Best ITR Filing Websites and Apps in India: Fees and Comparison

Every filing season the same question comes up: should you just use the government portal, or is a paid platform actually worth it? The answer depends almost entirely on what kind of income you have.

This guide compares the official Income Tax e-Filing portal against five private platforms — ClearTax, Tax2win, Quicko, TaxBuddy and EZTax — so you can match the platform to your income type rather than to whichever ad you saw first.

ITR Filing Deadlines for AY 2026-27

Before you choose a platform, check which deadline applies to you. The dates differ by ITR form and audit status.

Who you are	Form	Due date
Salaried, pensioners, investors (non-audit)	ITR-1, ITR-2	31 July 2026
Business or professional income, non-audit	ITR-3, ITR-4	31 August 2026
Tax audit cases under Section 44AB	ITR-3, ITR-5, ITR-6	31 October 2026
Transfer pricing cases	Applicable form	30 November 2026
Belated return	Applicable form	31 December 2026
Revised return	Applicable form	31 March 2027

Two changes matter this year. The 31 August date for non-audit ITR-3 and ITR-4 filers is a permanent shift under the Finance Act, 2026, not a one-off extension. And the revised-return window now runs to 31 March 2027, up from the earlier December cutoff, which gives you more room to correct genuine errors after filing.

Filing late attracts a fee of up to ₹5,000 under Section 234F, reduced to ₹1,000 if your total income is below ₹5 lakh, plus interest under Section 234A on any unpaid tax. Do not plan around an extension — one is only real once the CBDT notifies it.

One more thing worth knowing: AY 2026-27 is the last assessment year governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961. Income earned from April 2026 onwards falls under the Income Tax Act, 2025, which also replaces “Previous Year” and “Assessment Year” with a single “Tax Year”. That return is not due until 2027.

Key Takeaways

• The official e-Filing portal is free and is the right choice if you know your ITR form and can review pre-filled data against AIS and Form 26AS.
• Paid DIY plans are cheaper than CA-assisted plans, but they often stop short of business income, F&O, foreign assets, crypto and complicated capital gains.
• Pricing spans a wide band — free on the government portal and on Quicko’s Basic tier, roughly ₹250 to ₹700 for entry-level self-service plans, and anywhere from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000 for assisted filing depending on complexity.
• E-verification is the step people forget. A return that is submitted but not verified is not treated as filed.
• Whichever platform you use, the responsibility for correct and complete information stays with you.

Quick Comparison

Platform	Best for	Free tier	Assisted filing	Entry price band	Main limitation
Income Tax e-Filing portal	Confident filers, simple returns	Yes	No	Free	No hand-holding
ClearTax	Salaried filers wanting cheap expert help	Free start shown; check plan limits	Yes	Under ₹500 for assisted salary	Plan scope and add-ons need checking at checkout
Tax2win	Users who may upgrade from DIY to expert	Not clearly offered	Yes	₹500–₹1,500 DIY by income slab	Assisted capital-gains plan is materially costlier
Quicko	Investors and traders with broker connections	Yes (Basic)	Limited	Free, paid from around ₹1,000	Basic capped by income and app connections
TaxBuddy	Users wanting human support and notice help	No	Yes	Under ₹700 self-filing	GST extra; plan choice gets complex
EZTax	Complex returns needing a visible price menu	No	Yes	From around ₹250 self-service	Many prices shown as discounted or “starting from”

How We Evaluated These Platforms

We reviewed official Income Tax Department pages and each provider’s own public pricing and service pages on 28 July 2026. The government portal is included as the benchmark. Private platforms were included only if they were operational, India-focused, offered ITR filing or preparation, and published enough pricing and feature detail for a fair comparison.

We looked at supported income types and ITR forms, free filing availability, pricing transparency, the DIY experience, expert assistance, capital-gains and business-income handling, notice support, privacy disclosures, post-filing guidance, support channels, refund policies and app availability.

We have not assigned numerical scores. A fair score would require hands-on filing tests, support-response checks and verified user outcomes, none of which this review included.

Income Tax e-Filing Portal

This is the government’s own platform and the only place a return is actually filed — every private platform ultimately submits through it. As of 28 July 2026, ITR-1 through ITR-4 for AY 2026-27 were live with both online and offline utilities enabled.

Suits: Anyone who knows their income sources, knows which form applies and will actually read the pre-filled data before submitting.

What you get: Pre-filled return data, AIS and Form 26AS access, online and offline utilities, e-verification through Aadhaar OTP, EVC, net banking or DSC, and return tracking. No platform fee at any income level.

Watch out for: Lookalike domains. Reach the portal by typing the official address yourself rather than clicking a sponsored search result. There is no built-in CA service, so if you get stuck mid-return, you are on your own or you go find a professional separately.

Worth noting that filing is often worth doing even when you owe nothing — a filed return is standard proof of income for loan and visa applications. We covered that case separately in filing ITR with no taxable income.

ClearTax

ClearTax is the largest of the private platforms by brand recognition. Its pages for FY 2025-26 cover salaried filers, capital gains, F&O, crypto, US stocks and freelancers.

Suits: Salaried taxpayers who want a guided flow, and anyone who wants an expert involved without paying full CA rates.

Pricing shape: Expert-assisted plans start under ₹500 for straightforward salary cases, sit in the high hundreds for house-property income, and move into the ₹1,500–₹2,000 band once capital gains are involved. Freelancer, business and NRI plans start around ₹3,000 and above. A free filing option is advertised, but where the free tier ends and the paid one begins is easier to establish inside the live flow than from the pricing page.

Watch out for: Marketing language around “maximum refund” and accuracy guarantees. Your refund is determined by your actual tax computation and TDS, not by the platform. Check the exact scope of a plan before paying, and read the refund terms — work already started by an expert typically limits cancellation.

Tax2win

Tax2win runs a clear split between self-filing and eCA-assisted filing. Its DIY flow walks through income-source selection, pre-filled data import, old-versus-new regime comparison, review and e-verification.

Suits: People who want to start on their own but keep the option of handing the return to an expert.

Pricing shape: DIY plans are tiered by income, running from roughly ₹550 for income under ₹5 lakh up to around ₹1,450 above ₹10 lakh, plus taxes. eCA-assisted standard filing sits near ₹2,300 plus taxes, and the assisted capital-gains plan is a large step up at around ₹6,300 plus taxes.

Watch out for: That capital-gains jump. Before selecting a plan, be clear on whether your situation counts as capital gains, a property sale, crypto or business income — the classification drives the price.

Quicko

Quicko is built around investors and traders, with broker and app connections that pull in transaction data rather than making you assemble it manually. Its pricing page is the most legible of the five.

Suits: Salaried filers who fit inside the free Basic tier, and equity or F&O investors who want broker data imported.

Pricing shape: Basic is free and covers salary, house property and income from other sources up to ₹12 lakh with one app connection. The mid tier sits just under ₹1,000 and adds capital gains and presumptive business income up to ₹24 lakh with three connections. The top tier is around ₹1,500 with unlimited income and connections, including foreign income.

Watch out for: The Basic tier’s income and connection caps — capital gains only appear in paid tiers. Dedicated CA-assisted review is not clearly offered on the main pricing page, so confirm availability before relying on it. Connecting a broker also means granting data access, which is worth reading the permissions on.

TaxBuddy

TaxBuddy leans hardest into human assistance, with separate plans for self-filing, assisted filing, tax planning and notice handling.

Suits: Taxpayers with complicated income who want a person involved, and anyone who has received a notice.

Pricing shape: Self-filing for salary plus one house property starts under ₹700 plus taxes, with self-filing capital gains around ₹2,000. Assisted plans start near ₹1,000 for salary, move to roughly ₹3,000 for capital gains and around ₹4,500 for F&O. Resident foreign income and premium complex filing run from about ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 plus GST.

Watch out for: GST is extra on every plan, and plan selection gets genuinely confusing if your income spans several categories. Notice support may depend on whether the original return was filed through TaxBuddy — check that before assuming you are covered. Its refund policy allows requests within 30 days but restricts them once an expert has reviewed or advised.

EZTax

EZTax publishes the widest service menu of the five, covering salary, multiple Form 16s, capital gains, business and firm filing, F&O, crypto, NRI returns, foreign income, updated returns and notice handling.

Suits: People with non-standard returns who want to see a price against their exact situation before committing.

Pricing shape: Self-service starts around ₹250. Expert-assisted filing runs from roughly ₹1,000 for simple cases to about ₹1,650 for medium complexity and ₹3,450 once capital gains are included. Small business filing starts near ₹1,200, full business filing and F&O sit around ₹4,400, NRI plans start near ₹2,500 and resident foreign income near ₹5,800. Notice plans start from around ₹1,000.

Watch out for: Most listed prices carry a “+” or a discount, so the final payable amount can differ. A clear refund and cancellation policy was not readily visible at the time of review, which is worth resolving before you pay.

Official Portal Versus Private Platforms

Factor	Official portal	Private platforms
Cost	Free	Free, paid DIY or assisted
Ease of use	Functional but technical	Usually more guided
Human help	None built in	Available on most
Capital gains	You enter and reconcile it yourself	Broker import and calculation support on some
Notice response	Filed through the portal	Paid assistance plans on some
Data sharing	Direct with the department	Shared with a private company first
Best for	Confident filers, free filing	Guidance or expert review

Which Platform Fits Your Situation

If your income is below the taxable limit, still review when it makes sense to file ITR with no taxable income before choosing a filing platform.

Salaried with Form 16: The official portal handles this well if you reconcile AIS and Form 26AS first. A guided platform helps if you want Form 16 upload and automated checks. Do not skip savings interest, FD interest or dividends just because they are absent from Form 16.

First-time filer: A guided platform reduces confusion, but the portal is still the direct route and it is free. The thing to understand before you start is e-verification — filing is not complete without it.

Freelancer or consultant: Look for presumptive taxation support under Sections 44AD and 44ADA. Tax2win, TaxBuddy, EZTax and Quicko’s paid tiers all handle this. Advance tax, books of account and GST can push you into CA territory. If you are also planning to borrow, note that lenders assess freelance income differently — our guide to loan tips for self-employed people covers what they look for.

Small-business owner: Choose a platform with explicit business-income support and transparent add-on pricing. EZTax and TaxBuddy publish business plans. If a tax audit applies to you, get a CA involved rather than relying on a filing platform.

Investor with capital gains: Quicko’s broker connections are the differentiator if you trade actively. All five platforms handle capital gains at some tier. Property sales, ESOPs, foreign stocks, crypto and F&O are not simple capital gains and are usually priced accordingly.

Multiple income sources: Buy for your full income mix, not the cheapest plan. A salary-only plan that cannot accommodate your rental income or trading is a false economy — you will pay for the upgrade anyway.

You received a notice: Read it on the official portal first. Many communications are routine intimations under Section 143(1), not disputes. For anything substantive, use a notice-assistance plan or a CA.

You want to pay nothing: The official portal, always. Quicko Basic is the only genuinely free private option, and only within its income and connection caps.

Checklist Before You Pay Or Upload Anything

• Do you know which ITR form applies to you?
• Have you listed every income type — salary, interest, dividends, rent, capital gains, business, foreign assets, crypto?
• Do you actually need expert help, or just a cleaner interface?
• Is the full price visible, including GST and complexity add-ons?
• Does the plan cover revised returns if you need to correct something?
• Can you cancel before work starts, and what does the refund policy actually say?
• Are expert credentials disclosed, or just implied?
• Does the privacy policy explain data retention and how you withdraw consent?
• Are you on the official website or app, and not a lookalike?

Documents To Keep Ready

• PAN and Aadhaar details, linked and validated
• Form 16 from your employer, and Form 16A where applicable
• Form 26AS and your AIS/TIS, reconciled against your own records
• Bank account number and IFSC for the refund account
• Interest certificates from banks and post office
• Dividend statements
• Home-loan interest certificate, and education-loan interest under Section 80E if applicable
• Rent receipts and landlord PAN if claiming HRA above the threshold
• Capital-gains statements from brokers, mutual funds or property sale documents
• Freelance invoices and expense records
• Business books, P&L and balance sheet where applicable
• Advance tax and self-assessment challans
• Foreign income and asset documents, including Form 67 for foreign tax credit
• Last year’s return and any notices received

Is It Safe To Use A Third-Party ITR Website?

Using a private platform means handing a company your PAN, salary data, bank details, broker statements and AIS information. That is a real trade-off, not a formality. It is reasonable to accept it for the convenience — but do it deliberately.

• Type the domain yourself. Sponsored search results routinely mimic government sites during filing season.
• Read the privacy policy before uploading, specifically the retention and third-party sharing clauses.
• Never share your e-Filing portal password or an OTP with anyone, including someone claiming to be a tax expert.
• Check what consent you are granting when a platform offers to fetch your tax data, and how you revoke it.
• Avoid filing over public Wi-Fi.

Common Filing Mistakes

Choosing the wrong form. ITR-1 through ITR-4 cover different profiles. ITR-2, for instance, cannot be used if your income includes profits and gains from business or profession. Filing on the wrong form can make the return defective.

Not reconciling AIS and Form 26AS. These show what third parties have reported about you. A mismatch you did not notice is a mismatch the department will.

Omitting interest and dividends. The single most common error among salary-only filers.

Wrong or unvalidated bank details. A refund cannot be credited to an account that has not been pre-validated on the portal.

Skipping e-verification. You can verify through Aadhaar OTP, EVC via a pre-validated bank or demat account, net banking or DSC. Until you do, the return is not treated as filed.

Assuming the platform carries the liability. It does not. Private platforms assist; the taxpayer remains responsible for the accuracy of the return.

Before You File

A filed ITR is one of the most widely accepted proofs of income in India, and it matters well beyond tax season. Lenders routinely ask for two or three years of returns when assessing self-employed and freelance applicants. If you are planning to borrow, WeCredit can help you understand your eligibility and compare suitable loan options. Final approval depends on lender policy, income, repayment capacity, existing obligations, credit history and documents.

FAQs

1. Can I file ITR free of cost in India?

Yes. The official Income Tax e-Filing portal charges no platform fee at any income level. You may still owe tax, interest or late fees under the law.

2. Is the official portal enough for salaried employees?

For a straightforward salary return, yes — provided you pick the right form, reconcile AIS and Form 26AS, and complete e-verification.

3. Which ITR filing platform is cheapest?

The official portal, at zero. Among private platforms, Quicko’s Basic tier is free within its caps, and entry-level paid self-service plans start in the ₹250 to ₹700 range depending on provider.

4. Which platform is best for capital gains?

There is no single answer. Quicko suits active traders because of broker imports. All five handle capital gains at some tier — choose based on whether yours involve equities, mutual funds, property, crypto, foreign stocks or F&O.

5. Should freelancers file ITR-3 or ITR-4?

ITR-4 applies to eligible residents declaring presumptive business or professional income within the prescribed limits. ITR-3 applies otherwise. If you are unsure which fits, ask a CA — it is cheaper than filing a defective return.

6. Is CA-assisted filing worth the money?

For business income, F&O, foreign assets, crypto, notices or several overlapping income sources, usually yes. For a single Form 16 and some bank interest, no.

7. What happens after I submit my ITR?

You verify the return, the department processes it, and you receive an intimation confirming the outcome — a refund, a demand or no change.

8. Can I revise my return after filing?

Yes, under Section 139(5), up to 31 March 2027 for AY 2026-27. Make corrections comprehensive rather than piecemeal.

9. Do private platforms guarantee bigger refunds?

No. Your refund is a function of your actual income, deductions and TDS. A platform can help you avoid missing a legitimate deduction, but it cannot manufacture a refund.

10. What happens if I miss the ITR deadline?

You can still file a belated return until 31 December 2026, with a late fee of up to ₹5,000 under Section 234F and interest under Section 234A on unpaid tax. Certain losses also cannot be carried forward if you file late.

Conclusion

There is no single best ITR filing platform. If your return is simple and you are willing to read your own AIS, the official portal is free and sufficient. If you have capital gains, business income or a notice, a paid platform earns its fee — and if you have foreign assets, an audit requirement or a genuine dispute, hire a CA rather than buying a plan.

Whatever you choose, file before your deadline and verify the return the same day. A filed ITR is also useful well beyond tax season, particularly if you are applying for a personal loan without salary slips.