How to Login to ITR Filing Portal: Complete E-Filing Guide AY 2026-27

ITR Filing Login: The Complete Guide

Portal: https://eportal.incometax.gov.in

Username: Your PAN

Password: One you create during registration

Time to file: 30-60 mins if you have docs ready

Deadlines (AY 2026-27): July 31, 2026 (ITR-1, ITR-2), Aug 31, 2026 (ITR-3, ITR-4 non-audit), Nov 21, 2026 (audit cases, extended by CBDT Circular 07/2026). Missed it? A belated return can be filed until Dec 31, 2026.

The Income Tax e-filing portal can be confusing on first visit. This guide walks you through login, form selection, and filing step-by-step so you can avoid rejections and claim your refund.

Part 1: Login to ITR Filing Portal

Step 1: Go to Official Portal

Visit https://eportal.incometax.gov.in (ONLY this domain is official).

Important: Check the URL. Do NOT use other sites claiming to be "ITR portal". They're often phishing sites.

Step 2: Click "Login"

On the homepage, click "Login" in the top right.

Step 3: Enter PAN & Password

• Username: Your PAN (10 alphanumeric characters)
• Password: Password you created during registration (or reset if forgotten)
• Captcha: Solve the image captcha

Click "Sign In"

Step 4: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

After login, you'll receive an OTP (One-Time Password) on your registered mobile number.

Enter OTP and click "Verify"

Note: If you don't receive OTP:

• Check your phone signal
• Verify mobile number in your profile (Settings → Mobile Number)
• Wait 2 minutes and request OTP again

Step 5: Dashboard Opens

You're now logged in. You'll see:

• Dashboard (home)
• File ITR (to file new return)
• View Filed Returns (to download prior-year filings)
• My Account (profile, settings)

Part 2: File ITR Online (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Click "File ITR"

From dashboard, click "File ITR for AY 2026-27" (or current year).

Step 2: Select ITR Form

Choose the form that fits your income type:

• ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salaried individuals only
• ITR-2: Individuals with capital gains, no business income
• ITR-3: Self-employed, professionals, business income
• ITR-4 (Sugam): Small business, presumptive scheme
• ITR-5: Partnership firms
• ITR-6: Companies
• ITR-7: Trusts, societies

Not sure which form? Read our ITR form selection guide.

Click the correct form → "Proceed"

Step 3: Auto-Filled Data

The portal pre-fills data from:

• Form 26AS (TDS and TCS deducted by employers, banks and other deductors, plus tax you paid)
• AIS (Annual Information Statement: salary, interest, dividends, securities transactions and other reported income)

Review carefully. If wrong data, report to your employer/bank to correct their records first.

Step 4: Enter Income Details

Fill in:

• Salary: Auto-filled from Form 26AS
• House property income: Rent details
• Capital gains: Stock sale proceeds
• Business income: Turnover, expenses
• Other sources: Interest, dividends

Tip: Fill only sections relevant to your income type. Skip blank sections.

Step 5: Claim Deductions

Under "Deductions", claim:

• 80C: Life insurance, PPF, education fees (up to 1.5L)
• 80D: Health insurance (25k-75k depending on age)
• 80G: Charitable donations
• 80TTA: Savings account interest (10k max)

Step 6: Review Tax Computation

Portal auto-calculates:

• Taxable income (income - deductions)
• Tax payable (based on slabs)
• Tax relief: Section 87A rebate (if applicable)
• Refund due or tax payable

Verify carefully. If wrong, go back and correct.

Step 7: Submit Return

Click "Submit" at the bottom.

Step 8: E-Verify Your Return

After submission, you'll be asked to e-verify (authenticate your filing):

Option 1: Aadhaar OTP (Recommended)

• Receive OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile
• Enter OTP
• Return marked as verified immediately

Option 2: EVC through a pre-validated bank or demat account

• Pre-validate your bank or demat account in your profile first
• The portal sends an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) to the linked mobile and email
• Enter the EVC to verify

Option 3: Net banking

• Log in to your bank's net banking and choose the e-filing option
• You are redirected to the portal and can e-verify from there

Option 4: Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

• Mandatory for audit cases, optional for others

Option 5: Send signed ITR-V by post

• Download ITR-V, sign it and send it by ordinary or speed post to CPC, Bengaluru
• It must reach CPC within 30 days of filing
• NOT recommended: postal delays can make the verification late

Important: Verify within 30 days of filing. If you verify later, the date of verification is treated as the date of filing, so a late fee under Section 234F can apply. A return that is never verified is treated as not filed.

Step 9: Download Acknowledgement

After e-verification, you'll get a filed return acknowledgement (ITR-V).

Print and keep a copy for your records.

Part 3: Common Login Issues & Fixes

"Forgot Password": How to Reset

1. Click "Forgot Password" on login page
2. Enter PAN
3. Choose a reset method: OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile, OTP on your registered mobile and email, net banking, or a Digital Signature Certificate
4. Verify the OTP and create a new password
5. Login with new password

If your registered mobile and email are outdated: use the Aadhaar OTP option (or log in through your bank's net banking), then update your contact details under My Profile. For further help, call the e-filing helpdesk at 1800-103-0025.

"OTP Not Received"

• Check mobile signal
• Verify mobile number in Settings → My Profile
• Wait 2 minutes, request OTP again
• If still no OTP: contact IT dept (toll-free number above)

"Portal Not Opening / Timeouts"

• Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
• Clear browser cache
• Disable VPN (if using one)
• Try at off-peak time (e.g., 10 AM instead of 5 PM)

"Wrong Form 26AS / AIS Data"

If auto-filled TDS is wrong:

1. Do NOT file yet
2. Contact your employer or bank
3. Ask them to correct Form 26AS on their end
4. Wait 2-3 days for correction to reflect
5. Then file ITR

Part 4: ITR Filing Deadlines & E-Verify Timeline

If you miss e-verification: Late verification shifts your filing date to the verification date (and can attract the late fee). An unverified return is treated as not filed, so no refund is processed.

Part 5: After Filing: What's Next

Immediately After Filing (Same day)

• ✓ Download acknowledgement (ITR-V)
• ✓ Print and keep safe
• ✓ Note your filing date

Within 30 Days

• ✓ E-verify online (OTP or Aadhaar)
• ✓ Receive e-verified acknowledgement
• ✓ Return now complete

1-2 Months Later

• ✓ Check "View Filed Returns" for the processing status
• ✓ If refund due: watch for credit to bank account (usually 5-10 business days after processing)
• ✓ If the processed return shows tax payable, you get an intimation under Section 143(1): pay the demand or respond online within the time given

If You Receive a Notice

• ✓ Don't panic. Common for first-time filers.
• ✓ Read carefully
• ✓ Respond with documents within deadline
• ✓ Contact Tax Garden if support needed

Bottom Line: Avoid Portal Confusion

The e-filing portal is secure and reliable. The key steps:

1. Login (PAN + password)
2. Select form (ITR-1 to 7)
3. Fill details (income, deductions)
4. E-verify (OTP within 30 days)
5. Done: Refund or payment automatic

If you don't want to navigate the portal yourself, Tax Garden files your ITR end-to-end. We handle login, form selection, and e-verification. You just upload docs.

File deadline: the original due dates for AY 2026-27 have passed; a belated return can still be filed until Dec 31, 2026. Don't delay.