Document Requirements for ITR Filing

Documents Required For Income Tax Return (ITR) Filing In India

Individuals and businesses in India are required to file an Income Tax Return (ITR).  Giving the Income Tax Department information about your finances, like how much money you made, what expenses you claimed, and the taxes you paid during the year, is part of this process.  To make sure you’re following the rules, getting deductions, and avoiding fines, you need to keep good records.  This article is all about the document requirements for ITR filing for the Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26.

Documents that All Taxpayers Must Have

All taxes, no matter where their money comes from, must have these documents:

• Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card

A taxpayer’s Permanent Account Number (PAN) is required to file their income tax return.

• Aadhaar card

To file ITR online, you have to link your UID number to your PAN number.

• Form 26AS

This combined yearly tax account shows the amount of tax taken out at the source (TDS), paid in advance, and refunded.

• Details of the Bank Account

To report interest income and prove transactions, you need bank records or passbooks.

Forms Based on Sources of Income

The papers needed depend on where the taxpayer gets their money:

If your employer gives you a Salary Income Form 16, it has information about the salary you made, the TDS that was taken out, and how much tax you owe.

Pay Stubs

• Salary slips sent every month help confirm information about income and expenses claimed.
• For a business or professional, an income statement and a profit and loss statement
• These must be filled out by businesses and workers who don’t choose presumptive taxation.

Check the Records

Section 44AB says that businesses and workers with a turnover of more than ₹1 crore (or ₹10 crores in some cases) or ₹50 lakhs must have their books audited.

Gross Sales and Receipts

Gross sales or income must be reported for presumptive taxes under Sections 44AD and 44ADA.

For Capital Gains: Purchase and Sale Deeds are needed to report gains from the sale or purchase of real estate.

Account Statements and Contract Notes

• Used to figure out how much money you made trading stocks.
• Interest certificates can help you make money from other sources.
•  For savings accounts and fixed deposits, you need certificates from banks or post offices.

Warrants for Dividends

 Proof that you got dividends during the fiscal year.

Agreements to Rent

For rental income, you need agreements and TDS receipts.

Proof of Investments that Save on Taxes

People who make purchases that save them money on taxes can get tax breaks under several parts of the Income Tax Act:

• Payslips for Life Insurance Premiums: Under Section 80C, you can get tax breaks if you can show proof that you paid your fees.
• Medical Insurance Bills: Under Section 80D, you can send in bills to get your health insurance premiums lowered.
• Public Provident Fund (PPF) Passbook: Section 80C says that contributions to the PPF are tax-deductible.
• Certificates for Home Loans: Under Section 24(b), you can claim the interest you pay on a home loan. Under Section 80C, you can claim the balance you pay off.
• Mutual Fund Statements: Under Section 80C, you can get a tax break for investments in Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS).

Other Important Paperwork

If you claim certain exclusions and deductions, you may need to provide extra paperwork, such as:

Payments for Rent

Important for getting a House Rent Allowance (HRA).

Health Care Costs

• You can get tax breaks for certain types of medical bills in certain areas.
• Proof of Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
• To get an LTA exemption, you need tickets and receipts.

How to Put Documents in Order?

To make it easier to file an ITR:

• Gather all the necessary papers ahead of time.
• Check the information on Form 26AS against your TDS documents.
• Make sure that all of the records of investments are correct and up to date.
• If you do business, make sure you keep good records of all deals.

Changes for the Financial Year 2025–2026

Starting with FY 2025–26, the government has made some big changes:

• The basic exemption limit has been raised to 12 lakh rupees, which is good news for taxes in the middle class.
• Updated reports (ITR-U) can now be filed up to four years after the end of the relevant assessment year instead of two years earlier.

Get Started with TaxDunia

To file an ITR, you need to carefully gather and send in the correct documents about your sources of income and investments that help you save on taxes.  By getting these things together ahead of time, taxpayers can make sure they follow the rules, get the most deductions, and avoid fines. Get started with TaxDunia to help you meet the legal compliance and stay updated with the latest tax laws and regulations.