ITR stands for Income Tax Return​. It is a prescribed form through which the particulars of income earned by a person in a financial year and taxes paid on such income are communicated to the Income-tax Department. It also allows carry -forward of loss and claim refund from income tax department.​Different forms of returns of income are prescribed for filing of returns for different Status and Nature of income.

The Return Form can be filed with the Income-tax Department in any of the following ways, – (i) by furnishing the return in a paper form; (ii) by furnishing the return electronically under digital signature; (iii) by transmitting the data in the return electronically under electronic verification code; (iv) by transmitting the data in the return electronically and thereafter submitting the verification of the return in Return Form ITR-V

Return Form ITR – 1 (SAHAJ) can be used by an individual whose total income includes: (1) Income from salary/pension; or (2) Income from one house property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or (3) Income from other sources (excluding winnings from lottery and income from race horses, income taxable under section 115BBDA or Income of the nature referred to in section 115BBE). Further, in a case where the income of another person like spouse, minor child, etc., is to be clubbed with the income of the taxpayer, this return form can be used only when such income falls in any of the above categories.

Return of income which has not been furnished on or before the due date specified under section 139(1) is called belated return. Belated return of income is furnished under section 139(4). Any person who has not furnished a return of income within the time period allowed under section 139(1) or within the time period allowed under a notice issued under section 142(1), may furnish return for any previous year – at any time before the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. However, a belated return attracts late filing fees under section 234F. As per section 234F, late filing fees of Rs.5,000 shall be payable if return furnished after due date specified under section 139(1) but before 31st December of the assessment year. In other cases, late filing fees of Rs. 10,000 is payable. However amount of late filing fees to be paid cannot exceed Rs.1,000, if the total income of the person does not exceed Rs.5 lakhs.

​​​​​The excess tax can be claimed as refund by filing your Income-tax return. It will be refunded to you by crediting it in your bank account through ECS transfer. The department has been making efforts to settle refund claims at the earliest.​​