For years, I believed filing taxes was something only accountants understood. Every July, I handed over my documents, paid a fee, nodded at numbers I didn’t fully understand — and hoped everything was correct.
Last year, something changed.
I looked at my Form 16, deductions, and investments, and I asked a simple question: What if I tried to file my income tax return online myself? I didn’t expect to become an expert. I just wanted to understand how my money and taxes actually worked.
I sat down one weekend, opened the portal on the Income Tax e-Filing website (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal), read through a few official guides, and slowly started piecing things together. By the time I completed the process, I had saved ₹15,000 — not just in fees, but in deductions I previously missed.
This isn’t a miracle story. It’s about awareness, patience, and learning how to save tax on salary the smart way.
Here’s exactly what I did — step by step.
Why I Decided to File My Income Tax Return Online
I file my income tax return online now for one key reason — control.
When someone else files for you, they usually follow whatever appears in Form 16. But once I started reviewing my finances myself, I realised:
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There are many ways individuals can save income tax, especially under provisions explained on the Income Tax Department’s deductions page (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/deductions).
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Some deductions were available to me that I had never claimed before.
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I could finally plan taxes proactively instead of treating ITR filing like a yearly chore.
More importantly, I finally understood how my salary, investments, and exemptions worked together.
That clarity was worth more than the money I saved.
Step-by-Step Guide to File ITR Online (Exactly How I Did It)
This is the same step-by-step method I followed, written in simple language — similar to beginner-friendly walkthroughs you’ll also find in the Income Tax Help & User Manuals section (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/user-manuals).
Step 1 — Collect Every Relevant Document
Before touching the portal, I gathered:
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Form 16 from my employer
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Salary slips for cross-checking
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Bank interest statements (available in most bank portals and covered under RBI savings interest rules https://www.rbi.org.in/)
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Investment and insurance proofs
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Rent receipts (for HRA)
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Capital gains statements (if applicable)
This alone helped me spot areas where I could save tax on salary by properly claiming deductions.
Step 2 — Log In to the Income Tax Portal
I logged in using PAN and OTP on the official portal:
👉 https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal
Before filing, I reviewed:
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AIS — Annual Information Statement
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TIS — Taxpayer Information Summary
The Income Tax Department explains these reports here:
https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/ais
They helped me confirm that all income sources matched what I planned to declare.
No surprises. No mismatches.
Step 3 — Select the Right ITR Form
Earlier, I never questioned which form was being used.
This time, I reviewed my income sources and referred to the ITR form selection guide (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/returns/selecting-itr-form) before choosing the correct one.
The wrong form can create issues later — the right one makes filing easier.
Step 4 — Enter Salary & Income Details Carefully
Instead of blindly copying numbers, I reviewed:
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Basic salary
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Allowances
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Perks
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TDS already deducted
Understanding these values helped me optimise salary-based tax savings, instead of accepting whatever number appeared on Form 16.
Step 5 — Claim the Deductions I Was Actually Eligible For
This is where the real savings happened.
Using guidance from the Section 80C, 80D, and other deductions overview (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/deductions), I claimed:
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80C investments
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Insurance premiums
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HRA
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Education loan interest
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Donations eligible for deduction (80G)
Employers don’t always apply every eligible deduction — filing yourself helps you catch them.
That ₹15,000 I saved came from deductions I had previously missed.
Step 6 — Preview & Validate Everything
Before submitting, I double-checked:
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Numbers
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Names
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Bank details
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TDS entries
A slow review prevents major headaches later.
Step 7 — E-Verify Immediately
Filing is incomplete until you e-verify.
I used Aadhaar OTP verification, which the portal explains here:
https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/efile/e-verify
No paperwork. No delays.
And that was it — I filed my return smoothly, without an agent, without confusion, and with real savings.
What I Learned About Saving Tax on Salary
My biggest takeaway was this:
Saving tax on salary is less about tricks — and more about awareness and documentation.
Most salaried people miss deductions because they never review them. Filing yourself forces you to understand your own finances.
Common Mistakes I Almost Made (Learn From These)
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Assuming Form 16 includes every deduction
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Ignoring bank interest income
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Forgetting to cross-check AIS
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Rushing in the last week
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Trusting advice without verifying on the official tax portal
Pro Tips for First-Time ITR Filers
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Keep documents organised all year
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Review investments before March
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Read each section calmly
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Verify advice using official tax resources
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Treat filing as financial learning — not a chore
Confidence grows with every attempt.
Conclusion — Filing My ITR Wasn’t Just About Saving Money
Yes — I saved ₹15,000.
But the real win was that I stopped feeling intimidated by my own finances.
Now, when I say I file my income tax return online, it feels empowering. I understand my income, deductions, and choices with far more confidence.
If you’ve always relied on someone else, try filing once yourself — even if you take guidance along the way.
You may discover hidden savings waiting for you too.
