ITR-1 vs ITR-2: Which Income Tax Return Form Should You File?

As responsible Indian taxpayers, filing our income tax returns (ITR) is an annual duty we cannot ignore. But it, more often than not, raises one critical question: Should you file ITR-1 or ITR-2? For the two forms, no matter how similar they sound, serve different types of taxpayers with income sources and eligibility criteria that are poles apart.

To make things worse, choosing the wrong form can lead to return rejection or even penalties. To thus help you make the right choice, here’s a clear comparison of ITR-1 vs ITR-2, so you can select the form that best matches your financial profile and makes taxes a little less taxing.

What are ITR-1 and ITR-2?

ITR-1, popularly called Sahaj, is the simplest income tax return form meant for Indian resident individuals with straightforward income sources. If your total income is under INR 50 lakh and it primarily comes from salary or pension, one house property, and other sources like interest from savings or fixed deposits, ITR-1 is the right choice.

If you, for instance, are a salaried employee earning INR 40 lakh annually with interest income from savings and own one rented house, and you have no capital gains or foreign income, you should file ITR-1.

ITR-2, on the contrary, serves individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) that have multiple income sources. It is applicable to resident and non-resident taxpayers who have income from capital gains, multiple house properties, foreign income or assets, and other income sources that are excluded from ITR-1.

If you, for instance, are an IT professional earning INR 60 lakh, have capital gains of INR 10 lakh from selling shares, own two properties, and hold foreign investments, you must file ITR-2.

Comparison Between ITR-1 and ITR-2

Understand the key distinctions between ITR-1 and ITR-2, from eligibility and income types to disclosures and reporting requirements.

Feature	ITR-1	ITR-2
Eligibility	Resident individuals with simple income	NRIs, RNORs, and complex income portfolios
Income Limit	Below INR 50 lakh	All income levels
House Property	1 property	Multiple properties
Capital Gains	Limited (LTCG up to INR 1.25L); no loss carry forward	All gains allow loss carry forward
Other Income	Excludes lottery, gambling	Includes lottery, gambling
Foreign Assets/Income	Not allowed	Allowed with disclosures
Agricultural Income	Up to INR 5,000	Above INR 5,000
Directorship & Unlisted Shares	Not required	Required if applicable
Assets & Liabilities Disclosure	Not required	Required if income > INR 1 crore

ITR-1 vs ITR-2: Key Differences Explained

Now that we know the primary difference between ITR-1 and 2, let’s get into the technicalities to get a broader picture. All the key distinctions between the two, as such, are listed below for your understanding…

1. Eligibility & Applicability

ITR-1 is only for resident individuals with regular income sources and limited disclosures. ITR-2, conversely, includes NRIs and RNORs and taxpayers with complex income portfolios.

2. Income Limit

If your total income is less than INR 50 lakh, ITR-1 is the form you should be filing. ITR-2, contrarily, is suitable for individuals of all income levels.

3. Income from House Property

While ITR-1 permits income from only one house property, ITR-2 allows reporting income from multiple properties, whether rented, self-occupied, or deemed let out.

4. Capital Gains Income

Another key ITR-2 vs ITR-1 distinction is that ITR-1 supports only limited capital gains, specifically long-term capital gains under Section 112A up to INR 1.25 lakh, and does not allow capital loss carry forward.

ITR-2, on the other hand, requires detailed reporting of all capital gains, including both long-term and short-term gains, along with carry-forward losses from shares, mutual funds, and property sales.

5. Income from Other Sources

ITR-1 excludes certain incomes like lottery winnings, gambling, and horse racing. ITR-2 includes these types of income, making it an essential ITR form for those who earn from such sources.

6. Foreign Assets & Foreign Income

You cannot report foreign assets or income in ITR-1. If you own foreign assets or receive foreign income, you will have to file ITR-2 with detailed disclosures.

7. Agricultural Income

Agricultural income up to INR 5,000 can be included in ITR-1. If your agricultural income exceeds INR 5,000, you must file ITR-2.

8. Company Directorship & Unlisted Shares

ITR-1 does not require disclosure of company directorship or unlisted share holdings, but ITR-2 requires mandatory disclosures of these if applicable.

9. Disclosure of Assets & Liabilities

One final point of comparison between ITR-2 vs ITR-1 is that ITR-1 does not require disclosure of assets and liabilities, whereas ITR-2 mandates this disclosure if the total income exceeds INR 1 crore.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Filing ITR-1 and 2

Here’s what to watch for when navigating the ITR-1 vs 2 choice…

• Wrong Form Usage: Filing ITR-1 with capital gains or multiple properties causes rejection, and so does NRI filing ITR-1.
• Mismatch in Income Reporting: Ensure all income sources are correctly reported, especially when switching from ITR-1 to 2.
• Ignoring Foreign Assets/Income: Non-disclosure leads to tax demand notices. Only ITR-2 accommodates foreign asset disclosures.
• Overlooking Director or Shareholding Details: ITR-2 makes it binding to disclose directorship and unlisted shares, ignoring which can cause compliance issues.
• Not Reporting Multiple House Properties: Income from more than one house property cannot be reported in ITR-1.

How to Decide Between ITR-1 and 2?

Here’s a quick checklist that can help you settle the ITR-1 vs ITR-2 battle once and for all…

If you are a resident individual with salary/pension income, one house property, interest income, agricultural income under INR 5,000, and total income below INR 50 lakh, file ITR-1.

If you have capital gains, multiple house properties, foreign assets/income, etc., and are a company director or an NRI, file ITR-2.

Conclusion:

Knowing the difference between ITR-1 and 2 and choosing the right form accordingly is important for you to avoid tax notices and ensure easy tax compliance. So, if you are done understanding the two and wish to file one as soon as possible, let the Techjockey product team provide you with the best income tax software today. Give us a call right away!