I missed 31 July — can I still file?

Yes, a belated return can be filed after the due date, but the cost is already running. Section 234F adds Rs 5,000, or Rs 1,000 if total income is below Rs 5,00,000, and interest accrues at 1% per month on any unpaid tax.

I sold a few shares at a small profit — is ITR-1 still fine?

No. Any capital gain, whatever its size, falls outside ITR-1. The return must be filed on ITR-2, and filing the wrong form can draw a defective-return notice under section 139(9).

My salary is Rs 12,50,000 — do I pay any tax under the new regime?

No. After the Rs 75,000 standard deduction, taxable income is Rs 11,75,000, which is inside the Rs 12,00,000 rebate limit. The computed tax of Rs 57,500 is fully cancelled by the section 87A rebate.

Which regime is better for me?

Compute both on your actual salary and take the lower figure. At Rs 15,00,000 with only the standard deduction counted, the new regime costs about Rs 93,750 against Rs 2,47,500 under the old schedule; the old regime competes only when its other deductions are large enough to close that gap.

How to file a salaried ITR

Mr Choubey — Income-tax filing guidance for salaried | mrchoubey.com

For FY 2025-26, assessed as AY 2026-27, a salaried return comes down to three moves: pick the right ITR form, compute tax under the regime that costs less, and file online by 31 July 2026. This guide walks each move using the actual slab rates, the standard deduction, the rebate, the late fee and the monthly interest charge.

From first payslip to late fee

This is not a filing service, an accountant's office or the Income Tax Department — nothing here prepares, submits or sells a return.

31 Julin this record

The six numbers a salaried filer needs

Scroll the strip sideways — 6 cards.

Deadline

31 July 2026

The due date for salaried individuals without audit requirements, for FY 2025-26 filed in AY 2026-27. Filing on time costs nothing beyond the tax itself.

Deduction

Rs 75,000 off salary

The new-regime standard deduction, subtracted before the slabs run. The old regime allows Rs 50,000.

Rebate

Rs 60,000 rebate cap

Section 87A cancels new-regime tax when taxable income is Rs 12,00,000 or less. A salary of Rs 12,75,000 therefore pays nil.

Late fee

Rs 5,000 under 234F

The fixed fee for filing after the due date. It falls to Rs 1,000 when total income is below Rs 5,00,000.

Interest

1% per month

The rate at which sections 234A and 234B charge on unpaid tax — 12% per annum, accruing for every month of delay.

Form

Rs 50,00,000 ceiling

The income limit for ITR-1. Cross it, or report any capital gain, and the return moves to ITR-2.

Three deeper pages

Also in this guide

Rs 5,000late-filing fee under section 234FThe fee drops to Rs 1,000 when total income is below Rs 5,00,000.

Rs 75,000standard deduction under the new regimeThe old regime allows a standard deduction of Rs 50,000 instead.

Rs 50,00,000income ceiling for filing ITR-1Above this, or with any capital gain, the return moves to ITR-2.

Which ITR form does a salary return need?

Most salaried employees file ITR-1; the moment a capital gain appears, the form changes to ITR-2.

ITR-1 is built for the plain salary case: a resident individual whose income is salary plus other-source income such as interest, with total income up to Rs 50,00,000. If that description fits the whole year, no other form is needed.

The exclusion that catches people is capital gains. Even one small profit from selling shares or a mutual-fund unit falls outside ITR-1, and the return must be filed on ITR-2 instead. The size of the gain does not matter; its existence does.

Filing on the wrong form can draw a defective-return notice under section 139(9), after which the return has to be corrected and refiled while the deadline clock keeps running. The full decision path is laid out on the Which ITR Form to File page.

New-regime slab table, FY 2025-26

New-regime tax bands for FY 2025-26, with the cumulative tax at the top of each band.
Taxable income band (INR)	Rate on this band	Total tax at the top of the band (INR)
Up to 4,00,000	Nil	0
4,00,001 – 8,00,000	5%	20,000
8,00,001 – 12,00,000	10%	60,000
12,00,001 – 16,00,000	15%	1,20,000
16,00,001 – 20,00,000	20%	2,00,000
20,00,001 – 24,00,000	25%	3,00,000
Above 24,00,000	30%	3,00,000 + 30% of the excess

New-regime tax bands for FY 2025-26, with the cumulative tax at the top of each band.

The filing year in figures

Every figure on this page is computed from the FY 2025-26 slab schedule and the published fee and interest rates.

From first payslip to late fee

The key terms of this guide, drawn to one scale

What salaried filers actually ask

I missed 31 July — can I still file?: Yes, a belated return can be filed after the due date, but the cost is already running. Section 234F adds Rs 5,000, or Rs 1,000 if total income is below Rs 5,00,000, and interest accrues at 1% per month on any unpaid tax.
I sold a few shares at a small profit — is ITR-1 still fine?: No. Any capital gain, whatever its size, falls outside ITR-1. The return must be filed on ITR-2, and filing the wrong form can draw a defective-return notice under section 139(9).
My salary is Rs 12,50,000 — do I pay any tax under the new regime?: No. After the Rs 75,000 standard deduction, taxable income is Rs 11,75,000, which is inside the Rs 12,00,000 rebate limit. The computed tax of Rs 57,500 is fully cancelled by the section 87A rebate.
Which regime is better for me?: Compute both on your actual salary and take the lower figure. At Rs 15,00,000 with only the standard deduction counted, the new regime costs about Rs 93,750 against Rs 2,47,500 under the old schedule; the old regime competes only when its other deductions are large enough to close that gap.