Don’t forget e-verification after filing your ITR – Here’s all you need to do

The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season will come to an end on July 31, if the Income Tax Department decides not to extend the deadline for filing of tax returns for the financial year 2023-24. There are various steps a taxpayer needs to follow for filing of his or her income tax return. One of the key steps in this whole ITR filing process which is performed at the very end is e-verification. Without e-verification, the ITR filing is deemed incomplete.

The Income Tax Department has set a timeframe within which a taxpayer needs to e-verify his or her income tax return so that the filing is considered valid. Failing to e-verify one’s income tax return within the set timeline leads to the department derecognising the ITR filing and thus missed tax refunds, if there are any.

The ITR e-verification process is very simple and can be performed using various methods. Here are some of the common methods used for e-verification by taxpayers?

Ways to e-verify income tax returns:

1. OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar;
2. Electronic Verification Code (EVC) generated through your pre-validated bank account;
3. EVC generated through your pre-validated demat account;
4. EVC through ATM (offline method).

Steps to e-verify returns using other methods:

1. Log in to your bank’s net banking.
2. Choose the e-Verify ITR option, which redirects to the e-filing portal.
3. After successful verification, you will receive a confirmation message and email.

Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

1. Use your DSC to sign and verify your ITR on the e-filing portal.
2. After successful verification, you will receive a confirmation message and email.

How do you check ITR verification?

Step 1: Go to the e-Filing portal homepage.

Step 2: Click Income Tax Return (ITR) Status.

Step 3: On the Income Tax Return (ITR) Status page, enter your acknowledgement number and a valid mobile number and click Continue.

Step 4: Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile number entered in Step 3 and click Submit.

Why do you need to e-verify your tax return?

You need to verify your ITR to complete the return filing process. Without verification within the stipulated time, an ITR is treated as invalid. e-Verification is the most convenient and instant way to verify your ITR. Additionally, you can e-verify other requests, responses, and services to complete their respective processes successfully. This includes verifying income tax forms through the online portal or offline utility, e-proceedings, refund reissue requests, rectification requests, condonation of delay in filing ITR after the due date, service requests submitted by ERIs, and uploading ITRs in bulk by ERIs.

Ensuring timely e-Verification helps in maintaining compliance and preventing potential issues with the Income Tax Department.

How will you know that e-verification is complete?

In case you are e-verifying your return, a success message will be displayed along with a transaction ID. An email will also be sent to your email ID registered with the e-filing portal.

In case you are an authorized signatory / representative assessee, a success message will be displayed along with a transaction ID. After successful verification, an email confirmation will be sent to the primary email ID of both authorized signatory’s / representative assessee’s and your email ID registered with e-filing portal.