* E-filing is essentially another mode of filing your income tax return, in addition to the popular mode of printing and submitting your return at the income tax counters. It is a two step process:



a. Prepare your return using tax preparation software: Enter your income tax data, such as, PAN, income, deductions, and TDS. Review your data for completeness and accuracy; and, generate your electronic return in XML format.

b. Upload your XML format return on income tax department website. Upon successful uploading, it will generate an acknowledgement form called ITR-V. If you do not use digital signatures, then you have to submit the ITR-V at the income tax counter.

* If you do not wish to e-file, then you can print your ITR1 or ITR2 and deposit it at the nearest income tax office or counter.

* Return filing statistics indicate that more than 33% of the returns are filed in the last two weeks of the return filing date. And, a very large number of returns are filed on the last date of filing returns. You can avoid the queues at income tax counters by filing your returns well before the due date