Filing your Income Tax Return without verifying key documents or reporting all sources of income can lead to notices, penalties, and additional tax liability.

Income Tax Return (ITR) Filing: As the income tax filing season gains momentum, millions of salaried taxpayers are preparing to submit their returns. While filing an ITR may appear straightforward, even a small mistake can result in unwanted scrutiny from the Income Tax Department.

Tax experts advise that relying on incomplete information, selecting the wrong tax regime, or failing to disclose all income sources can lead to tax notices, delayed refunds, interest charges, and penalties. Before submitting your return, it is important to review every detail carefully.

Here are seven common ITR filing mistakes that salaried employees should avoid.

1. Relying Only on Form 16

Many salaried taxpayers file their returns solely based on Form 16 provided by their employer. However, this document may not capture all your financial transactions.

Before filing your return, compare the details available in:

• Annual Information Statement (AIS)
• Form 26AS
• Form 16

AIS and Form 26AS may include information such as bank interest, tax deducted at source (TDS), securities transactions, or other financial records that are not reflected in Form 16. Reconciling these documents can help prevent mismatches.

2. Not Reporting All Sources of Income

Your salary is only one part of your taxable income.

You should also disclose income earned from:

• Savings account interest
• Fixed deposit (FD) interest
• Rental income
• Capital gains from shares or mutual funds
• Freelance or consulting income
• Any other taxable source

Failure to report income accurately could result in discrepancies detected by the tax department, potentially leading to a notice.

3. Choosing the Wrong Tax Regime

Taxpayers can choose between the Old Tax Regime and the New Tax Regime, depending on eligibility and tax-saving preferences.

Selecting a regime without comparing your tax liability under both options may increase your tax outgo unnecessarily. Before filing, calculate your tax under each regime and choose the one that offers the greater benefit based on your deductions and income profile.

4. Claiming Deductions Without Supporting Documents

Claiming tax deductions without valid proof can create problems during assessment.

Only claim deductions under provisions such as:

• Section 80C
• Section 80D
• Home loan interest
• Other eligible exemptions and deductions

Maintain proper investment receipts, insurance premium records, loan certificates, and supporting documents in case verification is required later.

5. Entering Incorrect Bank Details

Providing incorrect banking information is another common mistake.

Ensure that your:

• Bank account number
• IFSC code
• Pre-validated bank account details

are entered correctly. Incorrect details may delay or prevent the credit of your income tax refund.

6. Forgetting to Complete E-Verification

Submitting your ITR is only part of the process.

After filing, you must complete e-verification within the prescribed time limit. Until the return is verified, it is not treated as a valid filed return by the Income Tax Department.

Taxpayers can complete verification using Aadhaar OTP, internet banking, net banking-enabled bank accounts, or other approved methods.

7. Skipping the Final Review Before Submission

One of the easiest ways to avoid errors is to review your return before clicking the final submit button.

Cross-check the following documents:

• Form 16
• AIS
• Form 26AS
• Bank statements
• Investment proofs
• TDS details

A careful review helps identify mismatches, missing income, or incorrect personal information before the return is filed.

Why Accuracy Matters

Incorrect or incomplete information in your ITR can result in:

• Income tax notices
• Delayed processing of returns
• Refund delays
• Interest on unpaid tax
• Additional tax demand
• Penalties in applicable cases

Taking a few extra minutes to verify your information can save significant time and financial inconvenience later.

Final Takeaway

ITR filing is more than simply uploading Form 16. Salaried taxpayers should reconcile all tax documents, report every source of income, choose the appropriate tax regime, claim only eligible deductions, verify bank details, complete e-verification, and carefully review the return before submission.

If you are unsure about any entry or tax provision, consulting a qualified tax professional can help ensure your return is accurate and compliant.