Don’t File Your Income Tax Return Without a CA

These 5 Common Mistakes Could Cost You Time & Money

As the ITR filing season for FY 2024–25 begins—likely post mid-June—many taxpayers are preparing to file early to receive timely refunds. But hold on. Even if your return is filed correctly, you might still face delays or even rejection if certain rules aren’t followed.

Here are five common mistakes that can derail your ITR—and why expert help (like a Chartered Accountant) can save you both time and money.

🔍 Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Filing Your ITR:

Selecting the Wrong ITR Form
Filing with the wrong form can render your return defective—you may need to revise and resubmit.

Choosing the Wrong Assessment Year (AY)
A common error, especially for first-time filers. For income earned between April 2024 and March 2025, the correct AY is 2025–26.

Not Disclosing All Sources of Income
Interest from savings accounts, FDs, or even dividends must be reported—even if TDS has been deducted.

Incorrect or Unsupported Deduction Claims
Claiming deductions (like under Section 80C or 80D) without proper documentation can lead to notices or rejections.

Skipping the E-Verification Step
Filing isn’t complete until your ITR is verified online. Skipping this will invalidate your return.

⏳ Why Is Your Refund Delayed?

Even after a seemingly perfect ITR submission, refunds may be delayed due to:

❌ Mismatch in Form 16 vs Form 26AS or AIS

📝 Incomplete/defective filings

💸 Unpaid tax dues from previous years

🧾 TDS discrepancies

📄 Wrong ITR form

🏦 Bank account errors (validation failures, mismatched name)

📬 Old notices left unresponded

Real-Life Example:
One taxpayer filed their ITR seven times, each time receiving a defective return notice. Only after engaging a tax professional was the issue finally resolved.

⚠ New Refund Rules for FY 2024–25
This year, refunds aren’t being released immediately—even for correctly filed returns.

The Income Tax Department is applying stricter checks, using AI-based systems to verify your income against data from:

• Employers (Form 16)

• Banks (interest income)

• Brokers (capital gains)

• Crypto exchanges

• TDS filings and more

If you have unresolved issues from previous years, your refund can be withheld or adjusted—and you may receive a notice.

🧾 Have You Received a Notice About Your Refund?
Don’t panic—but don’t ignore it.
These notices are typically triggered under Section 245(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which allows the department to adjust your current refund against past dues—but only after giving you prior intimation.

⚖ Legal Insight: Section 245(2)
“If a refund is due, and an assessment/reassessment is pending, the Assessing Officer may withhold the refund to protect revenue—but only after recording reasons and getting necessary approvals.”

What this means:

They must notify you first

You must be given a chance to respond

They cannot adjust or hold back your refund arbitrarily

📌 Landmark Case: Ericsson India Pvt. Ltd. v. CIT
Delhi High Court ruled that withholding refunds without notice violates procedural fairness.
📌 CBDT Instruction No. 01/2017 also reaffirms that due process must be followed before adjusting refunds.

💡 Final Word
Filing your ITR without professional help can cost you more in time, stress, and lost refunds—especially now that the system is more complex, data-driven, and strict.

📬 If you’ve received a refund notice or demand letter—act fast.
Ignoring it can lead to delayed refunds, penalties, or worse.