7 Most Important Changes in ITR 2018 Forms (for AY 2018-19)

The last day for filing the income tax return without penalty for AY 2018-19 is July 31, 2018. The good thing is most of things are similar to last year. However, as it happens every year, there are some changes in these forms and information sought. Overall income tax department wants to know more details about your salary structure, house property and GST. We list down the most important changes below:

NRIs cannot file ITR 1 (Sahaj):

In AY 2018-19 only resident Indians with income less than Rs 50 Lakhs and one house property can file returns using ITR 1. NRIs are NO more eligible to use ITR 1. They would need to use ITR 2 which requires much more details and much more complicated compared to ITR 1.

Foreign bank Account for NRIs:

In case of non-residents, the requirement of furnishing details of any one foreign Bank Account has been provided for the purpose of credit of refund. Earlier, they could only provide details of bank accounts held in India.

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More details about Salary:

The ITR forms now ask for more details regarding the salary structure such as Allowances not exempt, Value of perquisites, Profit in lieu of salary & Deductions u/s 16. These details are available in Form 16 but now need to be provided in the tax return form too.

More details about House Property:

The new ITR 1 (Sahaj) also asks for more details on “Income from House Property” such as Gross rent received, Tax paid to local authorities, Interest payable on borrowed capital.

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Here are some posts which can help you with e-filing of ITR 2018:

1. Which ITR form to fill for Tax Returns for AY 2018-19?

2. Calculate your Tax liability for FY 2017-18 (AY 2018-19) using Income Tax Calculator

3. How to Claim Tax Exemptions while filing ITR?

5. Use Challan 280 to Pay Self Assessment Tax Online

6. Form 26AS – Verify Before Filing Tax Return

7. 5 Ways to e-Verify your Income Tax Returns

8. What if You DO NOT file your Returns by due Date?

9. Can I file my Last Year Tax Return?

10. Why and How to Revise Your Tax Return?

11. What does Intimation U/S 143(1) of Income Tax Act mean?

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GST registration number:

The assesses who would file income tax returns presumptive income from business and profession using ITR 4 or ITR 3 would have to provide GST registration number and its turnover. This is to corelate the direct and indirect taxes and check for any possible tax evasions.

Furnishing details of cash deposit NOT required:

Last year ITR forms had fields to capture details of cash deposited during the year (due to demonetization). This years ITR Form has done away with this requirement.

Also Read: 25 Tax Free Incomes & Investments in India

ITR to filed Online except in certain cases:

All the tax returns have to filed online as was the case last year. However, there are certain exceptions where the ITR can be filed in paper/physical form.

If the individual is of age 80 years or more and the tax return is furnished using in ITR Form-1 (Sahaj) or ITR-4 (Sugam)

Individual or HUF whose income does not exceed five lakh rupees and who has not claimed any refund in the Return of Income and the tax return is furnished using in ITR Form-1 (Sahaj) or ITR-4 (Sugam)

Penalty for not Filing Tax Returns on Time:

The below provision of Penalty for not filing tax returns on time was proposed in Budget 2017 and would be effective from AY 2018-19:

As per Section 234F, if the income tax return is filed after the due date (July 31) but on or before the December 31 of the assessment year, there will be a fine of Rs 5,000. If the return is filed after December 31, there would be fine of Rs 10,000. After March 31, the returns cannot be filed. However, in case the total income is less than Rs 5 lakh, the penalty should not exceed Rs 1,000.

We would come out with more details on ITR Forms and tax filing in next few weeks.