Filing your income tax return is the moment everything comes together — your income, your investments, your TDS credits, and your rebate. Done right, it takes minutes online. Done wrong, it costs you in penalties, interest, and missed rebates.
This guide walks you through filing your AY 2026-27 return (for income earned 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026) via the NBR e-tax portal.
Deadline: The standard individual filing deadline is 30 November 2026. File early to avoid the last-week portal congestion.
Who must file a return?
Under the Income Tax Act, 2023, you must file if any of these apply:
- Your total income exceeds the applicable tax-free threshold.
- You hold a TIN (in most practical situations).
- You are a salaried employee of any organization.
- You own a motor vehicle.
- You are a member of a club or professional association.
- You are applying for a bank loan, government license, or trade license.
- Tax was deducted at source (TDS) from any of your income.
Even with zero tax liability, holding a TIN usually means you must file. The acknowledgement receipt is what banks and offices actually ask for.
Documents to gather first
- TIN certificate
- NID
- Salary certificate from your employer (gross salary, allowances, TDS deducted)
- Bank statements for the income year
- Investment proof: DPS certificate, life insurance receipts, Sanchaypatra documents, share certificates
- Rental income records (if applicable)
- Previous year's acknowledgement (if returning filer)
- Challan of any advance tax paid
The online filing process
Step 1 — Sign in at etaxnbr.gov.bd with your TIN and password.
Step 2 — Select the assessment year (AY 2026-27) and the correct return form. For salaried individuals this is typically IT-11 GA.
Step 3 — Enter your income: salary, allowances, and any other income in the relevant sections.
Step 4 — Enter your investments and rebate details. The system computes the rebate using all three caps automatically.
Step 5 — Review the auto-calculated tax. The portal applies the slabs, rebate, and minimum tax for you.
Step 6 — Pay any tax due through the integrated banking gateway, or deposit a challan at a designated bank and enter the payment details.
Step 7 — Submit and download the acknowledgement receipt. Keep this — it is your proof of filing.
Online vs. physical filing
As of AY 2026-27:
- Online filing via etaxnbr.gov.bd is available for individuals and is the preferred method for straightforward returns.
- Physical filing at your tax circle office remains available for complex returns or when originals must be submitted.
For salaried employees with standard income and investments, online filing is entirely sufficient.
Mistakes that get returns rejected or penalized
- Filing under the wrong assessment year (income from July 2025–June 2026 is AY 2026-27, not AY 2025-26).
- Using outdated slabs — the 5% bracket is gone; the first taxable rate is 10%.
- Omitting secondary income — freelance, interest, rent, and capital gains are all taxable.
- Overclaiming the rebate — apply all three caps and use the lowest.
- Missing TDS credits — your employer's deduction is a credit; claim it.
- Last year's investment certificates for this year's rebate — proof must match the income year.
- Not paying the balance — submitting the return doesn't clear an unpaid balance; interest accrues until it's paid.
After you file
- Keep records for six years (the general statute of limitations): acknowledgement, salary certificate, bank statements, investment proof, TDS certificates, and challans.
- If you made an error, file a revised return within the allowed period. Paying any balance promptly minimizes interest and penalties.
- First-time filers benefit from the reduced ৳1,000 minimum tax.
Frequently asked questions
What if I miss the 30 November deadline? Late filing incurs a fine plus interest on unpaid tax, and may disqualify you from carrying forward certain losses. File as soon as you can.
Can I pay tax online? Yes. The e-tax portal integrates with major banks and mobile financial services, generating a digital challan linked directly to your return.
Do I need a tax consultant? For straightforward salaried returns, no. For business income, capital gains, or surcharge territory (net wealth above ৳4 crore), professional help is worth it.
For official information, always verify at etaxnbr.gov.bd. This guide is informational and does not constitute professional tax advice.
Put this into practice
Run your own numbers through the free income tax calculator.