Filing an income tax return is quick; filing it correctly takes preparation. Your income has to match what the department already knows from AIS and Form 26AS, deductions need to be valid, and the choice between the old and the new regime can change your tax noticeably.
Who it's for
- Salaried employees, including those who changed jobs during the year.
- Freelancers and consultants, including those using presumptive taxation.
- Small businesses and professionals.
- Anyone with capital gains, rental income or significant interest income.
What's included
- Income by head: salary, house property, business or profession, capital gains and other sources.
- Deductions and exemptions: checked against the documents you have.
- Old vs new regime: your tax calculated both ways, with the difference.
- AIS, TIS and Form 26AS: TDS, interest, dividends and other reported transactions checked against your records.
- Taxes paid: advance tax, self-assessment tax and any interest.
- The right ITR form, from ITR-1 to ITR-4, and a pre-filing checklist.
Old or new regime?
The new regime is the default and offers lower rates with fewer deductions. The old regime allows deductions such as investments under section 80C, health insurance under section 80D, house rent allowance and interest on a home loan. Which one is better depends on your income and on the deductions you actually use, so your tax is calculated both ways and the numbers decide.
Salaried individuals can usually choose each year when they file. With business or professional income, switching is more restricted, so the choice deserves more thought.
Common mistakes
- Interest from savings accounts and fixed deposits left out, even though it appears in AIS.
- TDS claimed that does not match Form 26AS.
- Deductions claimed without the supporting documents.
- Capital gains from shares or mutual funds forgotten.
- The wrong ITR form, which can lead to a defective return notice.
- Self-assessment tax not paid before filing.
Freelancers and presumptive taxation
Presumptive taxation lets eligible small businesses and professionals declare income as a percentage of turnover or receipts, with simpler records. It can be convenient, but it isn't always the cheapest option: if your real expenses are high, regular computation may lead to lower tax. Both options are compared in the computation, together with the advance tax due during the year.
Freelancers often receive payments with TDS from clients: that tax is credited only if it appears in Form 26AS, so it is checked as part of the computation.
Documents to share
- Form 16 and Form 16A, or salary slips.
- AIS, TIS and Form 26AS downloaded from the income tax e-filing portal.
- Bank statements and interest certificates.
- Proof of investments and deductions, rent receipts or home-loan certificate.
- Capital gains statements from your broker or fund house.
- For freelancers and businesses: income records, expenses and bank statements.
How it works
- Message on WhatsApp. Describe your situation, or send a photo of the notice.
- Quote and checklist. You receive a clear quote and the list of documents to share.
- Review and analysis. Figures checked, data reconciled, issues identified.
- Deliverable and next steps. You receive the result, with a short walkthrough.
What you receive
- A computation sheet: income, deductions and tax under both regimes.
- A recommendation on the regime, backed by the numbers.
- Notes on AIS and Form 26AS, and a summary of the data needed to file the right ITR form.
Frequently asked questions
Which ITR form should I use?
It depends on your sources of income: ITR-1 for simpler salary cases, ITR-2 for capital gains or more than one house property, ITR-3 for business or professional income, and ITR-4 for presumptive income. The right form is confirmed in the computation.
Can I switch between the old and new regime?
Salaried individuals can usually choose every year when filing. With business income, switching is restricted, so it is worth deciding carefully.
My Form 16 TDS doesn't match Form 26AS. What now?
Credit is given on the basis of Form 26AS, so the difference needs to be corrected by the deductor, for example a wrong PAN or a missing TDS return. See TDS · AIS · 26AS reconciliation.
Do you work with freelancers?
Yes, including presumptive income and advance tax.
Last updated: November 2026. General information for guidance: every case is checked individually.