Filing, deadlines and notices
ITR due dates, advance tax, refunds, tax notices and FAST-DS: what to do, and by when. 15 posts, every fact checked against official sources.
- Login needed?No, PAN + OTPFiling and noticesHow to pay advance tax online, with or without logging inYou can pay advance tax in a few minutes on the income tax portal, even without your password: just PAN, mobile number and an OTP. Here are the steps, and the details to get right.
- By 15 December75% paidFiling and noticesMissed the 15 December advance tax? What the interest costsAdvance tax is due in four instalments. Miss one and you pay simple interest of 1% a month on the shortfall. Here's how it adds up, with an example, and when there's no interest at all.
- Category 2 fee₹1,00,000 flatFiling and noticesFAST-DS for NRIs and people who moved back to IndiaFAST-DS was built for people like returning professionals: a US 401(k), an old UK account, RSUs from a past employer. Here's who can use it, who can't, and what it protects you from.
- Values taken as on31 March 2026Filing and noticesHow FAST-DS values your foreign shares, RSUs and bank accountsEverything is valued as on 31 March 2026. And a foreign bank account isn't valued at its balance: it's the total of all the money that went into it. Here's each rule, with examples.
- Pay Form 2 amount within2 monthsFiling and noticesFiled FAST-DS Form 1? What happens next: Form 2, payment and Form 3Declaring is only half of FAST-DS. The department sends an order with the amount, you pay it with challan ITNS 289 inside a fixed window, then file proof. Miss the window and the declaration is void.
Filing and noticesNotices on HRA and deduction claims: what triggers them, and how to fix a wrong claimClaims in your return that don't match your Form 16, your AIS or the rules are what draw questions. A wrong claim can be fixed before a notice, and it costs far less to fix it yourself.
Filing and noticesAIS and Form 26AS: what they show and how to check themYour AIS lists what the tax department already knows about your income. Check it before you file: most mismatch notices come from income in the AIS that isn't in the return.
Filing and noticesIncome tax notices: what each one means and how to replyMost notices salaried people get are routine: an intimation, a mismatch or a defect. Check it's genuine, read what it asks, and reply on the e-filing portal before the deadline.
Filing and noticesHow to file your ITR online: step by step for salaried peopleFiling your own return takes about an hour if your documents are ready. Choose the right form, check the pre-filled data against your AIS, and e-verify within 30 days.
Filing and noticesAdvance tax for salaried people: do you owe some by 15 December?Your employer's TDS covers tax on your salary. It doesn't cover interest, rent, capital gains or freelance income. If tax on those is ₹10,000 or more for the year, you pay advance tax, and 75% of it is due by 15 December.
Filing and noticesIncome tax refund: how to check it, and what to do if it's stuckRefunds are usually credited within 4 to 5 weeks of e-verifying your return. If yours hasn't arrived, the reason is almost always on the e-filing portal, and most of them you can fix yourself.
Filing and noticesITR due dates: what's left for 2025-26, and the dates for 2026-27Budget 2026 changed two dates. You can now revise a return until 31 March, not 31 December. And people with business income that isn't audited now have until 31 August. For most salaried people, the main due date stays 31 July.
Filing and noticesMissed 31 July? How to file a late return by 31 DecemberThe due date for FY 2025-26 was 31 July 2026 for most salaried people, and it wasn't extended. You can still file a late (belated) return until 31 December 2026.
Filing and noticesHow to report capital gains in your income tax returnSold shares, mutual funds or property? You'll usually need ITR-2 instead of ITR-1. Here's what goes where, and what to keep ready.
Filing and noticesFAST-DS 2026: a one-time chance to declare foreign assetsNever reported your US RSUs, or a bank account from your years abroad? Until 31 December 2026, a one-time scheme lets you put it right for a fixed tax or fee, with immunity under the black money law.
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