Documents Required for ITR Filing 2026 – Complete Checklist for AY 2026-27

Documents Required for ITR Filing 2026 – Complete Checklist for AY 2026-27

For ITR filing in 2026 (AY 2026-27 for FY 2025-26), essential documents include PAN and Aadhaar (linked), Form 16 from your employer, Form 26AS, Annual Information Statement (AIS), bank statements, interest certificates, investment proof for 80C/80D deductions, and capital gains statements. Ensure your PAN-Aadhaar link is active and your bank account is pre-validated on the income tax portal before filing.

Features
FAQs
Videos

You may have a pre-approved offer

Enter required home loan amount

Enter amount between ₹1 Lakh and ₹15 Cr

In summary

Filing ITR is significantly smoother when you have assembled all documents before logging into the portal, scrambling for a bank statement or Form 16 midway through a return is how errors happen.


This page covers:

  • What an ITR is and who needs to file
  • How to choose the correct ITR form — ITR-1 through ITR-4
  • FY 2024-25 key changes to note
  • Complete document checklist: personal information, income proofs, tax deduction details, investment proofs, property and capital gains documents
  • Documents specific to home loan claimants
  • Common mistakes to avoid
Show more
Show less

What is an ITR and why must you file one?

An Income Tax Return (ITR) is the form through which taxpayers in India declare their income, deductions, and tax liability to the Income Tax Department. Filing is a legal obligation for anyone whose income exceeds the basic exemption limit — Rs. 2.5 lakh for individuals below 60 years — and for NRIs earning income in India. Beyond legal compliance, it is also necessary to claim refunds, carry forward losses to future years, and build a financial record that supports loan applications, visa processing, and other purposes.

Show more
Show less

Choosing the correct ITR form for AY 2026-27

ITR formWho should file it
ITR-1 (Sahaj)Salaried individuals with total income up to Rs. 50 lakh and one house property
ITR-2Individuals with income from capital gains, or more than one house property
ITR-3Individuals with income from business or profession
ITR-4 (Sugam)Individuals and HUFs opting for presumptive taxation

Always verify the correct form for your profile on the Income Tax Department's official website — filing the wrong form is treated as a defective return.

Show more
Show less

Key changes applicable for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26 filing)

  • Mandatory PAN-Aadhaar linkage for filing — returns are treated as invalid if PAN is not linked to Aadhaar
  • Enhanced reporting requirements for capital gains and high-value transactions
  • AIS (Annual Information Statement) now contains significantly more detailed transaction data — cross-check your return against AIS before submitting to avoid mismatches
Show more
Show less

Complete document checklist for ITR filing 2026

Personal information documents

  • PAN card (linked to Aadhaar — mandatory)
  • Aadhaar card
  • Mobile number and e-mail linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification

Income proof documents

DocumentWho needs itPurpose
Form 16 (Part A and Part B)Salaried employeesSummary of salary paid and TDS deducted by employer
Bank account statements/ passbookAll taxpayersVerify income, interest earned, and financial transactions
Other income proofFreelancers, rental income earnersFreelancers, rental income earners

Tax deduction details

DocumentPurpose
Form 26ASConsolidated TDS statement — confirms all TDS deducted on your behalf by employers, banks, and other entities
Annual Information Statement (AIS)Detailed record of income received, transactions, and taxes paid — cross-check your return against this before filing
TDS certificates (Form 16A)For TDS deducted on income other than salary — from banks, professional fees, etc.

Investment and deduction proof

Deduction 
Section 80C — PPF, ELSS, NSC, LICInvestment receipts, statements, premium payment proof
Section 80C — Home loan principalHome loan statement showing principal repaid during the year
Section 80D — Health insurancePremium payment receipts
Section 80E — Education loan interestEducation loan interest certificate from lender
Section 80G — DonationsDonation receipts with the charitable organisation's PAN
Section 80TTA/80TTB — Savings interestBank statements or interest certificates
HRA (House Rent Allowance)Rent receipts from landlord; PAN of landlord if annual rent exceeds Rs. 1 lakh

Capital gains documents

Asset typeDocument required
Equity shares or equity MFCapital gains statement from broker or mutual fund house
Property saleSale deed; indexed cost of acquisition documents
Debt mutual fundsCapital gains statement from fund house
Gold or other assetsPurchase and sale receipts

Property income documents

  • Rental agreements for all let-out properties
  • Property tax paid receipts
  • Home loan interest certificate (for Section 24(b) deduction)

Home loan specific documents

If you are claiming home loan deductions, keep these ready:

DocumentPurpose
Home loan interest certificateSection 24(b) — up to Rs. 2 lakh interest deduction for self-occupied property
Home loan statementShows principal repaid (for Section 80C) and outstanding balance
Completion/ possession certificateRequired if claiming interest deduction for under-construction property — deduction begins only from year of possession
Show more
Show less

Common mistakes when filing ITR

  • Not checking AIS before filing. The AIS often contains data that taxpayers are unaware of — a dividend they forgot to declare, or interest credited on a dormant account. Mismatches between your return and AIS are the leading cause of notices in AY 2025-26.
  • Filing ITR without pre-validating the bank account. Even if your filing is perfect, the refund cannot be credited to an unvalidated account. Pre-validate before filing, not after.
  • Missing the deadline for ITR-V submission. If you filed but did not e-verify within 30 days, your return is treated as not filed. E-verify immediately after filing.
  • Using the wrong ITR form. Filing ITR-1 when you had capital gains or a second property results in a defective return notice.
Show more
Show less

Having all documents ready before you start filing is the single most effective way to file accurately and avoid a notice. A clean ITR filing history is also a significant asset for home loan applications. Bajaj Finance offers home loans from 7.25% p.a.* with amounts up to Rs. 15 Crore* and tenures up to 32 years. Check your eligibility today.

Show more
Show less

Check your pre-approved offer now

 

An OTP will be sent to this number for verification

Frequently Asked Questions

Required documents

Tax records

Is Form 16 enough to file ITR, or do I need additional documents?

Form 16 is your starting point, but it is rarely sufficient on its own. You also need Form 26AS and AIS to verify TDS, bank statements to capture any additional income, and investment proofs if you are claiming deductions beyond what your employer has considered. Always cross-check Form 16 figures with Form 26AS before filing.

I have a home loan — what additional documents do I need for ITR filing?

You need the home loan interest certificate from your lender (for Section 24(b) deduction) and the annual loan statement showing principal repaid during the year (for Section 80C deduction). If the property was under construction, you also need the completion or possession certificate to establish from which year the interest deduction applies. Bajaj Housing Finance provides these documents through the customer portal — login to download them before filing.

What is the difference between Form 26AS and AIS?

Form 26AS shows only TDS deducted at source — tax credits against your PAN. The AIS is a broader document that includes all financial transactions reported against your PAN by banks, mutual fund houses, property registrars, and other entities. AIS is now the primary cross-reference tool the Income Tax Department uses to verify returns.

Show more Show less
  • 4.4 Avg. app ratings, 1 Cr+ downloads
  • 45,000 Cr Avg. app ratings, 1 Cr+ downloads
  • 800 Cr Avg. app ratings, 1 Cr+ downloads

Disclaimer

1. Bajaj Finance Limited (“BFL”) is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) and Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer offering financial services viz., loans, deposits, Bajaj Pay Wallet, Bajaj Pay UPI, bill payments and third-party wealth management products. The details mentioned in the respective product/ service document shall prevail in case of any inconsistency with respect to the information referring to BFL products and services on this page.

2. All other information, such as, the images, facts, statistics etc. (“information”) that are in addition to the details mentioned in the BFL’s product/ service document and which are being displayed on this page only depicts the summary of the information sourced from the public domain. The said information is neither owned by BFL nor it is to the exclusive knowledge of BFL. There may be inadvertent inaccuracies or typographical errors or delays in updating the said information. Hence, users are advised to independently exercise diligence by verifying complete information, including by consulting experts, if any. Users shall be the sole owner of the decision taken, if any, about suitability of the same.