The new Income Tax Forms which were notified last week introduced a bunch of changes that are relevant for all those planning to file their income tax returns (ITR) for AY 2026-27 on or before July 31, 2026 (non-tax audit cases). Just a heads up, these new tax forms are not meant for Tax Year 2026-27, rather it is for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26), for which you still need to follow Income Tax Act, 1961 and Income Tax Rules, 1961.
One of the key updates across all the notified income tax return (ITR) forms (1 to 7) relate to secondary addresses.
In part A’s general section of the ITR form, it asks for basic and essential information about the taxpayer. This includes personal and identification details like name, PAN, Aadhaar number, address, contact information, and so on. It also captures the taxpayer’s status (individual, firm, company, etc.), filing status (original or revised return), and whether the return is being filed under any specific section, like Section 119(2)(b), etc.
Up until last year, the ITR forms required disclosure of only one address along with two mobile numbers and two email IDs for communication purposes.
According to Taxmann research, the new ITR forms applicable for Assessment Year 2026-27 have expanded this requirement by introducing a separate field for a secondary address, thereby requiring assessees to furnish both primary and secondary addresses. Further, the existing fields for two mobile numbers and two email IDs have been redesignated as “Primary” and “Secondary” contact details.
Here are some other changes introduced in ITR forms
Here are some details as per Taxmann research:
1. Rationalisation in the details sought of the representative assessee [ITR 1 to 7]
In case an income tax return is filed by a representative assessee, the ITR form seeks details of such representative assessee’s name, capacity, address, and PAN/Aadhaar. In the new ITR forms, this reporting requirement has been modified. Now, the ITR forms seek only the following three details if the representative assessee files the return:
- (a) Name of representative assessee;
- (b) Email ID of the representative assessee; and
- (c) Contact number of the representative assessee.
2. Bifurcated reporting of capital gains earned before or after 23rd July 2024 is removed [ITR 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7]
Under Section 45(1), capital gains are taxable in the year in which a capital asset is transferred, making the date of transfer crucial for determining the applicable tax provisions. With the enactment of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, significant changes in the capital gains tax regime became effective from 23rd July 2024.
Accordingly, for Assessment Year 2025–26, the ITR forms required a separate disclosure of capital gains arising before 23rd July 2024 and on or after that date, as different tax rates and provisions applied based on the timing of transfer.
In the new ITR forms, dual reporting has been removed, as the rate change was relevant only for the transitional period in the previous year, 2024–25. Since no such mid-year change exists for the previous year relevant to AY 2026–27, the need for bifurcation of capital gains based on transfer date is no longer necessary, thereby simplifying the reporting framework.
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