In general, most individuals earning income in a financial year are required to file Income Tax Returns (ITR). However, there are specific scenarios where individuals may not be eligible for ITR filing:
1. Individuals whose total income is below the taxable threshold: If an individual's total income falls below the taxable limit as per the prevailing tax laws, they may not be required to file an ITR.
2. Individuals with income only from tax-exempt sources: If an individual's income consists solely of sources that are exempt from income tax, such as certain agricultural income or income from specified investments like tax-free bonds, they may not need to file an ITR.
3. Senior citizens (aged 60 years or above) with no taxable income other than interest: In some cases, senior citizens who are 60 years of age or above and have income only from interest on savings accounts or fixed deposits may be exempt from filing ITR.
However, even if individuals fall under one of these categories, there might still be advantages to voluntarily filing ITR, such as claiming refunds or establishing a financial record for future purposes.
On the other hand, individuals who need to file ITR include:
1. Salaried individuals: Individuals receiving salary income from an employer, regardless of the amount, are generally required to file ITR.
2. Self-employed individuals/professionals: Individuals engaged in any profession or business, including freelancers, consultants, doctors, lawyers, etc., need to file ITR irrespective of the income amount.
3. Individuals with income from other sources: Income from sources such as house property, capital gains, dividends, interest, and other investments may necessitate ITR filing, depending on the total income earned.
4. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) with taxable income in India: NRIs earning income in India that is taxable under Indian tax laws are required to file ITR.
5. Individuals claiming tax refunds: If an individual is eligible for a tax refund due to excess tax deducted at source (TDS) or advance tax payments, they need to file ITR to claim the refund.