Know the must-have documents to file your Income Tax Return in 2025

From Form 16 and 26AS to interest certificates and AIS, here’s your ultimate pre-filing checklist. Learn how to use these documents and tools like the income tax calculator to simplify your filing and claim eligible home loan deductions.

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is one of the most important financial responsibilities you have each year. Yet many taxpayers begin the process unprepared—often leading to missed deductions, incorrect filings, or worse, a dreaded notice from the Income Tax Department.

One of the most effective ways to ensure a smooth, accurate, and hassle-free ITR filing experience is to gather and verify all necessary documents in advance—starting with your Form 16.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the most essential documents you need to download before you file your return for the assessment year 2025–26. Whether you’re a salaried individual, a freelancer, or claiming deductions like a home loan, this guide is designed to make tax filing easy, accurate, and stress-free.

Why you must prepare your documents before filing

Every year, thousands of taxpayers rush to file their returns at the last minute. But skipping steps or overlooking a single document—like Form 16 or an interest certificate—can lead to:

Missed deductions
Refund delays
Income mismatches
Notices under Section 143(1)

Fortunately, downloading the right documents before filing makes it much easier to file accurately and claim your eligible benefits. Let’s look at what you need and where to find it.

1. Form 16: The cornerstone of your salary income declaration

If you are a salaried employee, Form 16 is your most important document for ITR filing. It is issued by your employer and contains:

A breakdown of your salary income
Deductions claimed under Chapter VI-A (like 80C, 80D)
TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) details
PAN of the employer and employee

This document acts as proof that your employer has deducted and deposited your taxes correctly.

Where to get it: Employers usually provide Form 16 by June 15 each year via email or employee self-service portals. If not received, contact your HR or payroll department.

Pro tip: Cross-check the TDS details in your Form 16 with Form 26AS for consistency.

2. Form 26AS: Your annual tax credit statement

Form 26AS provides a consolidated summary of all tax-related information linked to your PAN. This includes:

TDS from various sources (salary, interest, rent, etc.)
Advance/self-assessment tax payments
Refunds issued by the IT department

It helps verify whether taxes deducted from you by third parties (like employers or banks) have actually been deposited with the Income Tax Department.

Where to get it: Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal, go to ‘e-file’ > ‘View Form 26AS’, and download it as a PDF.

3. Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS)

AIS and TIS offer a comprehensive view of your financial transactions, including:

Interest from savings and fixed deposits
Dividend income
Mutual fund investments
High-value purchases and foreign remittances

These are new tools introduced to improve transparency and help pre-fill your ITR accurately.

Where to get them: On the Income Tax portal, go to ‘Services’ > ‘Annual Information Statement’ and log into the compliance portal.

Why it’s important: If there is any mismatch between your return and what the AIS reports, you may receive a notice. If you find any incorrect data, submit feedback to get it rectified.

4. Home loan interest and principal certificate

If you’re repaying a home loan, you’re eligible to claim:

Deduction up to Rs. 2 lakh under Section 24(b) for interest paid
Deduction up to Rs. 1.5 lakh under Section 80C for principal repayment

Your lender provides an annual home loan interest certificate that specifies the total amount of interest and principal repaid during the financial year.

Where to get it: Log into your bank or lender’s net banking portal or mobile app.

Tip: If the loan is jointly held, each co-borrower can claim their share of deductions, provided they are also co-owners.

5. Interest certificates from banks and post offices

Interest earned from savings accounts, recurring deposits, and fixed deposits is taxable and must be disclosed in your return. This income will also appear in your AIS.

Interest from savings accounts is eligible for deduction up to Rs. 10,000 under Section 80TTA.

Where to get it: Download your interest certificate for FY 2024–25 directly from your bank’s website or mobile app under the ‘Tax Statement’ or ‘Downloads’ section.

Note: Post office interest is also taxable and should be included.

6. Capital gains statement from shares, mutual funds

If you sold any equity shares, mutual funds, property, or digital assets (like cryptocurrency), you must report your capital gains in your ITR. This includes:

Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG)
Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG)

Where to get it: Your broker or investment platform will provide a downloadable capital gains report. Ensure it includes details of acquisition cost, sale proceeds, and holding period.

Tip: You can set off capital gains against eligible capital losses from earlier years to reduce your tax liability.

7. Proof of deductions and exemptions

To maximise your tax savings, keep records of eligible deductions and exemptions such as:

LIC premiums, PPF, ELSS (Section 80C)
Health insurance premiums (Section 80D)
Education loan interest (Section 80E)
Donations to registered charities (Section 80G)
Rent receipts for HRA claims

Why it matters: Even if your employer didn’t account for certain deductions, you can still claim them directly while filing your ITR—just make sure you have valid proofs.

8. Income tax calculator: Compare regimes and plan better

Once you’ve collected all your documents, the next step is to estimate your tax liability using an income tax calculator. This tool helps you:

Decide between the old regime (with deductions) and the new regime (lower tax rates but no deductions)
Plan your return accurately
Check for any discrepancies in reported income

Where to find one: Use the official Income Tax Department calculator or calculators provided by financial service providers.

Pro tip: Run your numbers for both tax regimes before finalising your return. The better option depends on your income level and total deductions.

Prepare well, file smart

Filing your ITR doesn’t have to be stressful. By downloading and verifying the right documents in advance—like Form 16, Form 26AS, AIS, and home loan statements—you reduce the chances of mistakes and increase the chances of a smooth, error-free refund.

This year, with tools like AIS, TIS, and easy-to-use income tax calculators, the process is more transparent and user-friendly than ever.

Ready to file your ITR for AY 2025–26? Start by downloading your Form 16, check your Form 26AS and AIS, and calculate your tax liability using a reliable income tax calculator. If you’re claiming deductions on your home loan or investments, keep those proofs handy.

Plan early, file confidently—and avoid last-minute stress.

Author Profile

Adam Regan

Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com