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Aug 5, 202311 min read

Download ITR 2020-21: Step by Step Instructions with Screenshots

How to Download and File ITR 2020-21 Online

Filing income tax return (ITR) is an important task for every taxpayer in India. It helps you to report your income, pay taxes, claim refunds, and avail various benefits. However, filing ITR can be a tedious and confusing process, especially if you are not aware of the latest rules and procedures. In this article, we will guide you on how to download and file ITR 2020-21 online using the income tax website and e-filing portal.

download itr 2020-21

Download File: https://shoxet.com/2vx7Ob

What is ITR 2020-21 and Who Should File It

Definition and Types of ITR Forms

ITR 2020-21 is the income tax return form that you need to file for the financial year 2019-20 (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020) and the assessment year 2020-21 (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021). There are different types of ITR forms depending on your income sources, such as salary, house property, business, capital gains, etc. The income tax department has issued seven types of ITR forms for individuals and businesses, namely:

ITR-1 SAHAJ: For individuals having income from salary, one house property, interest income, and agricultural income up to Rs.5,000.

ITR-2: For individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) not having income from business or profession.

ITR-3: For individuals and HUFs having income from business or profession.

ITR-4 SUGAM: For individuals, HUFs, and firms (other than LLPs) having presumptive income from business or profession under section 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE.

ITR-5: For persons other than individuals, HUFs, companies, and persons filing ITR-7.

ITR-6: For companies other than those claiming exemption under section 11 (charitable or religious trusts).

ITR-7: For persons including companies required to furnish return under sections 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C), or 139(4D) (such as trusts, political parties, institutions, colleges, etc.).

Eligibility Criteria and Due Date for Filing ITR 2020-21

The income tax law mandates certain categories of taxpayers to file I TR 2020-21 if their income exceeds the basic exemption limit, which is Rs.2.5 lakh for individuals below 60 years, Rs.3 lakh for senior citizens (60 to 80 years), and Rs.5 lakh for super senior citizens (above 80 years). Apart from this, there are other situations where filing ITR is mandatory, such as:

If you have deposited more than Rs.1 crore in one or more current accounts in a year.

If you have incurred more than Rs.2 lakh on foreign travel for yourself or any other person in a year.

If you have paid more than Rs.1 lakh on electricity bills in a year.

If you are a resident and have an asset or financial interest in any entity located outside India or have signing authority in any account located outside India.

If you are a resident and have income from any source outside India.

If you have claimed relief under section 90 or 90A or deduction under section 91.

If you have received any income from property held under a trust for charitable or religious purposes or a political party or a research association or a university or college or any institution referred to in section 10(23A) or section 10(23B) or a trade union or a fund or trust or institution or any authority or body or society referred to in section 10(23C).

The due date for filing ITR 2020-21 has been extended by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised due dates are as follows:

Category of TaxpayerOriginal Due DateRevised Due Date

Individuals, HUFs, and other taxpayers whose accounts are not required to be auditedJuly 31, 2020December 31, 2020

Taxpayers whose accounts are required to be auditedOctober 31, 2020January 31, 2021

Taxpayers who need to furnish report under section 92E (transfer pricing)November 30, 2020January 31, 2021

How to Download ITR 2020-21 Forms from Income Tax Website

Steps to Download ITR Forms in Excel or PDF Format

If you want to download the ITR forms in Excel or PDF format, you can follow these steps:

How to download itr 2020-21 pdf

Download itr 2020-21 excel utility

Download itr 2020-21 form sahaj

Download itr 2020-21 acknowledgement

Download itr 2020-21 offline utility

Download itr 2020-21 form sugam

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-v

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-2

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-3

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-4

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-5

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-6

Download itr 2020-21 form itr-7

Download itr 2020-21 schema

Download itr 2020-21 instructions

Download itr 2020-21 validation rules

Download itr 2020-21 java runtime environment

Download itr 2020-21 for windows

Download itr 2020-21 for macos

Download itr 2020-21 for linux

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Download itr 2020-21 for ios

Download itr 2020-21 from income tax website

Visit the income tax website at .

Select the assessment year as 2020-21 and the ITR form number that is applicable to you.

Click on the download link for Excel utility or PDF instructions as per your preference.

Save the file on your computer and open it with the relevant software.

Fill in the required details and validate the data.

Generate an XML file and save it on your computer for uploading on the e-filing portal.

How to Use Common Offline Utility for Filing ITR 1 to ITR 4

If you want to use the common offline utility for filing ITR 1 to ITR 4, you can follow these steps:

Visit the income tax website at .

Select the assessment year as 2020-21 and click on the download link for Common Offline Utility under JSON utilities.

Save the zip file on your computer and extract it using any software like WinZip or WinRAR.

Open the extracted folder and double-click on the IT Return Preparation Software.exe file.

Select the ITR form number that is applicable to you and fill in the required details.

Validate the data and generate a JSON file and save it on your computer for uploading on the e-filing portal.

How to File ITR 2020-21 Online Using E-Filing Portal

Steps to Register and Login to E-Filing Portal

To file your ITR online, you need to register and login to the e-filing portal of the income tax department. Here are the steps to register and login to the e-filing portal:

Visit the e-filing portal at .

If you are a new user, click on the Register Yourself button and select your user type (such as individual, HUF, company, etc.).

Enter your basic details such as PAN, name, date of birth, mobile number, email id, etc. and click on Continue.

Fill in the registration form with your personal, contact, and password details and click on Submit.

You will receive an activation link on your email id and an OTP on your mobile number. Click on the link and enter the OTP to activate your account.

If you are an existing user, click on the Login Here button and enter your user id (PAN), password, and captcha code. Click on Login.

Steps to Upload XML or JSON File of ITR Form

Once you have logged in to the e-filing portal, you can upload the XML or JSON file of your ITR form that you have prepared using the offline utility. Here are the steps to upload the file:

On the dashboard, click on the Income Tax Return link under the e-File menu.

Select the assessment year as 2020-21 and the ITR form number that you have filled. Select Filing Type as Original/Revised Return and Submission Mode as Upload XML or Upload JSON as applicable.

Click on Continue and browse and select the XML or JSON file from your computer. Click on Open.

Click on Submit and enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number or email id. Click on Validate.

You will receive a confirmation message and an acknowledgment number for your filed ITR.

Steps to E-Verify the Filed ITR

After filing your ITR, you need to e-verify it within 120 days to complete the process. E-verification means confirming your identity and authenticity of your filed ITR using electronic methods. Here are the steps to e-verify your filed ITR:

On the dashboard, click on the View Returns/Forms link under the My Account menu.

Select Income Tax Returns as Form Name and 2020-21 as Assessment Year. Click on Submit.

You will see a list of your filed ITRs. Click on the Pending for e-Verification link under the Status column for the relevant ITR.

You will see various options to e-verify your ITR, such as using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, bank account number, demat account number, or bank ATM. Select any one option as per your convenience and follow the instructions.

You will receive a confirmation message and an EVC (Electronic Verification Code) for your e-verified ITR.

Benefits of Filing ITR 2020-21 on Time

Avoid Penalty and Interest Charges

If you file your ITR 2020-21 on time, you can avoid paying any penalty or interest charges for late filing or underpayment of taxes. The penalty for late filing of ITR is Rs.5,000 if filed by December 31, 2020 and Rs.10,000 if filed after that but before March 31, 2021. However, if your total income is not more than Rs.5 lakh, the penalty is limited to Rs.1,000. The interest for underpayment of taxes is 1% per month or part of a month from April 1, 2020 till the date of payment of taxes.

Claim Refund and Carry Forward Losses

If you file your ITR 2020-21 on time, you can claim any refund due to you from the income tax department for excess taxes paid by you during the year. The refund will be processed faster and credited to your bank account electronically. You can also carry forward any losses incurred by you during the year under certain heads of income such as business loss, capital loss, house property loss, etc. to set off against future income. However, if you file your ITR after the due date, you will not be able to carry forward such losses except loss from house property.

Avail Loans and Visas Easily

If you file your ITR 2020-21 on time, you can avail loans and visas easily from banks and foreign consulates respectively. Your filed ITR serves as a proof of your income and financial stability and helps you to get a lower interest rate and a faster approval for your loan or visa application. Your filed ITR also helps you to show your income from other sources such as rent, interest, dividends, etc. that may not be reflected in your salary slip or bank statement.

Comply with Legal Obligation and Avoid Scrutiny

If you file your ITR 2020-21 on time, you can comply with your legal obligation as a responsible citizen and avoid any scrutiny or notice from the income tax department. Filing ITR is not only a duty but also a right that enables you to participate in the nation-building process. Filing ITR also helps you to avoid any mismatch or discrepancy in your income or tax details that may attract the attention of the tax authorities and lead to further investigation or penalty.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filing ITR 2020-21

Choosing Wrong ITR Form or Assessment Year

One of the common mistakes that taxpayers make while filing ITR is choosing the wrong ITR form or assessment year. You should choose the ITR form that matches your income sources and tax status. For example, if you have income from business or profession, you should file ITR-3 or ITR-4 and not ITR-1 or ITR-2. Similarly, you should select the assessment year as 2020-21 and not 2019-20 or 2021-22. Choosing the wrong ITR form or assessment year can result in rejection of your filed ITR or incorrect computation of your tax liability or refund.

Providing Incorrect Personal or Bank Details

Another common mistake that taxpayers make while filing ITR is providing incorrect personal or bank details. You should ensure that you provide correct and updated information such as your name, PAN, address, email id, mobile number, bank account number, IFSC code, etc. in your ITR form. Providing incorrect personal or bank details can lead to delay in processing of your filed ITR or refund or mismatch in your tax records.

Not Disclosing All Sources of Income or Exempt Income

A third common mistake that taxpayers make while filing ITR is not disclosing all sources of income or exempt income. You should disclose all sources of income that you have earned during the year, such as salary, house property, capital gains, business, interest, dividends, etc. even if they are exempt from tax or subject to TDS (tax deducted at source). Not disclosing all sources of income or exempt income can lead to underreporting of your income or concealment of your income and attract penalty or prosecution under the income tax law.

Not Reconciling Income with Form 26AS or Form 16/16A

A fourth common mistake that taxpayers make while filing ITR is not reconciling their income with Form 26AS or Form 16/16A. Form 26AS is a consolidated annual tax statement that shows the details of taxes paid by you or on your behalf by your employer, bank, or any other deductor. Form 16/16A is a certificate issued by your employer or deductor showing the details of TDS deducted from your salary or other payments. You should reconcile your income with Form 26AS or Form 16/16A and report any discrepancy or mismatch in your ITR form. Not reconciling your income with Form 26AS or Form 16/16A can lead to excess or shortfall of taxes paid by you or on your behalf and affect your tax liability or refund.

Not E-Verifying the Filed ITR within 120 Days

A fifth common mistake that taxpayers make while filing ITR is not e-verifying their filed ITR within 120 days. E-verifying your filed ITR is a mandatory step to complete the filing process and confirm your identity and authenticity of your filed ITR. You can e-verify your filed ITR using various methods such as Aadhaar OTP, net banking, bank account number, demat account number, or bank ATM. Not e-verifying your filed ITR within 120 days can lead to invalidation of your filed ITR and non-processing of your refund.

Conclusion

Filing ITR 2020-21 online is a simple and convenient process if you follow the steps mentioned above and avoid the common mistakes. Filing ITR on time can help you to save taxes, claim refunds, avail loans and visas, comply with legal obligation, and avoid scrutiny. You can also take the help of professional tax consultants or online tax filing platforms to file your ITR accurately and hassle-free.

FAQs

Q: How can I check the status of my filed ITR or refund?

A: You can check the status of your filed ITR or refund by logging in to the e-filing portal and clicking on the View Returns/Forms or View e-Filed Returns/Forms link under the My Account or Dashboard menu respectively. You can also check the status of your refund by visiting the TIN NSDL website at and entering your PAN and assessment year.

Q: How can I rectify any mistake or error in my filed ITR?

A: You can rectify any mistake or error in your filed ITR by filing a revised return under section 139(5) of the income tax law. You can file a revised return online using the same procedure as filing the original return, except that you need to select Filing Type as Revised Return and enter the acknowledgment number and date of filing of the original return. You can file a revised return before the end of the relevant assessment year or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier.

Q: How can I claim deduction under section 80C for investments made in FY 2019-20?

A: You can claim deduction under section 80C for investments made in FY 2019-20 by filling the Schedule DI (Details of Investment) in your ITR form. You need to enter the amount of investment made in various eligible instruments such as provident fund, life insurance, mutual funds, etc. during FY 2019-20 and also during the extended period from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020. The total deduction under section 80C cannot exceed Rs.1.5 lakh.

Q: How can I opt for the new tax regime or the old tax regime while filing ITR?

A: You can opt for the new tax regime or the old tax regime while filing ITR by filling the Schedule SI (Special Income Rates) in your ITR form. You need to select the option of tax regime as per section 115BAC (new tax regime) or as per other provisions (old tax regime) and enter the amount and rate of tax applicable to your income as per the chosen regime. The new tax regime offers lower tax rates but without any deductions or exemptions, while the old tax regime offers higher tax rates but with various deductions and exemptions.

Q: How can I file ITR for previous years?

A: You can file ITR for previous years by downloading the relevant ITR forms from the income tax website and filling them offline. You need to select the assessment year as per the financial year for which you want to file ITR and fill in the details accordingly. You can then upload the XML file of the ITR form on the e-filing portal and e-verify it. However, you cannot file ITR for previous years online using the common offline utility or e-filing portal directly.

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