The Income Tax Department has officially launched the offline Excel utility for ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) for Assessment Year 2025-26 (pertaining to Financial Year 2024-25). This move benefits salaried individuals, pensioners, freelancers, and small business owners by allowing them to prepare income tax returns offline, without needing internet access. The tool lets users validate returns and generate a JSON file for upload on the official e-filing portal.

Owing to structural changes and a delay in launching the utility, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the ITR filing deadline for non-audit cases (like ITR-1 or ITR-4) from July 31, 2025, to September 15, 2025. However, self-assessment tax must still be paid by July 31, beyond which interest under Section 234A and 234B will be applicable.

Here’s a simplified step-by-step ITR filing guide for salaried individuals:

Choose the Correct ITR Form

Salaried individuals with income from salary, one house property, and other sources (like interest) and total income below Rs 50 lakh should use ITR-1 (Sahaj).
If you have capital gains, foreign assets/income, or more than one property, opt for ITR-2. Filing with the wrong form can invalidate your return.

Pick Between Old and New Tax Regimes

Salaried taxpayers must choose between:

• Old Tax Regime: Higher deductions/exemptions (e.g., HRA, 80C investments like PPF, NSC)
• New Tax Regime: Lower slab rates but limited deductions

Note: The new regime is selected by default. Inform your employer if opting for the old one.

Gather Key Documents

Essential documents include:

• Form 16 from your employer (salary & TDS details)
• Form 26AS for tax credit details
• Annual Information Statement (AIS) for consolidated income information
• Cross-verify your income and TDS to avoid mismatches during processing.

Use Offline or Online Filing Options

• Offline Excel Utility: Available for ITR-1 and ITR-4 on the Income Tax portal
• Online Filing Platforms: Portals like Tax2win and ClearTax offer pre-filled forms and guided filing, simplifying the process.

Track Deadlines & Understand Late Filing Rules

The revised due date for non-audit taxpayers is September 15, 2025, but the self-assessment tax must be cleared by July 31 to avoid interest penalties. Missed deadlines? You can still file a belated return with late fees or use ITR-U for returns of previous years (within two years).

Filing ITR on time ensures smoother refunds, financial credibility and peace of mind. Salaried individuals should carefully select the right form, pick the suitable tax regime, verify tax credits, and adhere to deadlines. With the help of available digital and offline tools, ITR filing has become easier than ever. Stay tax-smart and file confidently this year.