The Central Board of Direct Taxes has notified Income Tax Return Forms (ITR Forms) for the Assessment Year 2021-22 vide Notification no.21/2021 in G.S.R. 242(E) dated 31.03.2021. Keeping in view the ongoing crisis due to COVID pandemic and to facilitate the taxpayers, no significant change have been made to the ITR Forms in comparison to the last year’s ITR Forms. Only the bare minimum changes necessitated due to amendments in the Income-tax Act, 1961 have been made.

ITR Form 1 (Sahaj) and ITR Form 4 (Sugam) are simpler Forms that cater to a large number of small and medium taxpayers. Sahaj can be filed by an individual having income upto ₹ 50 lakh and who receives income from salary, one house property / other sources (interest etc.). Similarly, Sugam can be filed by individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and firms (other than Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)) having total income upto ₹ 50 lakh and income from business and profession computed under the presumptive taxation provisions.

Individuals and HUFs not having income from business or profession (and not eligible for filing Sahaj) can file ITR-2 while those having income from business or profession can file ITR Form 3. Persons other than individual, HUF and companies i.e. partnership firm, LLP etc. can file ITR Form 5. Companies can file ITR Form 6. Trusts, political parties, charitable institutions etc. claiming exempt income under the Act can file ITR-7.

  There is no change in the manner of filing of ITR Forms as compared to last year. The notified ITR Forms are available on http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/226336.pdf.

Income tax return form notification confirms minimal amendments and retains existing filing categories to ease taxpayer compliance. Notification of updated Income Tax Return forms implements a regulatory update with minimal substantive change: ITR Form 1 (Sahaj) and ITR Form 4 (Sugam) remain simplified options for small and medium taxpayers, while other ITRs continue to align by taxpayer type and income source; there is no change in the filing procedure and only necessary adjustments were made due to statutory amendments and pandemic facilitation.