Filing Your Income Tax Return Without a CA? Don’t Let These 5 Mistakes Cost You Time and Money

With the Income Tax Department extending the ITR filing deadline for non-audit cases to 15th September 2025, taxpayers have a bit of breathing room this year. However, don’t let that extension tempt you into procrastinating. Filing your return early means faster refunds, fewer errors, and less last-minute stress.

Thanks to digital advancements, filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) on your own is no longer a daunting task. The e-filing system has become much more streamlined and user-friendly. And yes — you can absolutely do it yourself without hiring a Chartered Accountant (CA). But while the process is more accessible now, it’s still easy to make mistakes that can delay your refund or invite scrutiny from the tax department.

If you’re planning to file your ITR yourself this year, here’s a guide to help you do it right — plus five common errors you must steer clear of.

Why File Your ITR Without a CA?

Filing your ITR yourself has a number of benefits beyond just saving money on professional fees. For one, it helps you better understand your own income, deductions, and tax obligations. With the government’s e-filing portal now offering pre-filled data such as PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, and salary information, you don’t have to start from scratch.

Additionally, tools like Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) provide a consolidated view of your income, tax deducted at source (TDS), and other transactions. All of this makes it easier to file accurately — as long as you’re cautious about the details.

Let’s look at the top five mistakes that people often make while filing their returns — and how to avoid them.

1. Selecting the Wrong ITR Form

This is one of the most common slip-ups. The Income Tax Department has designed different ITR forms for different types of taxpayers based on their income sources. Using the wrong form can lead to rejection or the return being considered defective.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

ITR-1 (Sahaj): For salaried individuals, pensioners, and those with income up to ₹50 lakh from one house property.

ITR-2: Use this if you have income from capital gains, like stock or mutual fund investments.

ITR-3 / ITR-4: If you’re a freelancer, run a small business, or have professional income, one of these forms is likely applicable.

Tip: Before starting, visit the official e-filing portal and refer to the form guide. It will help you pick the correct form for your specific case.

2. Picking the Wrong Assessment Year (AY)

It may seem like a small detail, but choosing the wrong assessment year can throw off your entire filing.

For income earned during financial year 2024–25, you need to select assessment year 2025–26 while filing your return. Confusing the two is a surprisingly frequent mistake that can result in rejected submissions or even penalties.

3. Not Disclosing All Sources of Income (Especially Interest)

Many individuals report only their salary income and forget to include other earnings — like interest from fixed deposits, savings accounts, or other investments. This is a critical oversight.

What makes this worse? The Income Tax Department already knows about these incomes via your AIS and Form 26AS. So, failing to declare them could raise red flags or delay your refund.

What you should do:

Download your AIS and Form 26AS before filing.

Review them line by line to ensure all your income sources are accounted for.

Declare any interest income and match the TDS data reflected there.

4. Incorrect or Unsupported Deduction Claims

Claiming deductions is an important part of reducing your tax liability. But doing it incorrectly — or without valid documents — can be risky.

For example, deductions under Section 80C (such as LIC premiums, ELSS, PPF), or Section 80D (health insurance premiums), should only be claimed if you have proof of payment.

Also, keep in mind: if you’re filing under the new tax regime, you won’t be eligible for most deductions and exemptions. The new regime is now set as default on the portal, so you’ll need to actively opt for the old regime if you want to claim these benefits.

Pro Tip: Evaluate which tax regime is better for you — old or new — based on your investments and deductions. The portal allows you to switch before filing.

5. Skipping the E-Verification Step

A surprisingly common oversight is forgetting to e-verify the return after filing. If your return isn’t verified within 30 days, it will be treated as not filed.

That means you’ll have to redo the entire process — or worse, you might miss the deadline.

E-verification options include:

Aadhaar OTP

Net Banking login

Electronic Verification Code (EVC)

Make sure you complete this step — it’s as crucial as filing itself.

What’s New in ITR Filing This Year?

Some recent updates have made ITR filing even more seamless:

AIS and Form 26AS now offer greater detail, making it easier to cross-check information.

There’s now an AIS mobile app, so you can view your income data on the go.

The new tax regime is now the default, but you can switch to the old one manually if it benefits you.

It’s more important than ever to match your Form 16, 26AS, and AIS before filing — all three should align to avoid discrepancies.

Filing your Income Tax Return may seem like a once-a-year chore, but it’s actually a powerful financial tool. When done properly, it not only helps you stay on the right side of the law but also aids in better financial planning and faster refunds.

Here’s a smart practice: Sit down with your Form 16, Form 26AS, and AIS together before you start. Cross-check every detail and ensure nothing is left out. This one step can prevent 90% of the common errors.

Doing your ITR without a CA is absolutely possible — and with some attention to detail, you can do it just as efficiently. Avoid these common mistakes, use the right resources, and file with confidence.