Updated Deduction Claims for ITR Filers: AY 2025-2026 Guide

Claiming Deductions Under the Old Tax Regime (AY 2025–26): A Practical, Document-Backed Filing Guide

If you're choosing the old tax regime for AY 2025–26, you’re likely planning to claim deductions under Sections like 80C, 80D, 80E, and more. But this year, the rules have tightened—every claim must now be backed by precise, traceable documentation. The updated ITR forms demand exact entries: policy numbers, loan details, insurer names, contribution IDs, and more.

1. Home Loan Interest (Section 24(b))

Disclosures Needed:

Name of lender (Bank/NBFC)
Loan account number
Date of loan sanction
Total loan amount sanctioned
Outstanding balance as of 31st March
Total interest paid during the financial year

Document Checklist:

Interest certificate from your bank or NBFC
Loan sanction letter and repayment statement

2. Life Insurance Premium (Section 80C)

Disclosures Required:

Policy number (for each policy)
Name of insurer

Supporting Documents:

Premium payment receipts
E-policy documents or renewal acknowledgments

3. NPS Contributions (Section 80CCD)

You Must Report:

PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number)
Name of the NPS fund/trust
Total amount contributed in the FY

Keep Ready:

Annual transaction statement or payment receipts

4. Health Insurance Premium (Section 80D)

Required in Return:

Name of insurance provider
Policy number
Amount paid
Relationship with insured (self, spouse, parent, child)

Backup Documents:

Premium receipts
Insurance policy copy (physical or digital)
Email confirmations of renewal/payment

5. Medical Treatment of Specified Diseases (Section 80DDB)

Mandatory for Claiming:

Disease name (from CBDT’s specified list)
Certificate from a registered specialist
Proof of expenditure

Essentials:

Signed specialist certificate (Form 10-I)
Medical bills and hospital payment slips

6. Loan for Electric Vehicle (Section 80EEB)

Disclosures Required:

Name of lender
Loan account number
Date of sanction
Amount of loan
Interest paid during FY
Outstanding as on 31st March
Vehicle registration number

Evidence to Keep:

Bank/NBFC loan sanction letter
Yearly interest certificate
Copy of vehicle RC

7. Education Loan Interest (Section 80E)

You Must Provide:

Name of lender (only financial institutions qualify)
Loan account number
Date and amount of sanction
Interest paid during FY
Loan balance on 31st March

Supporting Docs:

Annual loan statement or interest certificate
Original sanction letter

8. Interest on Home Loan for Affordable Housing (Sections 80EE & 80EEA)

Details to Enter:

Name of lender
Loan account number
Date of sanction
Loan amount
Outstanding principal
Total interest paid in FY

Files You’ll Need:

Loan sanction letter
Interest certificate from lender

Quick Reference Table

Deduction	Disclosures Required	Documents Needed
24(b) Home Loan	Loan details, dates, balances, interest	Interest cert, sanction letter
80C Insurance	Policy number, insurer name	Premium receipts, policy copies
80D Health	Insurer name, policy number, amount, relationship	Receipts, policy docs, email confirmations
80CCD NPS	PRAN, trustee name, amount	NPS annual statement, payment proof
80E Education Loan	Loan account, lender, dates, balances	Interest certs, sanction docs
80EE/EEA Housing	Loan account, sanction date, amount, balances	Loan statement, bank cert
80EEB EV Loan	Loan & vehicle details	Loan docs, RC, interest certificate
80DDB Medical	Disease name, doctor cert, bills	Specialist's certificate, hospital receipts

Best Practices for Filing Under the Old Regime (AY 2025–26)

Be Precise: Don’t leave any field blank—policy numbers, loan A/C numbers, contribution IDs are now mandatory.
Organize Early: Start gathering your documents well before the filing deadline to avoid last-minute errors.
Cross-Check Before Uploading: Match all your entries with Form 26AS, AIS, TIS, and your own bank/insurer statements.
Avoid Ambiguity: Vague or unsupported claims will be flagged or rejected by the system.
Save Everything: Keep digital and physical copies of every supporting document for at least 6 years.

A Word of Caution

With stricter validation in place, incomplete or unsubstantiated claims can result in:

Defective return notices
Rejection of deductions
Delays in refund
Possible scrutiny later

Conclusion

For taxpayers opting for the old tax regime in AY 2025–26, documentation isn’t just good practice—it’s essential. Every deduction you claim must be transparent, supported, and exactly entered into your return.