Over 4 crore ITRs filed: Here's your essential filing checklist before you hit submit

With the July 31, 2026 deadline fast approaching for taxpayers filing ITR-1 and ITR-2, the Income Tax Department has urged people not to wait for the last-minute rush. The department said more than 4 crore income tax returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 have already been filed, and the number is continuing to rise.In a post on X, the department said, "4 Crore+ ITRs for AY 2026-27 filed and counting! Avoid the July 31, 2026 deadline stress and file your ITR 1 & 2 early. File your ITR 1 & 2 for AY 2026-27 now, before the last-minute rush."The message comes as taxpayers typically rush to file returns in the final few days before the deadline, often leading to heavy traffic on the e-filing portal and avoidable mistakes.WHY FILING EARLY MAKES SENSETax experts say filing your return well before the deadline gives you enough time to review your details, fix errors, and avoid unnecessary stress. Gaurav Makhijani, Tax Head at Makhijani Gera & Associates, advised taxpayers not to delay the process."We would recommend not to wait until the last minute, reconcile income with AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, Form 16, bank statements and investment records before filing," he said. According to him, taking some time to match all income and tax details before submitting the return can help prevent notices or delays later.CHECK THESE DETAILS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR RETURNMakhijani said taxpayers should make sure they are using the correct ITR form and reporting every source of income."They should ensure they have selected the correct ITR form, correctly reported all sources of income, carefully computed capital gains and verified their bank account details," he said.He also advised taxpayers to claim all eligible deductions and exemptions wherever applicable instead of rushing through the filing process.DON'T FORGET TO E-VERIFYMany taxpayers believe the filing process ends after submitting the return. However, experts point out that the return must also be e-verified."Finally, the return should be e-verified promptly after filing, as an unverified return is treated as not filed," Makhijani said.Without e-verification, the Income Tax Department does not consider the return to have been successfully filed.THE DEADLINE IS GETTING CLOSERWith more than four crore returns already filed, the Income Tax Department is encouraging taxpayers to complete the process early instead of joining the last-minute rush.Experts say a careful review of documents such as AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, Form 16, bank statements and investment records can help ensure that the return is accurate, complete and filed without unnecessary complications.- EndsPublished By: Jasmine anandPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 12:00 IST