Types of ITR Forms AY 2026-27: ITR-1 to ITR-7
Table of Contents
Filing the wrong ITR form is one of the most common mistakes salaried professionals make. The income tax department can mark your return as defective, ask you to refile, and in some cases treat it as if you never filed at all. For the complete income tax guide, refer to our income tax guide India. The good news is that once you understand what each form covers, choosing the right one takes less than two minutes.
There are seven types of ITR forms for AY 2026-27, applicable for income earned in FY 2025-26. This guide covers who should file each form, what income is included and excluded, and the filing deadlines for each form.
Important note for AY 2026-27: Even though the Income Tax Act 2025 came into force from April 1, 2026, your ITR for FY 2025-26 is governed entirely by the Income Tax Act 1961. Use old section numbers such as 80C, 80D, and 24(b) when filing this year’s return. The new Act applies only from Tax Year 2026-27 onwards, with returns due in 2027.
Quick Reference: All 7 ITR Forms at a Glance
| ITR Form | Who Should File | Income Limit | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) | Resident salaried individuals | Up to Rs. 50 lakh | July 31, 2026 |
| ITR-2 | Individuals and HUF with capital gains or multiple properties | No limit | July 31, 2026 |
| ITR-3 | Individuals and HUF with business or professional income | No limit | August 31, 2026 |
| ITR-4 (Sugam) | Presumptive income taxpayers | Up to Rs. 50 lakh | August 31, 2026 |
| ITR-5 | Partnership firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs | No limit | July 31, 2026 |
| ITR-6 | Companies (except Section 11 exemption cases) | No limit | October 31, 2026 |
| ITR-7 | Trusts, political parties, research institutions | No limit | October 31, 2026 |
ITR-1 (Sahaj): For Salaried Individuals
Who Should File ITR-1?
ITR-1 is the simplest form and is meant for resident individuals whose total income does not exceed Rs. 50 lakh from the following sources:
- Salary or pension
- Up to two house properties (new from AY 2026-27 – earlier only one house property was allowed)
- Income from other sources such as savings account interest, fixed deposit interest, or family pension
- Agricultural income up to Rs. 5,000
Who Cannot File ITR-1?
You cannot file ITR-1 if any of the following apply:
- Total income exceeds Rs. 50 lakh
- You have capital gains from shares, mutual funds, or property
- You have more than two house properties
- You are a director in any company
- You hold unlisted equity shares
- You have foreign income or foreign assets
- You are a Non-Resident or Not Ordinarily Resident
- You have brought forward losses to be carried forward
Key Change in AY 2026-27
From AY 2026-27, ITR-1 now allows reporting of income from up to two house properties. Previously, salaried individuals who owned two residential properties had to file the more complex ITR-2. This change simplifies filing for a large number of salaried professionals.
Example: Ramesh earns Rs. 12 lakh as salary and owns two house properties, one self-occupied and one vacant. His total income is Rs. 12 lakh. He can now file ITR-1 directly. Earlier, he would have had to shift to ITR-2.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
ITR-2: For Capital Gains and Multiple Properties
Who Should File ITR-2?
ITR-2 is for individuals and HUFs who cannot file ITR-1 but do not have income from business or profession. File ITR-2 if you have:
- Salary or pension with total income exceeding Rs. 50 lakh
- Capital gains from sale of shares, mutual funds, property, or any other asset
- Income from more than two house properties
- Foreign income or foreign assets
- Income from lottery or horse racing
- Directorship in any company
- Investment in unlisted equity shares
Who Cannot File ITR-2?
You cannot file ITR-2 if you have income from business or profession. In that case, you must use ITR-3.
Example: Sunita is a salaried employee earning Rs. 18 lakh. She also sold equity mutual funds during the year and has long-term capital gains. She must file ITR-2.
Example: Vikas owns three house properties and earns rental income from two of them. Even though he is salaried, he must file ITR-2 because he has more than two house properties.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
ITR-3: For Business and Professional Income
Who Should File ITR-3?
ITR-3 is for individuals and HUFs who have income from business or profession and are not eligible for the presumptive taxation scheme. File ITR-3 if you have:
- Income from any business or profession not covered under presumptive scheme
- Freelance income exceeding Rs. 50 lakh
- F&O or intraday trading income (treated as business income)
- Income as a partner in a partnership firm
- All sources covered under ITR-2, plus business income
Who Cannot File ITR-3?
Any person eligible for ITR-1, ITR-2, or ITR-4 should not file ITR-3 unnecessarily. ITR-3 is more detailed and requires profit and loss account and balance sheet disclosures.
Example: Ankit is a salaried software engineer who also actively trades in Futures and Options. F&O income is treated as business income. He must file ITR-3.
Example: Priya is a freelance consultant earning Rs. 80 lakh in fees. Since her gross receipts exceed Rs. 50 lakh, she cannot use the presumptive scheme and must file ITR-3.
Deadline: August 31, 2026 (non-audit cases); October 31, 2026 (audit cases)
ITR-4 (Sugam): For Presumptive Income Taxpayers
Who Should File ITR-4?
ITR-4 is for resident individuals, HUFs, and partnership firms (not LLPs) who have opted for the presumptive taxation scheme. The three sections covered are:
Section 44AD covers small businesses with turnover up to Rs. 3 crore (if 95% or more receipts are digital), where income is declared at 8% of turnover (6% for digital receipts).
Section 44ADA covers professionals such as doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, and consultants with gross receipts up to Rs. 75 lakh, where income is declared at 50% of receipts.
Section 44AE covers goods transport businesses with not more than 10 vehicles.
In addition to the above, total income must not exceed Rs. 50 lakh, and long-term capital gains under Section 112A must not exceed Rs. 1.25 lakh with no carry-forward losses.
Who Cannot File ITR-4?
You cannot file ITR-4 if:
- Total income exceeds Rs. 50 lakh
- You have more than two house properties
- You are a director in a company
- You hold unlisted equity shares
- Your professional gross receipts exceed Rs. 75 lakh or business turnover exceeds Rs. 3 crore
Example: Dr. Sharma runs a private clinic with gross receipts of Rs. 40 lakh. He opts for Section 44ADA and declares 50% as income. He files ITR-4.
Example: Meena runs a small trading business with Rs. 1.5 crore turnover and opts for Section 44AD, declaring 8% as income. She files ITR-4 since her total income stays below Rs. 50 lakh.
For freelancers deciding between ITR-3 and ITR-4, the right choice depends on your gross receipts and whether you want to opt for the presumptive scheme. Read our detailed guide on income tax for freelancers to understand which option suits your situation.
Deadline: August 31, 2026 (non-audit cases)
ITR-5: For Partnership Firms and LLPs
Who Should File ITR-5?
ITR-5 is for entities that are not individuals, HUFs, companies, or trusts filing under ITR-7. This includes:
- Partnership firms
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
- Association of Persons (AOPs)
- Body of Individuals (BOIs)
- Artificial Juridical Persons
- Estate of deceased persons
- Trusts not claiming exemption under Sections 11 and 12
Who Cannot File ITR-5?
Individuals, HUFs, companies (which use ITR-6), and charitable trusts claiming exemption under Sections 11 and 12 (which use ITR-7) cannot file ITR-5.
Deadline: July 31, 2026 (non-audit); October 31, 2026 (audit cases)
ITR-6: For Companies
Who Should File ITR-6?
ITR-6 is for all companies registered in India, except companies that claim exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act. This covers:
- Private limited companies
- Public limited companies
- One Person Companies (OPCs)
- Foreign companies with income sourced in India
ITR-6 must be filed electronically with a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). It cannot be filed offline.
Who Cannot File ITR-6?
Companies that claim exemption under Section 11, meaning those operating as charitable or religious trusts, must file ITR-7 instead.
Deadline: October 31, 2026 (audit required for all companies)
ITR-7: For Trusts, Political Parties, and Institutions
Who Should File ITR-7?
ITR-7 is for persons, including companies, required to file returns under specific sections of the Income Tax Act. This includes:
- Charitable or religious trusts claiming exemption under Sections 11 and 12 (Section 139(4A))
- Political parties (Section 139(4B))
- Scientific research institutions (Section 139(4C))
- Universities, colleges, and institutions (Section 139(4D))
- Khadi and Village Industries (Section 139(4D))
Who Cannot File ITR-7?
Individuals, HUFs, companies not claiming Section 11 exemption, and partnership firms or LLPs must not file ITR-7. If a trust is not claiming exemption under Sections 11 and 12, it should examine ITR-5 instead.
Deadline: October 31, 2026 (where audit is applicable)
Which ITR Form Should You File? A Simple Decision Guide
If you are a salaried individual with income below Rs. 50 lakh, no capital gains, and up to two house properties: file ITR-1.
If you are salaried with income above Rs. 50 lakh, or have capital gains, or own more than two properties: file ITR-2.
If you have any business income, professional income, or F&O trading income and your gross receipts exceed the presumptive scheme limits: file ITR-3.
If you run a small business or practice and want to opt for presumptive taxation with income below Rs. 50 lakh: file ITR-4.
If you are a partnership firm, LLP, AOP, or BOI: file ITR-5.
If you are a company (not a charitable trust): file ITR-6.
If you are a charitable trust, political party, or educational institution: file ITR-7.
Types of ITR Forms and Filing Deadlines: AY 2026-27
| Taxpayer Category | Applicable Form | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried individuals, pensioners (income up to Rs. 50 lakh) | ITR-1 | July 31, 2026 |
| Individuals with capital gains or multiple properties | ITR-2 | July 31, 2026 |
| Business or professional income, non-audit | ITR-3 | August 31, 2026 |
| Presumptive income taxpayers, non-audit | ITR-4 | August 31, 2026 |
| Business or professional income, audit cases | ITR-3 or ITR-4 | October 31, 2026 |
| Partnership firms, LLPs, AOPs, BOIs | ITR-5 | October 31, 2026 |
| Companies | ITR-6 | October 31, 2026 |
| Trusts, political parties, institutions | ITR-7 | October 31, 2026 |
| Transfer pricing cases | ITR-3, ITR-6 | November 30, 2026 |
For a detailed breakdown of all ITR deadlines and penalty rules, read our guide on ITR filing last date 2026.
Common Mistakes When Choosing an ITR Form
Filing ITR-1 with capital gains: If you have sold any shares, mutual funds, or property during the year, you cannot file ITR-1 even if your total income is below Rs. 50 lakh. You must shift to ITR-2.
Filing ITR-4 when gross receipts exceed the limit: If your professional receipts exceed Rs. 75 lakh or your business turnover exceeds Rs. 3 crore, you cannot use ITR-4 and must file ITR-3.
Filing ITR-2 with F&O income: F&O trading is classified as business income, not capital gains. Filing ITR-2 for F&O income is incorrect. You must file ITR-3.
Not verifying the return after filing: Every ITR must be verified within 30 days of online submission. Failure to verify renders the return invalid, as if it was never filed. Read our step-by-step guide on how to verify ITR after filing.
Filing a belated return with the wrong form: If you miss the deadline and file a belated or revised return, the form selection rules remain exactly the same. Read our guide on belated return vs revised return to understand your options.
For complete step-by-step guidance on the ITR filing process, refer to our guide on how to file ITR online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file ITR-2 if I am eligible for ITR-1?
Yes, technically you can. Taxpayers eligible for ITR-1 can also file ITR-2. However, ITR-1 is simpler and recommended as long as you meet all eligibility conditions.
Can a salaried person file ITR-3?
Yes, if the salaried person also has business income or F&O trading income, they must file ITR-3 regardless of their salary income.
Is ITR-4 applicable to freelancers?
Yes, freelancers with gross receipts up to Rs. 50 lakh can opt for Section 44ADA and file ITR-4. If gross receipts exceed Rs. 50 lakh, they must file ITR-3.
What happens if I file the wrong ITR form?
The income tax department can issue a defective return notice under Section 139(9). You will be given time to refile with the correct form. If you do not respond, the return may be treated as invalid.
Can NRIs file ITR-1?
No. ITR-1 is only for resident individuals. NRIs and persons who are Not Ordinarily Resident must file ITR-2 at minimum.
What is the difference between ITR-1 and ITR-4?
ITR-1 is for salaried individuals with no business income. ITR-4 is for individuals who have business or professional income and are opting for the presumptive taxation scheme. Both have a Rs. 50 lakh income cap, but their income sources are different.
To file your return on the official income tax portal, visit incometax.gov.in.
