ITR filing: Here's what all you need to know about Sahaj form

July 31 is the last date to file your income tax returns for assessment year 2018-19. To avoid any deficiency, it is advisable to file the hsame before the deadline. To taxpayers' relief, the income tax authorities have made the filing of income tax returns quite easy. The process is now less tedious. You can check out the step-wise guide to know about the easy ITR filing here. 

Below we have listed out everything you need to know about Form number 1 Sahaj. The Income Tax Department has diffrentiated taxpayers into different groups on the basis of their income and its source. For example, if your income is up to Rs 50 lakh from salary or pension then you need to fill the newsly introduced Sahaj form. 

What is Sahaj or ITR-1?

ITR-1 or Sahaj is a basic form that has to be filled by the salaried class. The CBDT said the ITR-1 can be filed by an individual who "is resident other than not ordinarily resident and having income of up to Rs 50 lakh and who is receiving income from salary, one house property or other interest income".

Who can use Sahaj?

​​​Return Form ITR - 1 (SAHAJ) can be used by an individual whose total income includes:
(1) Income from salary/pension; or

(2) Income from one house property (excluding cases where loss is brought forward from previous years); or

(3) Income from other sources (excluding winnings from lottery and income from race horses, income taxable under section 115BBDA or Income of the nature referred to in section 115BBE).

Further, in a case where the income of another person like spouse, minor child, etc., is to be clubbed with the income of the taxpayer, this return form can be used only when such income falls in any of the above categories.

​​Can ITR be filed after the July 31 deadline has been passed? 

Return of income which has not been furnished on or before the due date specified under section 139(1) is called belated return. Belated return of income is furnished under section 139(4).

Any person who has not furnished a return of income within the time period allowed under section 139(1) or within the time period allowed under a notice issued under section 142(1), may furnish return for any previous year at any time before the expiry of one year from the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. (Applicable till assessment year 2016-17)

In assessment year 2017-18, any person who has not furnished a return of income within the time period allowed under section 139(1), may furnish return for any previous year at any time before the end of the relevant assessment year or before completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier.  
From A.Y 2018-19 and onwards a belated return attracts late filing fees under section 234F.

As per section 234F, late filing fees of Rs.5,000 shall be payable if return furnished after due date specified under section 139(1) but before 31st December of the assessment year. In other cases, late filing fees of Rs 10,000 is payable. However amount of late filing fees to be paid cannot exceed Rs 1,000, if the total income of the person does not exceed Rs 5 lakhs.