Why is an income tax return called a return?

An Income Tax Return (ITR) is called a return because it is a formal statement submitted by a taxpayer to the Income Tax Department, returning or reporting back the details of their earnings, taxes paid, and deductions for a specific financial year. It serves as a way for citizens to declare their financial information to the government. This document helps the authorities verify if the correct amount of tax has been paid and allows the taxpayer to claim refunds if they have paid excess tax.