Want to file ITR online? Check charges of six different income tax return filing websites

 You can take various routes to file your income tax return (ITR). These include filing your ITR on your own via the income tax department’s e-filing website, using the services of a chartered accountant or using an online third-party website like Clear (erstwhile ClearTax), Tax2Win, TaxBuddy, Quicko, etc.

Filing your ITR using the income tax department’s portal is free of cost, whereas you will be charged for approaching a CA or using an online income tax filing website.

Earlier most of these websites were offering ITR-1 and ITR-4 filing without an expert’s assistance for free. In recent years, they have started charging a fee for filing ITR via their website, assistance or not. However, one must check the charges levied by these third party websites to file their ITR.

For instance, as per myITreturn website, there is a free filing option but only for certain specified persons. “We provide FREE filing to unemployed, widows with family pension, student and retired Individuals,” read the website of myITreturn.

Source: Respective website data as of July 19, 2023
Notes: 1. Some columns were left not applicable, because the respective website does not offer that specific feature as a separate standalone package.
2. All expert assisted plans are provided with help from an computer algorithm designed by an CA/ tax expert. For an dedicated CA’s assistance the charges are extra.

3. All the assisted plans are being run with help of computer algorithms based on the data fed by an CA/ tax expert unless otherwise mentioned.
*TaxSpanner plan offers assistance of a CA instead of a computerised expert.

Note: *Here Taxspanner does not include capital gains, carry forward of losses or relief under section 89. For these services additional charge of Rs 1000 each is applicable. TaxBuddy, Quicko, myITreturn and Tax2Win does not offer this service.

Check the plan you are buying

One needs to check the services offered by the third party websites before selecting a plan. For instance, if you have income only from virtual digital assets (VDA) such as cryptocurrency, bitcoins etc, then Clear starts charging from Rs 1949 and it can go to Rs 3,999 (excluding GST). On the other hand, Taxbuddy charges Rs 5,999 (with computerised assistance) excluding GST.

However, these charges will be applicable irrespective of an individual having other sources of income or not. Thus, even if you do not have salary income, interest income or have one source of income i.e., income from VDA only, then also you may have to pay hefty charges.

Check for discounts

Currently, many third party websites are offering discounts in ITR filing. Hence, one should check if they are eligible for a discount in case they are using a third party website to file ITR.
For instance, TaxBuddy is offering discounts to customers of certain companies like ICICI bank, EbixCash, and others. Clear is running a campaign offering special discount codes on various ITR filing plans offered by them.
Value added services

Certain websites like Clear and TaxSpanner offer some value added services for extra payments. Like supposing you need to clarify your doubts about income tax, then Clear will connect you with an tax expert for 45 minutes and take Rs 2,999. TaxSpanner will take Rs 3,499 to Rs 8,999 for 20 to 180 minutes of a CA’s assistance.

Source Link: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax/itr-filing-charges-of-six-different-websites-compared/articleshow/101975183.cms?from=mdr

Website Link: https://www.taxbuddy.com/


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