STEP 1. Register yourself
To e-file your income tax return, you will have you register on the income tax Department's online tax filing site (incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in). You have to provide your permanent account number (PAN), name and date of birth and choose a password. Your PAN will be your user ID.

STEP 2. Choose how you want to e-file
There are two ways of e-filing your income tax return. One is to go to the download section and select the requisite form, save it on your desktop and fill all the details offline and then upload it back on the site. Or you can choose to fill the form online by selecting the quick e-file option.

STEP 3. Select the requisite form
ITR-1: For individuals earning a salary, pension, or income from property or sources other than lottery.
ITR-2: For those earning capital gains. ITR 2A for those owning more than one house but no capital gains.
ITR 3, 4 and 4S: Professionals and business owners.

STEP 4. Keep the documents ready
Keep your PAN, Form 16, interest statements, TDS certificates, details of investments, insurance and home loans handy. Download Form 26AS, which summarises tax paid against your PAN. You can then validate your tax return with Form 26AS to check your tax liability.

If you earn more than Rs 50 lakh, from this year you will have to fill an additional column —"AL" or assets and liabilities. You will have to disclose the value of your assets and liabilities. Assets have to be declared at cost.

STEP 5. Fill form and upload
If you choose to fill the form offline, after you have downloaded the form and filled all the details, click on 'generate XML'. Then go to the website again and click on the 'upload XML' button. You will have to first log in to upload the XML file saved on desktop and click on submit.

STEP 6. Verify ITR V
On submitting your ITR form, an acknowledgement number is generated. In case the return is submitted using digital signature, you just have to preserve this number. If the return is submitted without a digital signature, an ITR-V is generated and is sent to your registered email ID.

The tax filing process is incomplete and ITR is invalid unless your ITR V is verified. You can electronically verify or mail the signed ITR V to the processing centre in Bengaluru within 120 days of filing the return.