Only 4 days left for ITR filing: 7 must-have documents to keep ready

With just four days left before the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, many taxpayers are getting ready to submit their returns. While filing an ITR has become much easier over the years, missing a document or overlooking an income source can still lead to mistakes, delays in refunds or even notices from the Income Tax Department.

The easiest way to avoid last-minute stress is to keep all the required documents ready before you begin the filing process. Experts say taxpayers should not rely on just one document, such as Form 16, but should cross-check information from multiple sources.

7 documents you should keep ready before filing your ITR

Before logging into the income tax portal, make sure you have these seven key documents and records handy:

FORM 16

For salaried employees, Form 16 is usually the starting point for filing an ITR. It contains details of salary paid by the employer and the tax deducted at source (TDS).

However, tax experts say Form 16 alone is not enough.

Nishant Shanker, Tax & Investments Expert at Navraj Global Advisors, said, "Form 16 is an important starting point but is rarely sufficient by itself. Salaried taxpayers should also verify Form 26AS, AIS and TIS, check bank interest, dividend income, capital gains, and any other income that may not be reflected in Form 16 before filing the return."

FORM 26AS, AIS AND TIS

These three documents help taxpayers verify whether all their income and taxes have been correctly reported.

Form 26AS shows taxes deducted and collected. Annual Information Statement (AIS) provides a detailed record of your financial transactions. Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) presents a simplified summary of the information available in AIS.

According to Shanker, these documents should always be matched before filing.

"Reconciliation is critical. Form 26AS primarily reflects taxes deducted and collected, AIS provides a comprehensive view of financial transactions, while TIS presents a summarised version of the information. Any significant mismatch should be examined and resolved before filing to minimise the risk of future notices," he said.

BANK STATEMENTS AND INTEREST CERTIFICATES

Interest earned on savings accounts or fixed deposits is taxable in many cases. Since this income may not appear in Form 16, taxpayers should keep bank statements and interest certificates ready to ensure nothing is missed.

CAPITAL GAINS AND INVESTMENT STATEMENTS

If you sold shares, mutual funds or property during the financial year, you will need supporting documents to calculate your tax correctly. These include broker statements, contract notes, capital gains reports and purchase and sale documents.

Shanker said taxpayers should maintain these records to ensure capital gains are reported accurately.

PROOF OF DEDUCTIONS

Those planning to claim deductions should keep all supporting documents ready. These include receipts or certificates for investments under Section 80C, health insurance premiums under Section 80D, education loan interest, donations and other eligible tax-saving investments.

Although these documents generally do not have to be uploaded while filing the return, they should be safely preserved in case the Income Tax Department asks for verification later.

HOME LOAN AND RENTAL DOCUMENTS

Taxpayers earning rental income should keep rental agreements, rent receipts and municipal tax receipts ready.

Similarly, homeowners claiming home loan benefits should keep their home loan interest certificate handy.

PAN, AADHAAR AND BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Basic identity documents remain equally important. Taxpayers should ensure their PAN and Aadhaar details are correct and linked wherever required. They should also verify the bank account in which they wish to receive any tax refund.

Those with foreign income or overseas assets should also keep related tax records and disclosure documents ready before filing.

Changed jobs during the year? Don't forget this

People who switched employers during the financial year should collect Form 16 from every employer.

Failing to combine salary income from all employers is one of the common reasons for incorrect ITR filing.

Avoid these common mistakes

Experts say many taxpayers rush to file their returns in the last few days and end up making avoidable errors.

Shanker said, "Common mistakes include relying only on Form 16, overlooking bank interest or dividend income, failing to report capital gains, claiming deductions without supporting evidence, and not reconciling AIS with the return. A systematic review of all income sources before filing can prevent these errors."

What if your documents don't match?

Sometimes taxpayers notice differences between Form 16, AIS, TIS and Form 26AS. In such cases, experts advise against blindly copying information from any one document.

"No single document should be treated as conclusive. Taxpayers should reconcile the information with their own records. Where AIS contains incorrect information, they should submit online feedback through the AIS portal and retain documentary evidence. The return should ultimately reflect the correct income as supported by facts and records," Shanker said.

With only four days remaining before the deadline, taxpayers who organise their documents now and carefully verify every source of income are likely to have a smoother filing experience and reduce the chances of errors or future tax notices.