It was a regular Tuesday morning when Meena, a freelancer from Pune, got a brown envelope from the Income Tax Department. She opened it. A notice. A mismatch in her income declaration. Her heart sank.
She thought she did everything right. But… turns out, she missed a few things. Small ones. Ones that didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. But they were.
Let’s talk about those.
Because Meena’s story? Not rare.
1. Wrong Personal Details
It sounds silly. But it happens more than you’d think.
People enter wrong PAN numbers. Or a name mismatch. Some even mess up bank account numbers. One extra zero? That’s it. Refund gone to the wrong place. Or nowhere.
Pro tip? Double-check everything. Then check again.
Don’t rush this part. It’s just names and numbers, yes. But it’s also your identity.
2. Forgetting to Report All Income
A lot of people just file income from salary. That’s it. But what about that fixed deposit interest? Freelance project? Rent?
They forget. Or ignore. And that’s a problem.
Because the IT Department knows more than we think. They match details with your Form 26AS and AIS. If there’s a gap, they’ll ask. Sometimes politely. Sometimes not.
Don’t assume they won’t notice. Report everything, even small amounts. Transparency saves trouble later.
3. Claiming Deductions You’re Not Eligible For
“Hey, just add ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80C, nobody checks.”
Bad advice. Really bad.
People blindly copy-paste numbers. Claim insurance, PF, or tuition fees they never paid. And then get flagged.
You have to provide proof when asked. If you can’t? Penalties follow. Plus—you lose credibility.
Take only what’s yours. Don’t inflate. It’s not worth it.
4. Skipping Form 26AS and AIS Check
Let’s be real—these forms are boring. Full of numbers. But they’re crucial.
Form 26AS shows taxes already paid. TDS from employers, banks, etc. AIS goes even deeper—income from stocks, dividends, savings accounts, and more.
So what happens if you skip it?
You end up with mismatches. Which leads to notices. Which leads to headaches.
So yeah. Boring, but necessary. Check them before you file.
5. Filing After Deadline
Ah, the classic mistake.
Life gets busy. You push it to next week. Then next. And suddenly, the deadline’s gone.
Now what? You pay late fees. Lose the chance to revise your return. And sometimes, lose your refund.
Worse? You might face prosecution if it’s habitual.
Best solution? Mark the date. July 31st (unless extended). File early. Save stress.
Final Thoughts
Income Tax Return filing is one of those things that feels small—until it isn’t.
It’s not just about ticking boxes or filling forms. It’s about being honest. Being smart. Being careful.
Like Meena, a lot of people learn it the hard way. But you don’t have to.
Take your time. Ask for help if needed. Use a good tax consultant if things feel messy. Because doing it right once is better than fixing it later.
And hey—your peace of mind? Totally worth it.