ITR-2 and ITR-3 Excel Utilities for AY 2025-26 Now Available

Excel Utilities for ITR-2 & ITR-3 Now Available for AY 2025-26: How to Use Them

The Income Tax Department has officially rolled out the Excel-based filing utilities for ITR-2 and ITR-3 for the assessment year 2025–26. These tools are especially useful for taxpayers with more complex income profiles—such as those with capital gains, multiple properties, or professional and trading income—who prefer preparing their returns offline before uploading them to the e-filing portal.

What Are Excel Utilities?

Excel Utilities are offline tools that let you fill out and validate your income tax returns on your own system, without needing an internet connection during the data entry process. These are currently available for:

ITR-2: For individuals and HUFs with capital gains, more than one property, foreign assets, or similar disclosures.
ITR-3: For those earning income from business or profession, including F&O traders and stock market participants.

These utilities allow you to:

Enter data in a structured Excel workbook with guided input fields.
Run inbuilt validations to catch missing or incorrect information.
Generate a .JSON file once all schedules are complete and validated, which is ready for upload to the Income Tax e-filing portal.

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Excel Utility

1. Download the Tool:

Visit the official Income Tax e-filing portal.
Navigate to the ‘Downloads’ section.
Select the correct Excel utility—either ITR-2 or ITR-3—for AY 2025–26.

2. Unzip and Open:

Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
Open the Excel file using MS Excel 2016 or later.
Ensure macros are enabled for smooth functionality.

3. Fill in Your Details:

Complete all relevant sections: personal details, income schedules, deductions, taxes paid, etc.
Validate each sheet using the tool’s built-in buttons before proceeding.

4. Generate the .JSON File:

Once all schedules are validated and errors are resolved, click on the option to generate the .JSON file.

5. Upload and Submit:

Log in to your income tax account on the e-filing portal.
Upload the .JSON file and proceed to submit the return.
Don’t forget to e-verify your ITR within 30 days—using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or a digital signature.

What’s New for AY 2025–26?

Key changes in ITR-2:

Capital gains need to be split between transactions done before and after July 23, 2024.
Automated import of data from AIS and TIS for accuracy.
Separate disclosure schedule for Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) like crypto.
Asset and liability schedule is now mandatory only if total income exceeds ₹1 crore.

Key changes in ITR-3:

Threshold for asset/liability disclosures raised to ₹1 crore.
Improved business/profession income schedules with prompt for Form 10-IEA (for opting in/out of the new tax regime).
Capital gains to be reported based on transaction dates.
Expanded TDS and crypto transaction reporting requirements.

Filing Status as on July 28, 2025

ITR-2: Both Excel utility and online filing (web mode) are now fully operational as of July 18, 2025.
ITR-3: Only Excel-based filing is available right now. Web-based online filing is expected soon.

Tech & Compliance Tips

Use a licensed Excel version (Excel 2016 or later).
Enable macros when prompted.
Double-check figures before generating the .JSON to avoid rejection.
Once uploaded, complete e-verification within 30 days to avoid invalidation.

Final Reminder

The last date to file your return for AY 2025–26 is September 15, 2025, unless extended. If you’re eligible for ITR-2 or ITR-3, and prefer working offline, the Excel utilities are now live. Staying compliant early can help avoid last-minute errors or portal congestion.