The Income Tax Portal released a new offline filing utility for the Assessment year 2024 – 2025. Any taxpayer choosing offline mode (rather than online mode) to file Income Tax Returns needs to use the Offline Utility for ITRs. With the utilities, you can file Income Tax Returns (ITRs) by uploading the utility-generated JSON through Post login to the e-Filing portal, or Directly through the offline utility.
Common Offline Utility for filing Income-tax Returns ITR 1, ITR 2, ITR 3 and ITR 4 for the AY 2024-25.
Utility : zip (version 1.1.6) (105 MB)
Date of release of latest version of utility : 03-Oct-2024
Date of release of first version of utility : 01-Apr-2024
Utility for MAC : zip (Version 1.1.6) (125 MB)
Date of release of latest version of utility : 01-Oct-2024
Date of release of first version of utility : 31-May-2024
Step by Step Guidance for Tax Audit & E-filing, Click Here
Prerequisites for availing this service
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Without logging in to the e-Filing portal, you can download the relevant offline utility from Home > Downloads. Install it on your computer and proceed to Step 2.
Step 1a: Alternately, you can download the offline utility after logging in to the e-Filing portal, and clicking e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return > Select the current AY and Mode of Filing (Offline). Then, click Download under the Offline Utility option.
Step 2: Install and open the offline utility. If previously installed, the utility version will get updated when you are connected to the internet (in case of version updates). Click Continue.
Step 3: You will be taken to the Income Tax Returns page, where you will see the following tabs and their contents:
Returns – All your ITRs (based on the AY) are present here. You can start filing a new return from here, by clicking File Returns.
Draft Version of Returns – If you wish to edit a partially filled ITR draft, click Edit on the relevant draft from the Draft Version of Returns tab.
Pre-filled Data – All the pre-filled JSON files downloaded from e-Filing (with details such as PAN, Name, Last import, and AY) are present here. By clicking File Returns on the relevant JSON, you can start your return filing process with the pre-filled data available.
Step 4: Under the Returns tab, click File Returns on the ITR for the relevant AY to start with the ITR filing process. Select the applicable reason(s) as to why you’re filing the income tax return, and click Continue.
Step 5: In each section of your ITR (Refer to the Instructions to File ITR issued by CBDT for details on how to fill the ITR):
Review the pre-filled data downloaded / imported
Edit your pre-filled data (if necessary)
Enter your remaining / additional details
After completing and confirming all the sections of the form, click Proceed.
Step 6: On the Confirm Your Return Summary page, you will be shown a summary of your tax computation based on the details you provided.
Step 7: On the Preview and Submit your return page, click the declaration checkbox, enter the required details. Click Proceed to Preview.
Step 8: On the Preview and Submit Return page, click Proceed to Validation.
Step 9: The system will run validation checks on your return. The list of errors, if any, will be shown on the Preview and Submit your Return page. You will have to go back and correct errors in your form if there are validation errors. If not, you will get a message about successful validation. On successful validation, click Proceed to Verification to complete the return filing process.
Step by Step Guidance for Tax Audit & E-filing, Click Here
Step 10: When you click Proceed to Verification, you will be taken to the Login page through the utility. Log in using your e-Filing user ID and password.
Step 11: Post login through the Offline Utility, you will get the option to upload your return. Click Upload Return.
Step 12: Click OK.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates