THE due date for filing the personal tax return for the present year (FY 20112012) is July 31. It is now mandatory for individuals and Hindu undivided family (HUFs) to file tax returns online if the total taxable income is above Rs 10,00,000, or the assesse is an ordinarily resident individual / HUF holding foreign assets, financial interest or signing authority in any account outside India.

If you don't fall in the above category, you can still file your returns online, but, you also have an option to file it in hard copy. This article provides the various steps involved in online filing because for many taxpayers, this could be the first time that they are filing the returns online.

Step 1: Choose the correct form: The form could either be ITR-1 (Sahaj), ITR 2, ITR-3, ITR-4S (Sugam), or ITR-4 based on your source of income, level of income, residential status and whether you have foreign assets. Individuals with income above Rs 10,00,000 and resident individuals/ HUFs who have foreign assets, financial interest or signing authority for accounts outside India, can use only ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4.

Step 2: Register on the tax department website: You need to register yourself on income tax website http://www.incometax indiaefiling.gov.in by clicking the `register' link. As part of the registration process, your personal details like PAN (permanent account number), name as per the PAN card, father's name, date of birth, email address and contact number are required to be provided. The website provides directions to complete the registration process.

Step 3: Download and complete the details in the tax return: The return preparation software and form can be downloaded from the website by clicking the link `e-filing AY 2012-13'. Fill in the personal information and income related details in the downloaded form. To en sure that all columns in the return are properly filled in, there is a process to validate the information by clicking on the `validate button' on the last sheet of the return. On successful validation, access the `generate XML ' link on the tax return and save the generated XML file.

Step 4: Upload the tax return online: Once you have registered yourself on the website and filled up your return, the next step is to actually file the return.

This is done by selecting the relevant assessment year (2012-13) under the `submit return' tab, and uploading the `XML file' generated in step three.

Step 5: Return filing acknowledgement: Form ITR-V in a PDF format is generated as an acknowledgement on successful uploading of the return. The password to open ITR-V is your PAN followed by your date of birth. A copy of the ITR-V should be saved for future reference, and a printed copy, signed in blue ink, should be sent by ordinary post to `income tax department -CPC, post bag No ­ 1, electronic city post office, Bengaluru-560100, Karnataka' within 120 days of filing the return.

In case the return was filed using a digital signature, the return filing process is completed on uploading the return and there is no need to send the ITR-V to CPC Bangalore.

Step 6: Track the return status on the website: Once the tax return has been filed, you can periodically log into your account on the tax department website and check if the ITR-V has been received. Your online return filing process is complete once the same appears as `processed' in your account. Tracking the status online also helps you know the status of any refund due to you or any demand notices that may have been issued.