Online platforms in India offer a wide range of services and pricing for Income Tax Return (ITR) filing, with options for every type of taxpayer. The charges depend on the complexity of the return and the level of professional assistance required. With the deadline for filing ITR for Financial Year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) set for September 15, 2025, taxpayers have many choices, from free government portals to comprehensive expert-assisted plans.
Self-Filing Plans (Free to Low-Cost)
For individuals with straightforward income sources, such as a single salaried income, the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal is the primary free option. However, several private platforms offer guided self-filing services at minimal costs, often with user-friendly interfaces and automated data population from Form 16.
- JioFinance: Known for its highly competitive pricing, JioFinance offers a self-filing plan starting from as low as ₹24 for salaried individuals with simple ITR-1 forms.
- ClearTax: Provides self-filing options starting at ₹199.
- Tax2Win: Self-filing plans are available starting from ₹49.
- TaxBuddy: Self-filing plans begin at ₹699.
Expert-Assisted Filing Plans
For taxpayers with more complex financial profiles—including multiple income sources, capital gains, foreign income, or business income—expert-assisted services are highly recommended. These plans connect taxpayers with Chartered Accountants (CAs) or tax professionals who handle the filing process to ensure accuracy and compliance. Charges for these services generally start around ₹799 and can go up to several thousand rupees, depending on the complexity.
- JioFinance: Offers CA-assisted filing services for a flat fee of ₹999.
- TaxBuddy: Provides expert-assisted plans starting from ₹999 for salaried individuals. More complex returns, such as those involving capital gains or business income, have higher charges.
- ClearTax: Expert-assisted plans start at ₹1,299 for basic salaried returns, with prices increasing for more complex situations like capital gains (starting at ₹4,999) or foreign income (starting at ₹12,499).
- Tax2Win: The price for expert-assisted filing ranges from ₹799 for simple returns to over ₹7,968 for more intricate cases.
Key Factors to Consider
Taxpayers should choose a filing option based on their specific needs:
- Simplicity vs. Complexity: Simple returns can be handled with free or low-cost self-filing. For complex returns, the cost of expert assistance is a worthwhile investment to avoid errors and potential tax notices.
- Support Level: Self-filing platforms offer technical assistance, but expert-assisted services provide professional advice and a comprehensive review of the return.
- Deadline: The deadline for filing ITR for non-audit cases for FY 2024-25 is September 15, 2025. Filing on time is crucial to avoid late fees and interest charges under Section 234F and 234A of the Income Tax Act.