💵 Other sources * LTCG u/s 112A up to ₹1.25L 📈   🚫 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: * Directors 👨‍💼 * Foreign income/assets 🌐 * Unlisted shares 📈 * Carried forward losses ❌ * Income > ₹50L * Capital Gains (STCG or LTCG > ₹1.25L)

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟱 – For LLPs, Firms, AOPs, Societies, Trusts   🏢 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:   * LLPs, Firms, AOPs, BOIs * Cooperative Societies, Registered Societies * Estates (Deceased/Insolvent), Business Trusts * Trusts not claiming exemption under Sec 139(4A/B/D)   🚫 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:   * Individuals or HUFs * Trusts filing u/s 139(4A), (4B), or (4D)

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟲 – For Companies Only   🏦 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:   * All companies (except those claiming exemption u/s 11)

✅ 𝗜𝗧𝗥-𝟳 – For Charitable Trusts, Political Parties, Institutions   🙏 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:   * Persons required to file u/s:     * 139(4A): Charitable/Religious Trusts   * 139(4B): Political Parties   * 139(4C): Institutions like Research Associations, News Agencies   * 139(4D): Colleges, Universities 📌 𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰 𝟭𝟬.

🛑 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁𝘀 (𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴!)   * ❌ Carried forward losses? Avoid ITR-1/4 * ❌ ESOPs or unlisted shares? Avoid ITR-1/4 * ❌ Foreign income/assets? Use ITR-2 or 3 * ❌ Director/Partner? Avoid ITR-1/4 * 🧾 Switching tax regimes? File Form 10-IEA for ITR-3/4

📝 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 :
This summary is for general guidance only. Please consult the Income Tax Act, Rules, or a qualified professional for accurate filing advice based on your specific case.