New Delhi, April 18 (Udaipur Kiran): The Income Tax Department has introduced updated Income Tax Return (ITR) forms for the Assessment Year 2026–27, bringing several changes aimed at simplifying the filing process and improving accuracy of taxpayer data.

With the deadline of July 31, 2026 approaching, taxpayers are advised to familiarise themselves with the revised format to avoid last-minute issues.

Secondary Address Now Mandatory

One of the major changes is the introduction of a secondary address field across all ITR forms, from ITR-1 to ITR-7. Earlier, taxpayers were required to provide only one address, but now an alternate address must also be furnished.

Similarly, contact details have been restructured. Taxpayers will now need to clearly mention primary and secondary mobile numbers and email IDs, making communication more efficient for both taxpayers and the department.

Simplified Representative Details

The new forms have eased requirements for cases where a return is filed by a representative. Instead of providing extensive details, only the following information is now required:

• Name of the representative
• Email ID
• Contact number

This replaces the earlier requirement of submitting additional details such as PAN, Aadhaar, and address.

Easier Capital Gains Reporting

Another key update relates to capital gains reporting. Earlier, due to tax rate changes announced on July 23, 2024, taxpayers had to split capital gains into two periods within the same financial year.

For AY 2026–27, this requirement has been removed, as a uniform tax rate applies for the entire year. This simplifies reporting and reduces confusion for taxpayers.

Important Advisory

These updated forms apply to AY 2026–27 (FY 2025–26), while all provisions under the Income Tax Act 1961 remain unchanged.

The government’s focus is to make ITR filing more user-friendly. Taxpayers are advised to keep an alternate address and active contact details ready to ensure smooth filing and avoid communication gaps.

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