- ITR-1 is the simplest form of income-tax return to be filed by an individual taxpayer who earns income from salary/pension, from one house property and from other sources. Further, annual taxable income of the individual taxpayer should not exceed Rs. 50 lakhs and his total income should not include any income from betting, gambling, etc.
- The new ITR-1 form has been withdrawn for a non-resident. Therefore, a non-resident will have to choose either from ITR-2 or ITR-3 to file his return of income for the Assessment Year 2018-19.
- Form ITR-2 is for individuals/HUF not having income from Profits and gains of business or profession.
- In case a taxpayer opts for presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE, he will have to file the return of income in form ITR 4. The new ITR 4 requires a taxpayer to provide the aggregate turnover reported by him in GST Returns.
- The new ITR Forms introduce specific columns to report each capital gain exemption separately. Details of each capital gains exemption under sections 54, 54B, 54EC, 54EE, 54F, 54GB and 115F shall be reported in its applicable column now. Further, a taxpayer availing of these capital gains exemptions is required to mention the date of transfer of original capital asset which was missing in earlier ITR Forms.
- For the Assessment Year 2018-19, an individual or an HUF, who is a partner in a firm, shall be required to file his ITR in Form ITR 3 only.
- In the case of capital gain arising on transfer of unquoted shares, it would now be mandatory for the investors to obtain the valuation report. To ensure that investors correctly report the capital gains from unlisted shares, the new ITR Forms require the taxpayer to provide figures of actual sales consideration and FMV as determined by a Merchant Banker or CA.
- Until last year, if a taxpayer failed to file the ITR before end of assessment year, penalty under Section 271F could be imposed by the Assessing Officer only after initiating the penalty proceedings. After omission of this penalty provision by the Finance Act, 2017, late fees is levied under Section 234F if taxpayer does not furnish the ITR in time. The taxpayer shall now be required to pay late filing fees under section 234F along with interest under section 234A, 234B and 234C before filing the ITR.
