The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has kickstarted the income tax filing season earlier than usual by releasing the ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) forms for Assessment Year 2025-26. This blog explores the eligibility, permissible income sources, and filing restrictions for both forms. It also highlights a major update—taxpayers can now report Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) under Section 112A in ITR-1 and ITR-4 under specific conditions. Additionally, it explains the difference between form notification and utility release, emphasizes the importance of early preparation, and provides a comprehensive document checklist for smooth filing. The blog concludes by urging taxpayers to be proactive and file early to avoid last-minute hassles.