Filing your ITR yourself on incometax.gov.in is completely free — there is no government fee. CA-assisted filing is priced by complexity: a simple salaried ITR-1 costs the least, while ITR-2 (capital gains, more than one house, foreign income), ITR-3 (business/profession) and audit or NRI returns cost more. TaxClue quotes a fixed price upfront that covers Form 26AS / AIS reconciliation, deduction optimisation, e-filing and e-verification. The real cost of not filing on time is the Section 234F late fee (up to Rs 5,000) plus interest.
ITR Filing Charges by Form & Profile
The government charges nothing to file. A CA's fee reflects the work involved — which is decided by which ITR form applies to your income. Higher complexity means more computation, reconciliation and review.
| ITR form / profile | Who it fits | Govt fee | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITR-1 Sahaj | Resident, salary / one house / other sources up to Rs 50L (LTCG u/s 112A up to Rs 1.25L now allowed) | Free | Low |
| ITR-2 | Capital gains, more than one house, foreign income/assets — no business income | Free | Medium |
| ITR-3 | Income from business or profession (with books) | Free | High |
| ITR-4 Sugam | Presumptive income u/s 44AD / 44ADA / 44AE | Free | Medium |
| NRI / audit return | Foreign income, DTAA relief, or tax-audit u/s 44AB | Free | High |
| Belated / revised / ITR-U | After due date, correction, or updated return u/s 139(8A) | Free | Medium |
"Govt fee" = the portal charges nothing to file. CA/professional fees are separate and vary with complexity. ITR-5 (firms/LLP/AOP/BOI), ITR-6 (companies) and ITR-7 (trusts) are entity returns.
The single biggest driver of a CA's ITR fee is the form. Adding capital gains pushes you from ITR-1 to ITR-2; adding business income pushes you to ITR-3 and possibly a tax audit. Foreign assets, crypto/VDA, F&O trades and multiple income heads all raise the effort — and therefore the fee.
DIY Self-Filing vs CA-Assisted Filing
DIY is free but you carry the risk of a wrong form, a missed deduction or a mismatch with your Form 26AS and AIS. CA-assisted filing costs a fee but shifts the accuracy risk and often recovers more in refunds than it costs.
DIY self-filing
- No government or CA fee
- Fine for a simple salaried ITR-1
- You compute income & pick the form
- You reconcile 26AS / AIS yourself
- Wrong form or missed claim is on you
CA-assisted (TaxClue)
- Fixed fee quoted upfront
- Right form chosen for your income
- 26AS / AIS reconciliation done for you
- Old vs new regime compared
- Deduction optimisation + notice support
What a good CA-assisted plan includes — and where DIY leaves you on your own:
| Feature | CA-assisted | DIY self-filing |
|---|---|---|
| Tax computation across all income heads | Included | You compute |
| Deduction optimisation (80C, 80D, HRA, etc.) | Included | You decide |
| Form 26AS & AIS reconciliation | Included | Manual |
| Old vs new regime comparison | Included | Manual |
| Capital-gains computation (STCG/LTCG) | Included (ITR-2+) | Manual |
| E-filing & e-verification | Included | You do it |
| Notice handling if issued after filing | Basic support | Not included |
Both routes file on the same portal; the difference is who does the computation, reconciliation and review.
Multiple income sources, capital gains or business income? Get a fixed quote first.
Get an ITR Filing Quote →ITR Due Dates You Are Paying to Meet
Part of the value of paid filing is not missing a deadline. For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27):
| Return type | Due date | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals, non-audit — ITR-1 / ITR-2 | 31 July 2026 | 139(1) |
| Business / profession, non-audit — ITR-3 / ITR-4 | 31 August 2026 | 139(1) |
| Taxpayers requiring a tax audit | 31 October 2026 | 139(1) |
| Transfer-pricing (Form 3CEB) cases | 30 November 2026 | 139(1) |
| Belated or revised return | 31 December 2026 | 139(4) / 139(5) |
| Updated return (ITR-U) | 48 months from AY end | 139(8A) |
Budget 2025 extended the ITR-U window from 24 to 48 months (with higher additional tax the later you file). Dates are the standard statutory dates unless the CBDT extends them.
- Form 16 from each employer
- Form 26AS + AIS / TIS download
- Interest certificates (bank, FD, savings)
- Capital-gains statements (broker / MF)
- 80C, 80D and other deduction proofs
- Home-loan interest & principal certificate
- Bank account for refund (pre-validated)
- Old vs new regime decided before filing
Late Fee & Interest for Missing the Deadline
Filing late is the one ITR cost the government does charge. Miss 31 July 2026 (non-audit) and a Section 234F fee applies, on top of interest under 234A/B/C on any unpaid tax.
| Situation | 234F late fee |
|---|---|
| Filed on or before the due date | Nil |
| Filed late, total income up to Rs 5,00,000 | Rs 1,000 |
| Filed late, total income above Rs 5,00,000 | Rs 5,000 |
Interest u/s 234A (delay in filing), 234B/234C (advance-tax shortfall) may also apply on any tax due. ITR-U additionally carries 25%–70% extra tax depending on how late it is.
A wrong ITR form, an unreconciled AIS mismatch or a missed advance-tax instalment can trigger a defective-return notice, a demand, or interest that dwarfs any CA fee. Filing correctly and on time is usually cheaper than fixing an error later.
Want a fixed, transparent quote before any work begins?
Get an ITR Filing Quote →ITR Filing Cost — Frequently Asked Questions
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File Your ITR Right — Fixed Price, No Surprises
DIY is free but risky. Our CA-led team picks the correct ITR form, reconciles 26AS and AIS, compares old vs new regime, optimises every deduction and files on time — with a fixed quote agreed upfront, 100% online, across India.