Yes, you can file your Federal Income Tax Return (ITR) for free through the IRS Free File program, available to taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $89,000 or less in 2026 ($84,000 or less in 2025). This program provides free, guided, branded software for both federal and sometimes state returns.
Online : Enter the relevant data directly online at e-filing portal and submit it. Login to e-Filing portal by entering user ID (PAN), and check “Please confirm your secure accesss” message displayed above then enter password and then click on “Continue”. Go to 'e-File'> 'Income Tax Returns>File Income Tax Return' ink.
There are no additional charges for filing the ITR if you have multiple sources of income, capital gains, or foreign income. There are no hidden fees, regardless of which ITR form you choose, whether it be ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, or ITR-4. For revised ITR, belated ITR, or updated ITR, the fee remains the same i.e. ₹2,499.
Step-by-step guide on how to file Nil ITR return
IRS Free File lets qualified taxpayers get free tax preparation, free electronic filing and free direct deposit of their federal tax refund, if they're owed one, using guided tax preparation software. Those who don't qualify can still use Free Fillable Forms.
Yes, you can file your ITR without a CA via our DIY plans. Click here to check out the plans. What is assisted filing? Get an expert to do your taxes for an individual with all kinds of income.
Just because you reside in the U.S. does not mean you have to go back to India to file your Indian income tax return. Today, there exists a process of electronically filing your returns, allowing you to do your job without having to physically go to India.
As an NRI, PIO, or OCI, you may be required to file tax returns in India if your Indian income surpasses the specified threshold or if you seek to claim refunds for excess tax deductions. While filing an ITR is mandatory only under certain circumstances, voluntary filing can be beneficial in many ways.
If your annual income is more than ₹2.5 lakhs per annum, you must file Income tax* returns in our country. This limit is stretched to ₹3 lakhs for senior citizens above the age of 60. Additionally, people above the age of 75 can get exemptions from paying income tax in India.
Simple Steps to file ITR Online
Start at IRS.gov/FreeFile — always go through the IRS.gov site to access the IRS Free File tax preparation software. You won't get IRS Free File if you go directly to a partner's commercial website. Choose an IRS Free File option (1) Guided tax software or (2) Free File Fillable Forms.
ITR Filing Charges:
Salaried ITR Filing: ₹1,000/- Capital Gain / Share Gain-Loss ITR: ₹1,500/- Business ITR – 44AD Return: ₹2,000/- All other ITR Filing: ₹3,000/-
Free income tax returns in under 7 minutes.
NRIs are not eligible for the simpler ITR-1 form and must file using ITR-2 or ITR-3 depending on their specific financial situation. Choosing the correct form ensures compliance with Indian tax laws and avoids penalties or delays.
The "90-day rule" for non-residents typically refers to two different concepts: in U.S. immigration, it's a guideline for determining if a non-immigrant misrepresented their intent by engaging in certain activities (like unauthorized work or immediate marriage) within 90 days of arrival, leading to visa fraud or inadmissibility. In Canadian tax law, the 90% rule allows non-residents to claim full federal tax credits if 90% or more of their world income is from Canadian sources, otherwise, credits are prorated.
Who is Exempted from ITR Filing in India? Senior citizens should be more than 75 years of age. Senior citizens should be 'Resident' in India in the previous years. He earns income from interest and pension only.
Form 1040 is used by U.S. taxpayers to file an annual income tax return. Form 1040-SR is available as an optional alternative to using Form 1040 for taxpayers who are age 65 or older.
If you are a 'resident', your global income is taxable in India. If your status is 'NRI,' your income earned in India only is taxable in India. Income which is earned outside India is not taxable in India.
Timely filing of ITR is always better than risking penalties, interest, and compliance issues. For AY 2025-26 , the maximum penalty for late filing is ₹5,000 under Section 234F, but the indirect costs—loss of carry forward, delayed refunds, reduced credibility—can be much higher.
The IRS $600 rule refers to a change in reporting requirements for third-party payment apps (like Venmo, PayPal) for taxable income from goods and services, where platforms must send a Form 1099-K if you receive over $600 in a year, intended to capture gig economy/side hustle income, though delays and phased implementation have adjusted the timeline, with current rules for 2024 using a higher threshold ($5,000) before fully phasing to $600 for future years, but remember all taxable income, regardless of form, must always be reported.
The Free File program is free for qualifying taxpayers (those with a 2024 AGI of $84,000 or less). To use Free File, you must start by going to www.IRS.gov/freefile. By going directly to a company's website and not through the IRS.gov Free File pages, you may be charged a fee.