Updated on: 03 Aug, 2022 03:41 PM
Important: e-verify your income tax return within 30 days, else your return will be considered as not filed.

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Why e-Verify the ITR?

The return filing process is incomplete without e-Verification of the ITR. An ITR is treated as invalid without its verification within the stipulated time. e-Verification is the instant and most convenient way to verify the ITR

The taxpayer or his authorised representative may also e-Verify other responses /requests /services and complete the respective processes, including verification of:

  • - e-Proceedings
  • - Income Tax Forms
  • - Rectification/ Refund Issue/Service Requests
  • - Condonation of Delay where ITR is filed after the due date
  • - Bulk uploading of ITR by e-Return Intermediary

After filing the ITR, the taxpayer has three options for Verification of the same of which two deal with e-verification as under:

  • - e-Verify Now (instant e-Verification via Aadhar OTP/Prevalidated Bank account/ Prevalidated Demat account)
  • - e-Verify Later (the taxpayer can submit the return for now and e-Verify within 30 days of submission)

Different ways in which one can e-Verify the ITR

The taxpayer can e-Verify the ITR online using:

  • - OTP on the Aadhaar registered mobile number, or
  • - Electronic Verification Code (EVC) generated through your pre-validated Bank account/Demat account, or
  • - EVC through ATM (offline method), or
  • - Net Banking, or
  • - Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).

However, note that the net banking or DSC option is not available for e-Verification without login to the e-Filing portal.

Prerequisites for e-Verifying the return without login to e-Filing portal

The taxpayer can e-Verify the ITR without login to the e-Filing portal only when:

  • - Returns filed for Assessment Year is 2019-20 and onwards
  • - Returns where DSC is not mandatory
  • - Returns are not filed by an Authorised Signatory or Representative Assessee

However, the Authorised Signatories and Representative Assessees are required to log in to their accounts to e-Verify the taxpayer’s return in their respective capacity.

Acknowledgement Number received on submitting the ITR is a must for e-Verifying the return without login to the e-Filing portal.

The prerequisites for different e-filing methods are as under:

e-Verification Method Prerequisite
OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar PAN is linked with Aadhaar
EVC generated through your pre-validated Bank account/ Demat account Pre-validated and EVC-enabled bank / Demat account
Net Banking
  • - PAN is linked with the taxpayer’s Bank account
  • - The taxpayer should enable Net Banking for the preferred Bank account.

Steps for e-Verifying the return without login to e-Filing portal (with images)

Step-1: Click e-Verify Return on the home page of the e-filing portal

e-Verifying the return without login

Step-2: On the e-Verify Return page:

  • - Enter the PAN,
  • - Select the relevant Assessment Year (note that e-verification on the new portal can be done for the returns relating to the Assessment Year 2019-20 and onwards),
  • - Enter the Acknowledgment Number of the ITR filed and
  • - Enter the Mobile Number and click Continue.
e-Verifying the return without login

Step-3: Enter the 6-digit Mobile OTP received on the mobile number entered in Step-2 and click on the ‘Submit’ button.

Note the following:
  • - The OTP remains valid for 15 minutes only.
  • - 3 attempts are provided to enter the correct OTP.
  • - The expiry countdown timer on the screen tells by when the OTP will expire and become invalid.
  • - A new OTP will be sent when you request for 'Resend OTP.'
e-Verifying the return without login

If you are e-Verifying the ITR after 30 days of filing Refer Step-4 & 5 below (for submission of ‘Condonation of Delay’ request)
If you are e-Verifying the ITR within 30 days of filing Refer Step-6 directly


Step-4: If you are e-Verifying the ITR after 30 days of filing, click ‘Ok’.

e-Verifying the return without login

Step-5: For submitting a condonation delay request, select the Reason of Delay from the dropdown and click Continue. The dropdown consists of the following options:

  • - ITR-V was sent earlier by post but not received by CPC
  • - Not aware that the ITR-V sent to CPC was rejected for technical reasons
  • - Not aware of the e-Verification process
  • - Not aware that the signed ITR-V to be sent to CPC
  • - Others (enter the reason for the delay in the ‘Remarks’ textbox)
e-Verifying the return without login

Step-6:

Select the e-Verification mode to proceed further. The steps for different e-Verification modes are enlisted below. After completing the verification, a success message page displays ‘Successfully e-verified’ and the date of verification alongside. A Transaction ID and EVC (only where the preferred option selected for verification is through EVC) is also displayed. It is advisable to note the Transaction ID and EVC for future reference. A confirmation message shall also be sent on your e-mail ID and the mobile number registered on the e-Filing portal.

a) e-Verify after generating Aadhaar OTP
  • 1. To select this mode of e-Verification, select ‘I would like to verify using OTP on the Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar’ and click continue.
  • 2. To proceed further, select the ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar Details’ checkbox on the Aadhaar OTP page and click ‘Generate Aadhaar OTP.’
  • 3. Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your registered mobile number and click ‘Validate’.
b) e-Verify using existing Aadhaar OTP
  • 1. To select this mode of e-Verification, select ‘I already have an OTP on the Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar’ and click continue.
  • 2. Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your registered mobile number and click ‘Validate.’`
    • (Note for the above two methods of verification:
    • - The OTP remains valid for 15 minutes only.
    • - 3 attempts are provided to enter the correct OTP.
    • - The expiry countdown timer on the screen tells by when the OTP will expire and become invalid.
    • - A new OTP will be sent when you request for 'Resend OTP.’)
c) e-Verify using existing EVC
  • 1. To select this mode of e-Verification, select ‘I already have an EVC.’
  • 2. An ‘Enter EVC’ textbox appears right under the method selected. Enter EVC in that textbox and click Continue.

(Note that EVC can also be generated through Bank ATM (Offline Method). The service to generate EVC through Bank ATM is provided by the following banks only:

  • - Axis Bank Ltd,
  • - Canara Bank,
  • - Central Bank of India,
  • - ICICI Bank,
  • - IDBI Bank,
  • - Kotak Mahindra Bank and
  • - State Bank of India)

The steps for the same are given below:

Step 1: Enter PIN on swiping the card and select ‘Generate EVC for Income tax Filing’ An EVC shall be sent to your registered e-mail ID and mobile number that is registered on the e-Filing website.

(Note: The PAN must be linked to your respective Bank account, and the same should be registered on the e-Filing website.)

Step 2: The generated EVC can be used to e-Verify the return by selecting ‘I already have an Electronic Verification Code (EVC)’ as a preferred mode of e-Verification.

d) e-Verify after generating EVC through bank/Demat Account
  • 1. To select this mode of e-Verification, select ‘Through Bank Account’/‘Through Demat Account under the ‘Generate Electronic Verification Code (EVC)’ section and click Continue.
    EVC will be sent to your e-mail ID, and mobile number registered with your pre-validated and EVC enabled bank/Demat account.
  • 2. Enter the EVC received on your registered e-mail ID and mobile number in the ‘Enter EVC’ textbox and click e-Verify.

Frequently Asked Questions

QMy mobile number registered on the Income Tax Portal is different from the one registered with Aadhaar. Can I e-Verify my return using Aadhaar OTP?

No. You will have to either update your mobile number with Aadhaar or update the mobile number registered with Aadhaar on the Income Tax Portal to e-Verify your return using Aadhaar OTP.

QCan I e-Verify my return if my Demat account/Bank account is inactive?

No. You need to have an active Demat/Bank account which needs to be EVC-enabled and pre-validated on the e-Filing portal to e-Verify your return using your Demat account/Bank account.

QDoes delay in e-Verification attract any penalty under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’)?

The return is treated as invalid and not filed if it is not verified within the stipulated time and will attract all the penal consequences of not filing ITR under the Act. However, the taxpayer may request condonation of delay in verification by giving an appropriate reason. Only on submission of such a request, the taxpayer will be able to e-Verify his return. However, the return will be treated as valid only once the competent Income Tax Authority approves the condonation request.

QWhat is an EVC?

An EVC is a 10-digit alpha-numeric code sent to the taxpayer’s e-mail ID and mobile number registered with the e-Filing portal / Demat account / Bank account (as the case may be) during the process of e-Verification. It is valid for 72-hour from the time of its generation.

QWhat are the benefits of e-Verification?

  • - There is no need to send a physical copy of your ITR-V to CPC, Bangalore.
  • - Verification of ITR can be done instantly, saving the taxpayer from the delay in transit of ITR-V.
  • - The taxpayer can e-Verify using anyone of the following methods as per his convenience - Aadhaar OTP /Net Banking/ EVC (using pre-validated bank / Demat account) / DSC.

QIs it mandatory to e-Verify your return?

No. e-Verification is just one of the methods of verifying your ITR filed. The taxpayer can choose either of the two methods to verify the ITR:

  • - Online e-Verification of returns or
  • - To send a physical copy of duly signed ITR-V to CPC, Bangalore, by post.

QWhat is the difference between pre-login e-Verification (without a login on the e-Filing portal) and post-login e-Verification?

The taxpayer is given an option to e-Verify his ITR before or after logging in to the e-Filing portal. However, the only difference is that while using the pre-login service, the taxpayer is required to provide the details of his filed ITR such as PAN, Assessment Year and Acknowledgment Number before e-Verifying the ITR. If the post-login service is opted for, he will select the record of ITR filed instead of providing such details manually.

CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.

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