Most filing-season stress comes from one thing: chasing paperwork at the last minute. Gather these before you sit down to file and the return almost takes care of itself.
Income documents
- Form 16 — from each employer you worked for in the year.
- Form 26AS and AIS/TIS — your consolidated tax statement — cross-check every entry against your own records.
- Interest certificates — from banks and post office for savings and fixed deposits.
- Capital gains statements — from brokers and mutual fund houses if you sold any investments.
Deduction proofs
If you're on the old regime, keep evidence for everything you claim — 80C investments, health insurance premiums (80D), home loan interest and principal, and donations.
Reconcile your AIS with your bank statements before you file, not after a notice arrives. Mismatches are the single most common reason returns get picked up.
In short
Income proofs, tax-credit statements and deduction evidence — collected in one folder before you start. If anything doesn't tally, that's the moment to ask, not on the last day.
Independent Chartered Accountant. I write short, practical notes on tax, GST and compliance — and I'm always happy to answer a real question.
