Guide to File ITR 1 (Sahaj) Under New Tax Regime FY 2024-25 / AY 2025-26)

The tax landscape in India has seen some notable shifts, particularly with the new tax regime now taking center stage. For the financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26), this simplified structure is your default. So, unless you actively choose to revert to the old regime, your income will be calculated under these new rules. This guide is here to walk you through filing your ITR 1 (Sahaj) online, ensuring you leverage the latest updates on the Income Tax Department’s portal.

Necessary Documents Required for Filing ITR 1 (Sahaj) Under New Tax Regime

Before you log in, make sure you have these documents ready. They’ll make the process much smoother:

• Your PAN and Aadhaar.
• Form 16: This crucial document from your employer summarizes your salary and TDS.
• Form 26AS: Your tax credit statement, readily available on the e-filing portal, showing all taxes deducted or collected.
• Annual Information Statement (AIS) & Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS): These provide a comprehensive view of your financial transactions and income, and are essential for verifying the pre-filled data. Download them from the e-filing portal.
• Bank Statements/Passbooks and Interest Certificates: For accurate reporting of all interest income (savings, FDs, etc.).
• Investment Proofs: Only for the few deductions still allowed under the new regime, or if you plan to compare with the old regime.
• Any Other Income Details: For income not covered by Form 16 (e.g., small freelance earnings, rental income if applicable, dividend income).
• Bank Account Details for Refund: Double-check that your chosen bank account is pre-validated on the portal for swift refunds.

Your Step-by-Step Walkthrough for Filing ITR 1 (Sahaj) Under New Tax Regime

The Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal is designed for ease of use, and with updated forms, the process is quite streamlined.

Step 1: Access the e-Filing Portal

• Head to the official Income Tax e-filing website: www.incometax.gov.in.
• Click “Login,” enter your PAN as your User ID, your password, and the security captcha. Then hit “Continue.”

Step 2: Start Your Filing Journey

• Once logged in, navigate to e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return.
• Select “2025-26” as your Assessment Year.
• Choose “Online” as your Mode of Filing – it’s generally the most convenient.
• Click “Continue.” If you’ve started before, you can “Resume Filing”; otherwise, select “Start New Filing.”

Step 3: Define Your Status and Form

• For your status, pick “Individual.”
• The system will suggest forms. Go with “ITR 1 (Sahaj).”
• Click “Proceed with ITR 1.”

Step 4: The “Let’s Get Started” Checkpoint

• You’ll see a brief overview of ITR 1 sections. Click “Let’s Get Started.”
• The portal will ask your Reason for filing ITR. Most commonly, you’ll select “Taxable income is more than the basic exemption limit.” Choose other applicable reasons if necessary (e.g., “Claiming refund”).

Step 5: Personal Information – The Crucial Regime Choice!

Review Pre-filled Data: Your personal details (PAN, Aadhaar, contact info, etc.) will be pre-filled. Verify everything meticulously. If any details are outdated, update your profile first.

Nature of Employment: Select your employment type (e.g., PSU, Private Sector, Pensioner). This is mandatory.

Choosing Your Tax Regime: This is where the magic happens for the new regime.

• For AY 2025-26, the New Tax Regime is the default.
• You’ll encounter a crucial question: “Do you want to opt out of the New Tax Regime?”
• To proceed under the NEW Tax Regime, you MUST select “No.” Choosing “Yes” would switch you to the old regime, enabling various deduction fields. For non-business individuals like us, this choice can be made directly in the ITR form each year.

Bank Details: Confirm your pre-validated bank account(s). This is your refund destination, so ensure it’s correct and pre-validated. Add new accounts or delete old ones if needed.

Click “Confirm” to save these details.

Step 6: Gross Total Income – Your Earnings Unveiled

This section comes pre-populated with data from your Form 16, AIS, and Form 26AS. Take your time to cross-check each entry:

• Salary/Pension Income: Match the figures with your Form 16. Importantly, the ₹75,000 standard deduction will be automatically factored in here. Don’t expect to see typical exempt allowances like HRA or LTA as deductions under this regime.
• Income from House Property: If you have just one house property, enter its details. If it’s rented, input the gross rent, and the 30% standard deduction on rental income will be calculated automatically. Municipal taxes paid can also be deducted. Remember, under the new regime, interest on a home loan for a self-occupied property is generally not deductible. However, for a let-out property, interest on a housing loan remains fully deductible.
• Income from Other Sources: Verify all pre-filled interest (savings, fixed deposits) against your AIS/TIS and bank statements. Don’t forget to add any other income like dividend income (ensure it’s the gross amount before any TDS), or family pension (which gets a deduction of 33.33% of the pension or ₹25,000, whichever is lower, even in the new regime).
• Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) under Section 112A: For AY 2025-26, ITR 1 now accommodates certain LTCG up to ₹1.25 Lakhs from listed equity shares/equity mutual funds. If this applies to you, you’ll see a specific field for it.

Click “Confirm.”

Step 7: Total Deductions – The Slimmed-Down List

Since you’ve opted for the new tax regime, you’ll notice most common Chapter VI-A deductions (like those under 80C, 80D, 80G, etc.) are inactive.

The primary deductions you’ll likely see and can utilize are:

• Section 80CCD(2): This is for your employer’s contribution to the National Pension System (NPS), typically up to 10% of your salary (or 14% for Central Government employees).
• Section 80CCH: For contributions to the Agniveer Corpus Fund (if applicable).

Enter any applicable deductions carefully.

Click “Confirm.”

Step 8: Tax Paid – A Cross-Check of Your Credits

• This section displays the taxes already paid on your behalf or by you.
• TDS (Tax Deducted at Source): Crucially, verify these figures against your Form 16, Form 26AS, and AIS. This includes TDS on salary, interest, etc. Ensure the amounts and the deductors’ TANs match up perfectly.
• TCS (Tax Collected at Source): If relevant, cross-check these details.
• Advance Tax & Self-Assessment Tax: Enter any advance tax payments you made throughout the year, and any self-assessment tax paid before filing this return.
• Click “Confirm.”

Step 9: Total Tax Liability – Understanding Your Final Bill (or Refund!)

The system will now crunch the numbers, applying the new tax regime’s slab rates to your income and factoring in any allowed deductions.

• New Tax Regime Slabs (FY 2024-25 / AY 2025-26):
  • Up to ₹3,00,000: Nil
  • ₹3,00,001 to ₹7,00,000: 5% (Remember, the Section 87A rebate often makes tax zero here!)
  • ₹7,00,001 to ₹10,00,000: 10%
  • ₹10,00,001 to ₹12,00,000: 15%
  • ₹12,00,001 to ₹15,00,000: 20%
  • Above ₹15,00,000: 30%
• Don’t forget the 4% Health and Education Cess on your calculated tax.

Review the tax computation summary presented to you.

Tax Payable: If there’s a balance tax due, the portal will prompt you to “Pay Now.” It’s best to clear any dues before submitting your return.

Refund: If you’re due a refund, the amount will be clearly shown. Just make sure those bank account details in Step 5 are accurate and validated!

Click “Confirm.”

Step 10: Preview and File!

• Click “Preview Return” to get a comprehensive look at your entire ITR form. This is your last chance to catch any errors. Go through every detail.
• Once you’re satisfied that everything is correct, proceed to “Submit.”

Step 11: E-Verify Your Return – The Non-Negotiable Final Step

Your filing journey isn’t truly complete until you e-verify your return. You have 30 days from submission to do this, or your return will be considered invalid.

You’ll be presented with several e-verification options:

• Aadhaar OTP: This is the most popular and easiest method. An OTP will be sent to your mobile number linked with Aadhaar.
• Net Banking: You can log in through your bank’s net banking portal to verify.
• Demat Account: Using an EVC generated through your Demat account.
• Bank ATM (Offline): Generate an EVC at specific bank ATMs.
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Typically used by professionals.

Choose the method that suits you best and complete the verification. A successful verification will result in an acknowledgment (ITR-V) being sent to your registered email ID.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully filed your ITR 1 under the New Tax Regime for FY 2024-25.

While the new regime simplifies things by minimizing the need for many deduction proofs, always keep all your financial records well-organized.

Contact for getting your ITR filed professionally.