The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has launched the income tax return (ITR) filing season for the financial year 2025-26, introducing several significant changes aimed at improving compliance and simplifying the process for individual taxpayers. One notable change is the requirement for taxpayers to provide the Permanent Account Number (PAN) of any political parties to which they make donations, as mandated under Section 80G. This aims to enhance transparency and prevent fraudulent claims. Additionally, those engaged in futures and options (F&O) trading will now need to disclose key financial items, including turnover and income related to trading activities, in the new ITR forms. To claim deductions for charitable donations, taxpayers must furnish detailed online payment information, including transaction references and bank IFSC codes. Furthermore, the new forms require taxpayers to provide both primary and secondary addresses, a shift from previous requirements that only asked for a single address. The deadline for filing these returns is July 31, 2026.