Where to File ITR Online 2026: Portal vs ClearTax vs Tax2Win (Honest)
Unbiased verdict: simple salary? incometax.gov.in is free and best. Investors/F&O? ClearTax/Quicko. Budget help? Tax2Win. First-timer or notice? TaxBuddy. Pricing as reported June 2026 — verify before paying.
Platform comparison (pricing as reported, June 2026)
| Platform | Free tier | Paid DIY | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| incometax.gov.in (official) | 100% free, all ITRs | — | Simple salary, AIS pre-fill, zero cost |
| ClearTax | ITR-1 basic free | ₹299–999 | Stocks/MF/RSUs, broker imports, WhatsApp filing |
| Tax2Win | Basic free | Budget plans | Budget-conscious salaried + investments |
| Quicko | Free basic | ₹499–1,999 | Zerodha users, F&O + capital gains |
| TaxBuddy | Trial only | ₹599+/yr | First-timers, notices, year-round advice |
Pick by profile (30 seconds)
| Your situation | Go with |
|---|---|
| Single employer, no investments | Income-tax portal — free, done in 30 min |
| Stocks, MF, ESOPs, foreign income | ClearTax — imports + all schedules |
| F&O / Zerodha capital gains | Quicko — built for traders |
| First ITR ever / got a notice | TaxBuddy — hand-holding + notice help |
| Multiple Form 16s (job switch) | Tax2Win/TaxBuddy — consolidation help |
| Income above ₹50L / HUF | ClearTax Luxe / TaxBuddy — expert review |
Portal vs app vs CA (honest decision table)
| Your case | Best route | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Salary + FD interest only | Portal yourself (free + fast) | ₹0 |
| Salary + stocks/MF gains | Good tax app (auto P&L import) | ~₹500–2,000 |
| Freelance / business / presumptive | App + CA review | ~₹2,000–5,000 |
| Audit case / NRI / notice history | CA, full stop | ~₹5,000–15,000 |
Our take after watching all three fail: portals fail on complex capital gains (wrong schedules), apps fail on judgement calls (regime choice, loss strategy), CAs fail on... availability in July. Whatever route you pick, start in June — every failure mode above gets worse after July 20th. And never share your portal password; use the e-filing 'authorized representative' route instead.
By TaxSetu Editorial Team · Last reviewed: 7 October 2026
Based on the Income-tax Act 2025, Income Tax Rules 2026 and CBDT notifications; sections per the Income-tax Act 1961 (as amended) with 2025-Act mappings where notified · Verify on the official portal: incometax.gov.in
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — incometax.gov.in is 100% free for all ITR forms with AIS pre-fill. Simple salary returns take ~30 minutes there.
Portal for simple salary (free); ClearTax for stocks/MF/RSUs with broker imports and guided schedules.
Quicko — built for Zerodha users and F&O capital-gains computation.
A platform with expert help like TaxBuddy, or a CA. Read the notice type first: notice guide.