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This guide compares 16 options for Indian ITR and TDS/TCS work. If you have capital gains, foreign income, F&O trades, business income or TDS statements, choose the appropriate return or statement workflow before selecting software.
Quick comparison: the 16 options
| Software or utility | Best suited to | Free status |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax Department e-Filing portal | Online ITR-1 to ITR-5 filing | Free |
| Common Offline Utility | Offline preparation of ITR-1 to ITR-4 | Free |
| Official ITR-1 Excel Utility | Eligible simple income-tax returns | Free |
| Official ITR-2 Excel Utility | Capital gains, foreign assets and non-business cases | Free |
| Official ITR-3 Excel Utility | Business and professional income | Free |
| Official ITR-4 Excel Utility | Eligible presumptive-taxation cases | Free |
| Official ITR-5 Excel Utility | Firms, LLPs and other specified entities | Free |
| Official ITR-6 Excel Utility | Companies not filing ITR-7 | Free |
| Official ITR-7 Excel Utility | Specified trusts and other persons | Free |
| Protean RPU | Preparing quarterly TDS/TCS statements | Free to download |
| Protean FVU | Validating TDS/TCS files | Free |
| Quicko | Simple returns and selected self-filing cases | Limited free tier |
| TaxBuddy DIY | Self-filing without expert assistance | Self-filing option |
| myITreturn | Self-filing across several income types | Free self-filing; assistance is paid |
| EZTax | Preparing a return before choosing a plan | Free preparation; paid e-filing |
| ClearTax | Guided preparation for eligible cases | Limited free or freemium |
1. Income Tax Department e-Filing portal
incometax.gov.in is a free option to prepare, submit and e-verify a return online without third-party software.
After logging in, go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return. Select AY 2026–27, choose Online as the filing mode and click Continue. The portal can pre-fill information, but compare it with your AIS, Form 26AS, Form 16, bank certificates and investment records.
#1 Best Overall
For AY 2026–27, ITR-1 through ITR-5 are available through online and offline utilities. ITR-6 and ITR-7 are currently listed through Excel utilities, according to the Income Tax Department. The portal is particularly suitable for straightforward ITR-1 or eligible ITR-4 cases.
2. Income Tax Department Common Offline Utility
The Common Offline Utility is useful if you prefer a local draft, have unreliable internet access or want to prepare a return offline. It covers ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4 for AY 2026–27. The Department lists version 1.2.1, released July 1, 2026.
Without logging in, go to Home → Downloads. From a logged-in account, use e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return → select AY → Mode of Filing: Offline → Download. A separate Mac download is listed for the Common Offline Utility.
The utility imports pre-filled information and generates a JSON file for upload to the e-Filing portal. Download the current package from the Income Tax Department downloads page rather than reusing an older copy. Excel-based utilities require genuine, licensed Microsoft Excel 2016 or later with macros enabled.
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ITR-1, or Sahaj, is designed for an eligible resident individual who is not ordinarily resident and has total income up to ₹50 lakh from qualifying sources. These can include salary or pension, up to two house properties, specified other sources, agricultural income up to ₹5,000 and eligible section 112A long-term capital gains up to ₹1.25 lakh. The AY 2026–27 utility is listed as version 1.1, released June 30, 2026.
Download the current ZIP from Home → Downloads, extract it, open it in genuine licensed Microsoft Excel 2016 or later, enable macros, complete the fields, validate the return and generate JSON to upload through the e-Filing portal.
Do not use ITR-1 merely because most of your income is salary. Short-term capital gains, foreign assets or income, unlisted shares, certain ESOP situations, brought-forward losses or income above ₹50 lakh can make it unsuitable. Check the Department’s ITR-1 eligibility rules.
4. Official ITR-2 Excel Utility
ITR-2 is the free government utility for individuals and HUFs who do not have profits and gains from business or profession but whose affairs are more complicated than ITR-1 allows. The AY 2026–27 utility is listed as version 1.1, released June 30, 2026.
Rank #2
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It is commonly used for capital gains, multiple house properties, foreign income or assets and other non-business situations. If you have business or professional income, ITR-3 may be required instead. Check the current package on the Income Tax Department downloads page.
5. Official ITR-3 Excel Utility
ITR-3 covers individuals and HUFs with income from a business or profession. It can be relevant to freelancers, professionals, traders and proprietors whose return cannot be filed using the presumptive-taxation form. The AY 2026–27 utility is listed as version 1.1, released June 30, 2026.
It is also the more appropriate route for complex trading activity or other circumstances that disqualify ITR-4. Business or professional taxpayers who want the old tax regime generally need to make the applicable regime declaration before filing rather than assuming the utility will switch it automatically. Check current files on the Department downloads page.
6. Official ITR-4 Excel Utility
ITR-4, or Sugam, is for eligible resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than LLPs using presumptive taxation under sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE, generally with total income up to ₹50 lakh. The AY 2026–27 utility is listed as version 1.1, released June 30, 2026.
This is not a universal small-business return. Ineligible business income, complex trading activity or other disqualifying facts may require ITR-3. Check the current utility and rules on the Department downloads page.
7. Official ITR-5 Excel Utility
ITR-5 is for persons other than individuals, HUFs, companies and persons required to file ITR-7. It is relevant to several partnership firms, LLPs, associations and other specified entities. The AY 2026–27 Excel utility is listed as version 1.0, released July 7, 2026.
The Department also listed the online utility as available on August 5, 2026, and the offline utility as available on August 7, 2026. Check the Department portal for current availability and revisions.
8. Official ITR-6 Excel Utility
Companies that are not required to file ITR-7 use ITR-6. For AY 2026–27, the Department lists this return through an Excel utility. Because company returns and validation rules can change during the filing season, download the current workbook, schema and validation files from the Department downloads page immediately before preparation.
Rank #3
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9. Official ITR-7 Excel Utility
ITR-7 is used by persons required to file under sections 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C) or 139(4D), including relevant trusts and institutions. The Department lists an AY 2026–27 version 1.0 released July 9, 2026.
This is a compliance-heavy return. Free software does not remove the need to classify income correctly, report required details and meet audit or registration-related obligations. Check the current utility on the Department downloads page.
10. Protean e-TDS/TCS Return Preparation Utility (RPU)
Protean’s RPU is free to download and prepares quarterly e-TDS and TCS statements in the prescribed file structure. It is an alternative to paid commercial TDS software for deductors who can manage the underlying data themselves. The Income Tax Department’s e-TDS guidance describes the utility as freely downloadable.
For Tax Year 2026–27 onward, the Income-tax Act, 2025 changes form numbering. For example, old Form 26Q is identified as Form No. 140, old Form 27Q as Form No. 144 and old Form 27EQ as Form No. 143. Use the current RPU and follow Protean’s RPU/FVU change guidance rather than carrying forward an old form structure.
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FVU validates the file produced by RPU or other compliant software and creates the validated .fvu file used for submission. Protean FVU is free, and validation is a required part of the TDS/TCS workflow. The Department’s e-TDS guidance says the FVU is freely available.
A common error is combining a current RPU with an outdated FVU or using old form numbering. Download matching current versions from Protean before preparing a new statement.
12. Quicko
Quicko advertises a free plan for beginners with simple tax situations. It can be convenient for guided preparation, but it is not free for every taxpayer or every ITR.
Quicko’s pricing information shows paid tiers or limitations for higher income, business and professional income, F&O and intraday activity, foreign income, virtual digital assets, audit cases, unlisted shares and company directors. Confirm the price after selecting your income sources.
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13. TaxBuddy DIY filing
TaxBuddy’s self-filing option is intended for taxpayers who want to file themselves without buying expert-assisted filing. TaxBuddy describes these as different service levels.
Expert help, notice handling, scrutiny support and similar services are separate products. Do not confuse the DIY workflow with professional representation after filing; see the provider’s TaxBuddy FAQ for its distinction between self-filing and assisted services.
14. myITreturn
myITreturn currently advertises free self-filing, including filing through its mobile app. Its self-filing coverage includes salary, pension, interest, capital gains, foreign income and other income types.
Assisted filing is paid. The provider’s pricing page lists assisted plans starting at ₹2,200 plus taxes, with higher prices for complex income. Choose self-filing only if you are comfortable checking the return yourself.
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15. EZTax
EZTax states that ITR preparation is free, but its current self-service page says that a paid plan is required to e-file. The correct description is therefore free preparation with paid e-filing.
EZTax’s pricing page lists examples including ₹249 plus GST for certain ordinary-income cases below ₹5 lakh, ₹399 plus GST for ordinary or business income above ₹5 lakh and ₹599 plus GST for some NRI or capital-gains cases below ₹5 lakh. Foreign-income and crypto cases cost more.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.16. ClearTax
ClearTax displays free-start or free-preparation offers on some pages and has historically offered free filing for limited simple salary cases. Its current pricing and FAQ pages also list paid plans for salary, house property, capital gains, foreign income, presumptive income and business cases.
ClearTax’s pricing page and ITR FAQ describe paid filing in applicable cases. Its workflow can include Proceed to e-file → Declaration Page → choose payment option → Apply discount code → Pay & e-file successfully. Treat ClearTax as limited-free or freemium, not universally free filing.
Best Value
How to choose the right free utility
- Identify the taxpayer: individual, HUF, firm, company, trust or another entity.
- List every income type: salary, rent, interest, dividends, capital gains, business income, foreign income, crypto and trading activity.
- Select the ITR form before selecting software. An attractive interface cannot make an ineligible ITR-1 valid.
- Check AIS and Form 26AS: reconcile TDS, interest, securities transactions and other reported information.
- Check the final price: particularly on private platforms. “Free preparation” may stop before submission.
- Download only current utilities: schemas, workbooks and validation rules are revised during the filing season.
Common problems when using tax software
Excel buttons do nothing
Official Excel utilities require macros and genuine licensed Microsoft Excel 2016 or later. If macros are blocked, validation and JSON-generation buttons may not work. Open the file in desktop Excel, enable content where appropriate and avoid editing the workbook structure.
JSON upload is rejected
The JSON may belong to the wrong assessment year, ITR form or utility version. Download the current package, generate a new JSON and upload it rather than trying to repair the file manually.
An online draft will not open offline
To transfer a partially completed online return into the offline utility:
- Log in and go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return.
- Select the AY and online mode, then choose Resume Filing.
- On the Return Summary page, select Download JSON.
- In the offline utility, choose Import draft ITR filled in online mode and attach the JSON.
See the official offline-utility instructions.
TDS credit is wrong
Compare the deductor TAN, amount deducted, assessment or tax year and TDS claimed against Form 26AS, AIS and the employer or bank certificate. Pre-filled data is helpful, but it is not proof that every entry is correct.
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The return passes software checks but is still wrong
Validation checks formatting and rule compliance; it does not guarantee that your income, deductions or tax regime choice is factually correct. The Department warns that third-party software must comply with its validation rules. Serious defects can block upload or contribute to a section 139(9) notice; see the Department’s AY 2026–27 ITR-4 validation rules.
What should not be counted as free
A free download, trial or demo is not the same as a free licence. Saral TDS lists a professional plan at ₹6,270 for one user plus 18% GST, according to its pricing page. Saral Income Tax offers a 30-day trial followed by paid plans, according to its taxation pricing page. GEN TDS, ClearTDS and Tax2win also have paid commercial or filing plans. Include them in a software comparison only if you clearly label the trial or paid limitation. ClearTDS pricing is on its pricing page, and Tax2win’s ITR plans are on its pricing page.
FAQ
What is the best completely free income-tax software in India?
The Income Tax Department’s e-Filing portal and official offline or Excel utilities are the clearest genuinely free choices. Use the utility matching your ITR form, then upload the generated JSON or file through the portal.
Which free utility should I use for salary income?
Use the online portal or ITR-1 if you are eligible. Capital gains, foreign assets, unlisted shares, brought-forward losses or income above ₹50 lakh can make ITR-1 unsuitable; ITR-2 or another form may apply.
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Is Protean RPU free for TDS returns?
Yes. Protean RPU is free to download for preparing quarterly TDS/TCS statements, and Protean FVU is free for validating the resulting file. Use current versions because form structures and numbering change for Tax Year 2026–27 onward.
Are ClearTax, EZTax and Quicko completely free?
Not universally. Quicko’s free tier is limited by taxpayer profile and complexity, EZTax offers free preparation but charges for self-service e-filing, and ClearTax has limited-free or paid filing plans depending on the case.
The Bottom Line
For a genuinely free route, start with the Income Tax Department portal or its current offline utility. Choose ITR-1 through ITR-7 based on your facts, not convenience. For TDS/TCS statements, use Protean RPU followed by FVU. Private services such as Quicko, TaxBuddy, myITreturn, EZTax and ClearTax may save time, but verify whether “free” includes final e-filing for your particular income profile.
Quick Recap
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