How to E-verify Income Tax Return for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25): Online ITR Verification

Income Tax Return is the details of all the income earned by a person in a particular financial year. When the Gross Total Income before deductions under Chapter VI A exceeds the basic exemption limit (Rs.250000/ Rs.300000/ Rs.500000), and other conditions as specified by the act, it becomes compulsory to file an income tax return. To learn about income tax returns in detail, refer to our guide.

Filing IT returns means submitting all income details and the taxes leviable to the income tax department in the applicable ITR form.

E-verification of ITR is an integral part of the tax return filing process. Once the return has been filed or successfully submitted online, it needs to be verified by the assessee. After this, the income tax department considers it for further processing. If a return is not verified, it becomes invalid, as if no return was ever filed.

There are 2 ways to verify ITR: offline & online. When you verify a tax return using any online mode (by not posting ITR V to CPC, Bengaluru), it is called e-verification (or electronic verification) of income tax return (ITR), and when ITR V is posted to CPC Bengaluru, it is called offline verification.

It is very important to verify income tax returns within 30 days of filing, as the processing of returns is started only when ITR is verified. If you fail to verify the return, then it will not be considered as filed & you will lose out on income tax refund (if any), etc. Also, you will have to file a new return from the beginning.

Verification of ITR is done either online or offline. When ITR is verified online, that process is called e-verification of ITR, and when ITR V is sent through the post, that process is called verification.

It is not mandatory for taxpayers to e-verify ITR. Both options, whether offline or online, are available without any restrictions.

EVC, or electronic verification code, is the alphanumeric number used to verify the income tax return online.

Once you successfully e verify the income tax return it is considered for further processing by the tax department.

When you e-verify ITR using an Electronic Verification Code (EVC), this process is called EVC verification.

There are 4 ways to generate an EVC to e-verify income tax return, which are as follows:

• EVC Through Net Banking
• EVC Generated at Bank ATMs*
• EVC Through Bank Account Number*
• EVC Through Demat Account Number*

(*) Available for selected banks only.

So simply choose an option that suits you the best, follow the detailed steps as shown above & e-verify ITR.

Yes, you can send ITR V to CPC, Bengaluru, using either Ordinary Post or Speed Post. The option to send via Courier is not allowed.

After filing an Income Tax Return, it is mandatory for everyone to verify the return (either offline or online) within 30 days of filing. If the ITR V is not verified within 30 days, then your return will become invalid & you’ll have to file a fresh return from the beginning as if no return was filed. You shall also be liable to pay the late filing fee and other penalties if the deadline to file ITR passes before e-verification.

In other words, if you do not e-verify your ITR within 30 days, your return will be considered invalid and you will have to file a new return. At this time of filing the new return, if the ITR filing deadline i.e. 31st July has already passed, you will be liable to pay penalty and interest on the same.

The penalty under section 234F is Rs.5,000. However, if your income is less than Rs.5 lakh, the penalty for late filing or e-verification is Rs.1000, and if the income exceeds Rs.5 lakh, the penalty is Rs. 5000. Individuals are also required to pay interest at the rate of 1% per month on the unpaid tax amount. This means the more the delay, the more the interest.

First, go to the e-filing portal and log in. On the home page, click on the e-verify Return option. On the e-verify return page, enter your PAN, select the assessment year, and input your mobile number and ITR acknowledgment number, then click Continue. Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile and submit it.

If you are filing ITR after 30 days of filing, click OK. You will need to submit a condonation delay request and provide the reason for the delay by selecting it from the dropdown menu. Finally, choose a method of e-verification and complete the e-verification process.

The income tax department gives an option to file a Condonation of delay request after the original time period of 30 days. While submitting the request, you are required to

• Select the Reason for such delay (Reason for delay can be selected from the pre-specified drop-down list.) Also, if your reason is not listed, select others and enter the details in the remarks.
• Specify Remarks (if any)
• Enter the OTP received on the Aadhar-linked mobile number.

Submitting a successful condonation request does not warrant that the Income Tax Return will accept the same, and your return will be e-verified. The requisite authorities would judge the validity and genuineness of the request before accepting your request.

You will be notified by text SMS from the department once it is received.

Acknowledgment of ITR V depends upon the method opted for ITR verification online.

• If you have verified ITR online (Aadhaar OTP, EVC, etc.), then an acknowledgment form will be available as shown in the question “What do you mean by ITR V” above.
• In case ITR V is sent offline (i.e., through the post), you will receive an acknowledgment (text message) in the form of a message (SMS) on the registered mobile number & email ID. Two messages will be sent to you, first when ITD receives your ITR V & second when ITR V is processed successfully.

If your ITR V receipt status shows as ITR-V Rejected, then in such case, click on the Acknowledgement Number & the reason for ITR V rejection will be shown.

ITR V can be rejected for various reasons, like you may have sent a return for verification after 30 days or ITR V was folded or stapled etc. Make sure you correct the mistake & resend ITR V (other than cases where the 30-day limit has been exceeded).

It is highly recommended that taxpayers download & save the ITR V acknowledgment. Although it is available every time on the income tax filing website, it is suggested to keep it handy & therefore download it now.

E-Verification of ITR is the final step for filing ITR. After e-verification rest will be done by CPC Bangalore. They will process the return, and the ITR status will change.

Return can not be edited whether the same is verified or not after filing. The option to edit the return is to file a revised return.

There is no need to send the ITR V form after e-verification. E-verification of ITR means that your return has already been digitally verified.

It is advised to verify both the original and revised returns so that the income tax department will smoothly process the returns filed and no liability of interest and penalty would arise.

Intimation under section 143(1) is received when your return is processed. Firstly, you must log in to the income tax portal and check whether your return has been processed.

Return submitted and not verified means your return has been filed but not verified till now either digitally or by sending a copy of signed ITR V to CPC Bengaluru.

Return uploaded means your return has been filed but has not been verified yet. You must e-verify your return digitally or send it by ITR V to CPC Bengaluru.

A revised return is filed to rectify the mistake in the original return. Verify both (original and revised) returns either digitally or by sending ITR V to CPC Bengaluru.