Income Tax Return filing forms for AY 2016-17 (FY 2015-16)-Which form to use?

New Income Tax Return filing forms for AY 2016-17 are now available. The IT department notified it on 30th March, 2016. Let us discuss which forms one can select.

Many of you may know the difference between AY and FY. But for better understanding let us rewind it to clear the confusion. Because I found many faces of what to mention like AY or FY.

Financial Year (FY)-A year in which you earned income. For example, any income you earned between 1st April, 2015 to 31st March, 2016 will fall in the financial year of 2015-16 that also be denoted as FY 2015-16.

Assessment Year (AY)-Once the financial year ends, then you calculate the income and try to file the IT return. This falls after completion of FY. So the year immediate to particular FY year is called Assessment Year for that particular FY. For example for FY 2015-16, the immediate year is 2016-17, where you file IT return for income generated during FY 2015-16. So this 2016-17 is called Assessment Year (AY) for FY 2015-16.

What is your income tax slab for FY 2015-16 or AY 2016-17?

The first question falls in your mind is what is your tax slab for FY 2015-16. In below chart, I explained it for your simplification.Tax Slab for FY 2015-16

Which Income Tax Return filing forms for AY 2016-17 is to use?

I tried to simplify and mentioned it in below image for your ease.IT Forms for AY 2016-17

Note-ITR 4 can used for individuals and HUF whose income is from Business or Profession and can also include the income from the heads like salary, house property, lottery winnings, capital gains, speculative income i.e. horse race.

Let us now discuss in detail about the each form separately.

ITR 1 SAHAJ

Who can use this form?

This form is meant only for INDIVIDUALS but not for others (including HUF). This form can be used by an individual whose income is under these heads. New section of TCS (Tax collected at source) included in this form and also Schedule AL (Assets and Liabilities) included. This Schedule AL will be useful for those individuals and HUFs whose total income exceeds Rs.50 lakh. If you have income from below mentioned income heads, then you can use this form.

  • Income from Salary/Pension; or
  • Income from One House Property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or
  • Income from Other Sources (excluding winning from Lottery and Income from Race Horses) and does not have any loss under the head.

Who can’t use this form?

  • Income from more than one House Property; or
  • Income from winnings from Lottery or income from Race Horses; or
  • Income under the head “Capital Gains” ,e.g., short-term capital gains or long-term capital gains from sale of house, plot, shares etc.; or
  • Agricultural income in excess of  Rs.5,000; or
  • Income from Business or Profession ;or
  • Loss under the head ‘Income from other sources.

Click HERE to download the ITR 1 Sahaj Form.

ITR 2

Who can use this form?

This form can be used by both individuals and HUF. If you have income from below mentioned income heads, then you can use this form.

  • Income from Salary / Pension; or
  • Income from House Property; or
  • Income from Capital Gains; or
  • Income from Other Sources (including Winning from Lottery and Income from Race Horses).

Who can’t use this form?

  • Income from Business or Profession.

Click HERE to download the ITR 2 Form.

ITR 2A

Who can use this form?

This form can be used by both individuals and HUF. If you have income from below mentioned income heads, then you can use this form.

  • Income from Salary / Pension; or
  • Income from House Property; or
  • Income from Other Sources (including Winning from Lottery and Income from Race Horses).

Who can’t use this form?

  • Income from Capital Gains; or
  • Income from Business or Profession.

Click HERE to download the ITR 2A Form.

ITR 4S (Sugam)

Who can use this form?

This form can be used by both individuals and HUF. If you have income from below mentioned income heads, then you can use this form.

  • Presumptive business income which is computed according to 44AD and 44AE of the Act for computation of business income; or
  • Income from Salary/Pension; or
  • Income from One House Property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or
  • Income from Other Sources (Excluding winning from Lottery and Income from Race Horses).

Who can’t use this form?

  • Income from more than one House Property; or
  • Income from winnings from Lottery or income from Race Horses; or
  • Income under the head “Capital Gains”, e.g. Short-term capital gains or long-term capital gains from sale of house, plot, shares etc.; or
  • Agricultural income in excess of ? 5,000; or
  • Income from Speculative Business and other special incomes.

Click HERE to download the ITR 4S Form.

ITR 4

Who can use this form?

This form can be used by both individuals and HUF. If you have income from below mentioned income heads, then you can use this form. All types of business or professional income can be filed using this form. This includes insurance agents, mutual fund adviser or any types of commission based business income too. You can include your other heads of income like income from salary, house property, lottery winnings, capital gains, speculative income i.e. horse race in ITR4 together with the Business Income.

Click HERE to download the ITR 4 Form.

Hope this information will be easy for you in filing Income Tax Return filing forms for AY 2016-17.

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84 thoughts on “Income Tax Return filing forms for AY 2016-17 (FY 2015-16)-Which form to use?”

  1. Dear Sir, In this AY 2016-17 I had professional income from sales Tax practitioner as rS.550000/- in cash whole year. And trading in derivatives occurs losses of Rs.70 k approx, LIC paid from my account rs.30500/- and medical claim policy paid in totality Rs.22000/- so which form I should submit as LTCG is nill and STCG is a net loss. Also, calculate the final tax liability amount if any.

  2. Subhajit BalNiyogi

    Hi,
    I am presently employed in some firm as the consultant role. I don’t have any other income source. My employer has issued me form 16A and they have deducted TDS of flat 10% every month. In my case, the nature of payment mentioned in Form 16A as 194J(Fees for Professional & Technical services).
    My query is:-
    1. Which form to fill online and submit(ITR-/2/3/4/ any other)?
    2. How can i get refund of rest my 10% TDS after deduction of taxes(as my income tax is much lower than that TDS)?
    3.Is my salary to be mentioned in Income from Other sources column in ITR or other?

      1. Subhajit BalNiyogi

        But does “Fees for Professional &Technical Services” comes under salaries? Or it should come under Professinal fees of ITR -3? I have this doubt as in one of your blog posts in tthe queru of soome otherr peerson for Ay17-18 you have mentioned to fill up Itr-3. So I am confused. Pl help

        1. Subhajit BalNiyogi

          Supratik says:
          Here yu have mentioned to fill Form ITR-3. Hence confused because I have also same type of income except FD interest.

          1. Subhajit BalNiyogi

            Supratik says:
            “July 6, 2017 at 10:03 AM

            Hi Basu, my wife has been working as a management consultant in a private sector diversified conglomerate since January 2017 on contract (as opposed to an employee with benefits like medical insurance pf etc) and has received a total sum which is less than 2 lakh for fy 2016. The company has been deducting TDS @ 10% and has issued form 16A.
            In addition, she also has interest income from fd.
            Should she file ITR 3 or 4 please? I understand that some professionals can claim presumptive taxation under 44ADA and hence the confusion between 3 or 4.”
            This is the post after which I am confused to file which ITR

          1. I am working on contract basis with no pf or other deductions from the employer. So, I think, I might have to fill ITR-3.
            Now, how can I sybmit ITR-3 online? Or it is in paperform only?

  3. Hi, Last Year i entered in Share Market, before that i use file ITR 1 based on Form16, now because of share market, STCG is in profit, and Speculative is in -ve, P& L is almost zero balance, i want to file ITR2, but not understanding how to file, can u guide me, where i have to show STCG, where Speculative

  4. I am finding difficulty of filling in my Short term capital gains (income from share sell) in ITR 2 of AY 2016-17, please guide me. When I am filling in CG tab of ITR 2 (in row 2i), and starting to “calculate tax ” in T1-TT1, it shown error.
    Regards,
    Mitali

      1. When I start “calculate tax ” in T1-TT1 tab, or, try to “validate” in CG tab, the message comes : “PLEASE ENSURE THAT TOTAL OF THE VALUES IN TABLE f(3) IN STCG 15% IS EQUAL TO ITEM 3iii OF SCHEDULE BLFA – Rs…..”.

  5. I am a medical doctor having income from salary ,contractual consultancy fees ,one house property and bank interest. Which form should I use 4or 4S for the current ay

      1. Thanks Basavaraj for guiding me to file ITR 4. My querry is that I earned Rs 9 lac from medical consultancy in ay 16-17. upto what percentage of this , I can show as my expenditure to earn this money.

          1. Assesment year 2014-15 ITR 1 filing date over,
            After due date filling but not submit form online.
            Please suggest.

  6. Subhajit BalNiyogi

    One of friend has left job in the previous FY. So, no Form 16 this year. This year she had no income. The only income she had in this FY is one maturity sum of amount Rs.148000/- from LIC(in Spet’2015) and soem bank account transfer of her husband/father amounting Rs.50000/-.
    My question is:-
    1. Which ITR is required to fill?
    2. Bank account statement soft copy needed?
    3. Does it require to fill return for her? In previous years she usually fill ITR 1 as salaried professional.

  7. HELLO SIR

    I AM HOUSEWIFE

    I FIXED DEPOSIT IN YEAR 2013-14 ONE YEAR PERIOD AMOUNT RS 150000/-.
    BANK TAX DEDUCT SECTION 194A SECTION.

    AMOUNT PAID RS 5637/- AND TAX DEDUCT RS 1377/-
    REFUND RELATED WHAT ITR FORM SUBMIT.

    ITR 1 FORM DUE DATE OVER.

    RUBEENA

  8. Kirthi Prakash

    Hi Basavraj,

    Slightly deviating from the topic, I have a query on booking status of Form 26AS.
    Lets assume I work for ABC high school. Ideally my From 26AS should have only one deductor.
    But my form 26AS shows 2 deductors, one from ABC high school and the other from ABC PUBLIC school.
    TDS has been cut from ABC PUBLIC school from month of Nov and Dec 2015 and
    the booking status for both is marked as ‘U’, i.e. mismatch.
    The TAN of both the deductors are different but they almost look the same with few characters different.

    I am guessing there must be a single CA deducting the taxes for both the schools and they have done some mistake and that’s why the mismatch.

    Now is it OK if I go ahead and file the returns and claim the refund on the extra tax(with booking status as ‘U’)?
    or is there any corrective action that needs to be taken from my employer?

    Thanks,

  9. in FY 14-15 (AY 15-16) I had long term capital losses and I decided it to carry it forward.
    No in FY 15-16 (AY 16-17), I did not have any long term gain to adjust the losses carried forward.
    In FY 15-16(AY16-17) , which form I should use ?

  10. ITR-4 does not calculate the income tax liability on page PART-B-TTI.
    Income after all deduction comes out to be Rs4,68,620.00
    Advance tax Rs20,000.00
    Total advance tax deposited is shown as FULL REFUND of Rs.20,000.00

    Is there anything wrong at my end or there is some bug in the form.

    Please help.

  11. PPF INTREST YEARLY MORE THAN 5000 AND M/F DIVIDEND REINVESTMEMENT MORE THAN 5000 WHICH ITR FORM IS TO BE USED INCOME FROM PENSION AND FD IN BANK

  12. Dear Basu,
    My mother is house wife and had invested in FD. In the financial year (2015-16) total interest came to be ~25000/ and bank has deducted the 2500/- as tax. She did not fill the form 15G/H.
    She has no other income and wants this tax to be returned. Is it possible? Which ITR should be used?

    Thanks,
    Manoj

  13. Kumar Divyaprakash

    Hi Basu,

    I am a salaried employee. I have few queries related to ITR.
    1. I have earned more than Rs 5000/- interest on PPF. which ITR form should i fill? Should i include it in income from other sources ? if yes then using which section, i will take exemption on interest income from PPF?
    2. Can i take tax exemption for interest earned from RD under section 80 TTA? if interest is less than Rs 10,000/-

    Thanks,
    Kumar Divyaprakash

    1. Kumar-1) Whether your PPF is matured or you are saying it the yearly interest? If it is yearly interest, then you no need to mention it in ITR. Because it is exempt.
      2) No you can’t.

        1. Kumar-No need to mention. Because first thing is it is tax free. Second thing is you are not taking that profit but you keep that with PPF which will compound as usual. So the money which is not come into your pocket is not INCOME.

  14. Hi, if i’m slaried individual but paid by some company for consultation fee and the company deducted TDS u/s 194J,which is a very minor amount; now while filing ITR1 where to put this consultation fee income- under income from salaries or income from other sources or do i need to furnish ITR4 mandatorily as i have even very miniscule amount under 194J?

  15. Sandhya Sharma

    Hi Sir,

    The status of my ITR for A.Y. 2015-2016 is showing as ” ITR Processed” No demand No Refund . I filed it this year on February 23rd.
    However, the company i am working with now has started PF scheme recently and they informed me that 13,800 INR is your taxable income as TDS and after that i can refund some of its amount in October or September.I told them that i already have filled the ITR for this year so why would i pay again .They said this is your TDS .
    What should i do now or what should i ask my Employer regarding this Sir ? Will my ITR be re-submitted and why do i have to pay for my TDS if my ITR has been processed . Please Help .

    1. Sandhya-You no need to pay, but your employer already deducted that tax from your salary. TDS stands for tax deducted at source. If your tax liability changes than the employer calculated, then you STILL can revise the IT return and claim the refund amount.

  16. Dear Sir,
    In case of an individual with presumptive business and also capital gains, he cannot file ITR-4S and he should file ITR-4. Isn’t it? Then, how to include the presumptive income of 8% of turnover? My assumption is to use the “No-Account-Case” fields, because, those fields in ITR4 is not useful for any other purpose, and hence, must obviously be for presumptive businesses only.

  17. What kind of asset and liabilities (AL) are to be incorporated in this year tax filling form session starting on 01.04 .2016.Who will do the valuation of the assets?Will the the value mentioned by me will be accepted or it will be contested by IT officials,this (AL) has given the freedom to the IT officials to harras the Tax Payers and also demand a cut or delay the IT return ‘s process.

  18. Dear Mr.Basu
    I have filled return up to 2007-2008 of the FY after that I did not filled IT return due to no income, in mean time I have sold a property for my kids education purpose and to meet my monthly expensive (interest from bank FD is RS:10000/-per month),
    The profit from sold properties comes under long term capital gain is bellow tax slab,hence I did not filled it return
    Now I invested in mutual fund through SIP and STP from last year in this situation should I file IT Return? If yes which ITR form is applicable to me and can I file return through online?
    Kindly clear my doubts,
    Thank you

    1. Gopal-If you have interest income from Bank FDs and the total income crosses more than Rs.2,50,000 then you have to use ITR1. However, if the income is below the minimum tax slab of Rs.2,50,000, then you no need to bother of filing IT return. At the same, for your mutual fund investments, you invested but not withdrawn means there is no taxation at all. However, if you withdrawn equity mutual funds within a year then it is treated as capital and must use ITR2 (Same applies to debt funds withdrawn whether withdrawn before 3 years or after 3 years).

  19. Abhijeet Maity

    Hi Basav,

    Very good article and you have explained the topic in very simple manner. But still I have one confusion.

    I had started investing in MFs and some direct equity in the last FY i.e. 2015-16. Before that I did not have any equity related investments in my portfolio. So till then I was using ITR-1 for filling the returns. But from now onwards is it required for me to use ITR-2 for this AY-2016-17? Or can I continue using ITR-1 till I redeem MF units/sell shares?

    Please note that I haven’t redeemed any MF units or sold shares till now and not planning to do the same as these are for long term goals.

    Best regards,
    Abhijeet

      1. Hi Basu,
        Nice article. I’ve similar question as Abhijeet. I’ve sold some MF during last year. Even though I’m not paying any tax on LTCG, I’ll still need to use ITR-2?

        BR,
        Chandan

  20. Raj thanks for a helpful Post…

    I had worked in a private firm for 3 months for salary last FY and for next 9 mos i was in a business along with my brother after resigning..

    What form should I use.?? . Also I will be getting my form-16 from my previous employer very soon..

    .. Partho

  21. Anup Kulkarni

    Dear Basu,

    My Mother is (Indian post office) RD agent.
    She has income from only by commission.

    For her, Is “ITR-4” the only option ? or she can used any other ITR instead of ITR-4 ?
    ( As ITR-4 is complicated so 🙂 )

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