Introduction
Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is not just a compliance requirement—it is a chance to claim what is rightfully yours, like refunds and deductions. But every year, we see taxpayers face avoidable issues like delays, refund failures, or even notices—often because of simple filing mistakes.
So, if you are preparing to file your ITR for Assessment Year 2025–26, here is our guide to the
top 10 most common mistakes we come across—and more importantly, how to fix them.
What often goes wrong:
Taxpayer may have filed ITR-1 because income seems “simple,” but if have Income from capital gains, traded in F&O, or have foreign assets, that form is not right.
Why it matters:
Using the wrong form almost guarantees a notice from the Income Tax Department.
Our advice:
- Properly check the sources of Income.
- ITR-2 or ITR-3 is often required for business income or capital gains.
- Always take the experts advice in order to file ITR correctly.
Incorrect Bank or PAN Details
Common errors:
Bank details error in ITR are very common like Incorrect IFSC codes, wrong account numbers, PAN not linked to Aadhaar, or forgetting to pre-validate bank account.
What happens next:
Refunds get delayed or bounce back altogether.
Our fix:
- Pre-Validation of bank account is must on the portal.
- Confirm ITR PAN-Aadhaar Linkage on the portal.
- Always review your profile details before submitting the return.
Missing Income Sources in ITR
Where people slip:
Forgetting to declare savings account interest, dividends, exempt income, or capital gains from mutual funds, stocks, etc.
Why it’s risky:
Mismatch of ITR with AIS and Form 26AS can trigger scrutiny or notices.
Our fix:
- Cross-verify your income with AIS and 26AS reports.
- Disclose all income, even if it’s tax-free.
Section 87A Rebate Mistake
What we often see:
Taxpayers with income under ₹5 lakh forget to check whether the Section 87A rebate is being applied, especially if capital gains are involved.
Fix it like this:
- Do not rely entirely on auto-calculations.
- Manually verify that the rebate is factored in before submitting the return. click here to know more about Section 87A Rebate
ITR-2 Capital Loss Carry Forward Issue
The issue:
When trying to carry forward losses in ITR-2, the system may show an error like “
Loss still carried forward.”
Here’s what works:
- Use the Excel utility instead of the online portal.
- Re-import the corrected JSON file.
- Check Schedules BFLA and CFL for accuracy.
Validation Errors Despite Everything Filled
The glitch:
- click “Validate,” but the portal says “Please fill mandatory fields”—even when everything looks complete.
Simple solution:
- Delete the affected schedule and re-enter it.
- Or switch to the offline Excel utility—it is more reliable in such cases.
Missing Deductions or Wrong Tax Regime Selection
What goes wrong:
Taxpayers often missed deductions under Section 80C, 80D, 24(b), etc as they accidentally opt for the new regime without knowing they are missing out on.
How to get it right:
- Understand which tax regime suits your situation.
- Claim all eligible deductions—with proper documentation.
- Do not auto-select; review the regime at the time of filing.
Click here if you want to know more about
Old Tax Regime and New Tax Regime.
Forgetting e-verification of ITR
A common oversight:
- Filing is done, but the ITR is not e-verified within 30 days.
Result:
- ITR is treated as not filed, and all the defaults applicable to a non filer will apply.
Quick fix:
- E-verify immediately via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, DSC, or other methods.
- Set a reminder if needed—this step is crucial.
NRI ITR filing errors
Frequent issues we see:
- Declaring Resident status by mistake
- Not disclosing India-sourced income
- Skipping NRE/NRO account details
Click here if you want to know more about
Tax Filing Mistakes for NRIs
What to do instead:
- Select “Non-Resident” in the return if applicable.
- Choose correct ITR form depending on your income type.
- Disclose all income earned in India.
Technical Glitches at the Final Stage
Examples include:
- Type of account error
- Schedule TDS mismatch
- Inconsistencies between total income and deductions
- Capital gains reporting errors
How to handle it:
- Recheck rounding-offs and minor input errors.
- Revalidate each section one by one.
- Use the portal’s “Recompute” feature before submission.
Final Tips for a Smooth ITR Filing Experience
Before you file, make sure to:
- Reconcile AIS, Form 16 and Form 26AS.
- Download your computation of Income and acknowledgement of filed return.
- Avoid last-minute filing—as it often results in errors.
- Use the Excel utility if the online portal is giving you a tough time.
Need Help with Your ITR?
Filing your return the right way not only gives you peace of mind—it also protects you from avoidable notices and delays.
If you are unsure about which form to choose, how to report capital gains, or just want to avoid errors, we’re here to help.
Reach out to our Manthan Experts for expert guidance and filing support tailored to your income profile. Let’s make this tax season stress-free—for you.
