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Whether you're applying for a loan, a visa, or planning major financial investments, one document that's often requested is your previous years’ Income Tax Return (ITR). But what if you don’t have a hard copy or can't find the file?

Don't worry! The Income Tax Department of India allows you to download your old ITRs online, directly from the official e-Filing portal. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you retrieve your tax history in just a few clicks.

📌 Why Do You Need Old ITRs?

• Loan Applications: Banks ask for past ITRs to verify your income and repayment capacity.

• Visa Processing: Embassies (USA, UK, Canada) request 2–3 years of ITRs to assess your financial stability.

• Investments/Insurance: Some high-value plans or claims may need past tax returns.

• Tax Refund Clarification: In case of pending refunds or tax credits from previous years.

📥 Can You Download Previous ITRs?

Yes, absolutely. You can download PDF copies of your ITR (along with the acknowledgment, ITR-V, and computation) from the official portal www.incometax.gov.in. This process is completely online and free of charge.

🧭 Step-by-Step: How to Download Old ITRs

Step 1: Log in to the Income Tax Portal

• Visit: www.incometax.gov.in

• Enter your User ID (PAN) and password.

• Complete OTP authentication, if prompted.

Step 2: Navigate to ‘Filed Returns’

• Go to the ‘e-File’ tab in the top menu.

• Select ‘Income Tax Returns’ > ‘View Filed Returns’.

Step 3: View & Download ITR

• A list of all assessment years (AY) for which you filed returns will appear.

• You can see the processing status, refund, or demand info.

• For the year you need, click ‘Download Form’ to get a PDF of your return.

📄 What Will the Downloaded ITR Show?

• Whether the ITR was filed

• Filing date and status (processed/pending)

• Tax paid/refund due

• Complete computation and verification details

🖨️ Pro Tip: Save and Print

Always keep a soft copy and a printed version of important ITRs. You might need them unexpectedly for documentation, especially for:

• Home/Business loans

• Visa interviews

• Legal or financial audits