ITR-2 Filing 2026: 5 Steps to File It Right

If you earn from capital gains, multiple properties, or foreign income, you must file ITR-2 — not ITR-1. Here's what documents you need and exactly how to file it online before the deadline.

Here's what happened: ITR-2 applies to individuals and HUFs with capital gains, more than one house property, or foreign assets — not eligible for the simpler ITR-1.. The income tax e-filing portal now pre-fills key personal and income details in Part A, but taxpayers must verify and correct any mismatches before submitting.. After submitting ITR-2, e-verification via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or Demat account must be completed within 30 days — or the return is treated as invalid..

What you should do: Gather Form 16, Form 26AS, AIS (Annual Information Statement), capital gains statements from your broker, and bank interest certificates before you begin filing.. Log in to incometax.gov.in, select ITR-2 for AY 2026-27, carefully review all pre-filled data including salary, TDS, and capital gains — correct any errors before proceeding to schedules.. Complete e-verification immediately after submission using Aadhaar OTP (fastest option) — do not wait the full 30 days, as technical delays can cause you to miss the window..

If you sold mutual funds or stocks in FY2025-26, your AIS on the tax portal already shows those gains — cross-check it against your broker's capital gains statement to catch discrepancies before the taxman does.