New ITR Filing Rules for AY 2024-25: Key Disclosures You Can’t Skip

Filing income tax returns has never been a casual affair, but for Assessment Year 2024-25, the process is entering a whole new league. The Income Tax Department has redesigned its approach, asking taxpayers to be more transparent, more precise, and far more accountable. From dissecting your salary structure to validating each deduction, the new filing rules are raising the bar for compliance. Salaried individuals and old regime taxpayers will likely notice the shift early. What looks like just another form update is actually a deep structural cleanup designed to make the system more efficient, accurate, and fraud-resistant.

HRA Claims Need Full Disclosure

Gone are the days of simply entering a lump sum under House Rent Allowance. Starting this year, the ITR utility demands a full breakdown:

•          Place of work
•          Rent paid
•          Basic salary
•          Exact HRA received

It’s a clear shift towards validation. No back-of-the-envelope estimations. Only actual figures, backed by facts.

Section 80C: Policy Numbers Now Mandatory

Deductions under Section 80C (up to Rs 1.5 lakh) were earlier simple to claim, just a total amount did the job. Now, there’s no room for vague entries. Claiming deductions under PPF, ELSS, tax-saving FDs, or insurance? Get ready to break them down in detail.

•          Policy numbers or document IDs
•          Investment details

This update plugs gaps that allowed unverifiable claims in the past.

Health Insurance Under Section 80D: Company & Policy Info Required

If you're claiming a deduction for health insurance premiums, be ready with:

•          Name of the insurance provider
•          Policy or document number

The idea is simple: tie every claim to a document trail.

Education Loan Deductions Get Granular

Claiming under Section 80E? You must now report:

•          Name of lender
•          Bank name
•          Loan account number
•          Sanction date
•          Total loan amount
•          Interest paid in the year
•          Outstanding loan balance as of March 31

Precision is the new normal. Vague entries won't pass unnoticed.

Home Loan & EV Loan Deductions: Full Loan Data Needed

Sections 80EE, 80EEA (home loans) and 80EEB (electric vehicle loans) now require identical disclosures:

•          Lender name
•          Loan account number
•          Sanction date
•          Loan amount
•          Outstanding balance at financial year-end

If you want the benefit, you'll need the paperwork.

Section 80DDB: Medical Deductions Need Disease Name

If you’re claiming deductions for treatment of specific diseases under Section 80DDB, it’s now compulsory to mention:

Name of the disease being treated

No more general claims. The department now wants specifics.

New Filing Tools: Choose Wisely

Two key filing utilities are in play this year:

•          Excel Utility (Released May 29):
•          Suitable for simple returns
•          Needs manual uploads
•          Doesn’t auto-fetch prefilled data

Common Offline Utility (JavaScript + JSON):

•          Integrates better with the I-T portal
•          Allows prefilled data imports
•          Offers real-time validations and dynamic forms

 Choose based on your comfort and complexity. But whichever you pick, don’t overlook the updated disclosure fields.

Conclusion

This year’s changes are not cosmetic; they’re structural. The department is clearly moving toward a “pre-validated” ecosystem where everything connects: documents, data, and deductions.

For taxpayers, this means extra care, detailed paperwork, and a no-shortcut approach to tax savings. Getting things right at the source is now more important than ever. Small errors could mean delays, or worse, scrutiny. Time’s running out for AY 2024-25. Get your details right, disclose everything, and file wisely.

        FAQs       

What are the key changes in ITR filing rules for AY 2024-25?

For AY 2024-25, taxpayers must now provide detailed disclosures for deductions like HRA, 80C, 80D, 80E, 80EE/EEA, 80EEB, and 80DDB. This includes specifics such as policy numbers, loan account details, lender names, and other supporting information.

Is it mandatory to provide a breakup for HRA exemption claims?

Yes. For AY 2024-25, HRA claims must include your place of work, actual rent paid, basic salary, and HRA received to validate the exemption.

What documents are required for claiming deductions under Section 80C?

For Section 80C deductions, provide policy numbers or document IDs for investments like PPF, ELSS, or insurance. Keep proof ready for verification if required.

What details are needed to claim a deduction for health insurance under Section 80D?

To claim Section 80D, enter the insurer’s name and policy number. Without these, the deduction may be rejected.

I’ve taken an education loan. What must I report in my ITR?

For Section 80E, report the lender’s name, loan account number, sanction date, total loan amount, outstanding balance as of March 31, and interest paid during the year.