With the July 31 deadline for ITR filing (AY 2026-27) here, tax experts are flagging a familiar set of mistakes that trip up taxpayers year after year, often turning a routine filing into a delayed refund or, worse, an unexpected notice from the tax department.
1. Mismatches between AIS, Form 26AS and the return filed One of the most common errors is simply not cross-checking the numbers. The Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Form 26AS carry details of income, TDS, and high-value transactions that the department already has on record. If the figures in your ITR don't line up with what's already reported there, it's an easy trigger for scrutiny, even when the mismatch is unintentional.
2. Incorrect reporting of capital gains Capital gains from shares, mutual funds, or property are notoriously easy to get wrong, whether it's misclassifying short-term versus long-term gains, using the wrong cost basis, or simply missing a transaction altogether. Since capital gains data is now largely pre-filled from broker and registrar reports, discrepancies here stand out quickly to the system.
3. Claiming deductions you're not actually eligible for Whether it's a Section 80C claim without valid proof, an HRA claim without proper rent documentation, or a deduction carried over from a previous, incorrect filing, claiming benefits you can't substantiate is one of the fastest ways to invite a notice. Deductions need paperwork to back them up, not just intent.
4. Errors in reporting income from multiple sources Taxpayers with more than one income stream, salary plus freelance income, rental income, or interest from multiple accounts, often miss reporting one of them entirely, especially smaller amounts that seem easy to overlook. The department's systems, however, are increasingly good at catching these gaps through cross-referenced data.
5. Skipping e-verification after filing This is arguably the most avoidable mistake on the list. An ITR isn't considered filed until it's e-verified, and skipping this final step, whether through Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or a physical ITR-V, means the return simply doesn't count. Refunds don't move forward, and the filing can eventually be treated as not filed at all.
Most of these errors trace back to the same root cause: incomplete or disorganised financial records going into filing season. This is exactly where dependable bookkeeping services in india make a real difference, keeping income, deductions, and transaction records accurate and reconciled throughout the year, so that when it's time to file, there are no last-minute surprises or mismatches to explain away.
With the deadline for AY 2026-27 already here, experts suggest a final, careful cross-check against AIS and Form 26AS before hitting submit, and a reminder to complete e-verification right after