ITR deadline ends in few hours, here's how you can file it and avoid I-T Department penalty of Rs 5,000

Income Tax Return filing deadline today: The deadline for filing Income tax returns for the Financial Year 2023-24 and Assessment Year 2024-25 is about to end today. Taxpayers who haven't filled their ITR yet are requested to do so as soon as possible as only a few hours left. The government has not announced any extension date for ITR filing so far on Wednesday. If you have not filed your ITR yet, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can file it. It should be noted that if a taxpayer misses the deadline then he/she will have to pay a penalty for late payment.

ITR Last Date: How to file return of income online?

Follow the given steps to file your ITR through the Income Tax Department's official website-

- Go to the Income Tax e-Filing portal - https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
- Using your username, password, date of birth, and Captcha Code log in to your account.
- Click on the 'e-File' menu and click the 'Income Tax Return' link and tap on 'continue'.
- Read the Instructions carefully and fill in all the applicable and mandatory fields of the online ITR Form.
- Once you select the appropriate verification option in the 'Taxes Paid and Verification' tab, Click on the 'Preview and Submit' button and verify all the data entered in the ITR.
- 'Submit' the ITR.
- On Choosing 'I would like to e-Verify' option, e-Verification can be done through EVC, Aadhaar OTP, Prevalidated Bank, Account Prevalidated, Demat Account, and by entering the EVC/OTP when asked for.
- The EVC/OTP should be entered within 60 seconds else, the Income Tax Return (ITR) will be auto-submitted. The submitted ITR should be verified later by using 'My Account > e-Verify Return' option or by sending signed ITR-V to CPC.

ITR Last Date: How to Check Status  

Those who have already filed their income tax return 2024 and have claimed the return, can track refund status by following certain steps. These are refunds allowed by the Income Tax department for any excess tax paid by them to the government.
Step 1: Visit www.incometax.gov.in
Step 2: Log in to your account. For this, you will need to enter your PAN/Aadhaar number as a user ID and password
Step 3: Click on 'e-file' option
Step 4: Select 'Income tax returns' under the 'e-file' option
Step 5: Select 'View Filed returns'
Step 6: Check the latest ITR filed
Step 7: Select the option 'View Details' to see the status of the ITR filed

ITR Last Date: Penalty and consequences  

Even if someone misses the income tax return filing deadline, he/she can still file the return by December 31, 2024. However, the person will have to pay a late fee. It will also have some other financial consequences.

ITR Last Date: Late Fine

For those with an annual income of more than Rs 5 lakh, the late fine is Rs 5,000 for missing out July 31 deadline. Those who fall below Rs 5 lakh income will have to pay a fine of Rs 1000 as a late fee for missing the deadline.