How to E-Verify Income Tax Return (ITR)?

Uploading ITR alone does not complete the return filing process. Verification of return is important to complete the return filing process.

Yes, you can still verify your returns online. However, you will need to submit a ‘condonation request’ for condonation of delay, providing a valid reason for the delay. The verification of your return will only be considered complete after the Income Tax Department approves the condonation request.

Yes, an Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee can e-Verify your return on your behalf. They can use any of the following methods:

• Aadhaar OTP: An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar of the Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee.
• Net Banking: An EVC generated through net banking will be sent to the mobile number and email ID registered with the e-filing portal of the Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee.
• Bank Account / Demat Account EVC: An EVC generated through the pre-validated and EVC-enabled bank account or demat account will be sent to the mobile number and email ID registered with the e-filing portal of the Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee.

If you are e-Verifying your own return, the following will indicate that your return has been verified:

• A success message will be displayed, along with a Transaction ID.
• An email will be sent to the email ID registered with the e-filing portal.

If an Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee is e-Verifying on your behalf, the following will indicate that your return has been verified:

• 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 the Authorized Signatory or Representative Assessee and your email ID.

No, you need to update your mobile number with Aadhaar to e-verify your return using Aadhaar OTP.

No, you need to have an active demat or bank account that is pre-validated and EVC-enabled on the e-filing portal to e-verify your return using your demat account or bank account.

If you fail to verify your return on time, it will be considered as if you have not filed your return, resulting in the consequences associated with not filing a return. However, you can request condonation of delay by providing an appropriate reason. Only after submitting such a request and having it approved by the Income Tax Authority, your return will be considered valid.

You can verify your return electronically. You can e-verify your return on ClearTax. See the steps given above. An online e-verification can be done using any of these methods:

• OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar, or
• Net Banking, or
• EVC generated through your pre-validated demat account, or
• EVC generated through your pre-validated bank account, or
• EVC through ATM (offline method), or
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
• Aadhaar OTP or EVC generated through net banking, bank account, or Demat account. 

If you cannot e-verify your return, you can download the return filing acknowledgement, i.e. ITR-V, print, sign, and send the same to the CPC- Bangalore to process your return.

Further, suppose you are filing a return manually (if you are not bound to file your return online). In that case, you may sign your return of income to verify it and submit the same in the office of your jurisdictional income.

A return can be verified and signed by the individual himself or any person authorised under Section 140(a). Following are the cases where a person other than the individual can sign: 

• Where the individual is not in India– any person he authorises to sign on his behalf 
• If he is mentally incapacitated– his guardian or any other person competent to act on his behalf 
• For any other reason– if the individual is unable to sign, any person whom he authorises to sign on his behalf

After filing ITR, it can be e-verified using an Aadhaar OTP. To e-verify through Aadhaar, you must link your Aadhaar with your PAN and registered mobile number. After doing so, follow the below steps to e-verify: 

• Click on the ‘e-File’ menu and select ‘e-Verify Return’.
• Click on the e-verify link and select Option 3 – 'I would like to e-verify using OTP on a mobile number registered with Aadhaar’.
• You will get an OTP on your registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP and click on the ‘Validate’ button

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, such as 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).

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.

• SBI Net Banking
• HDFC Net Banking
• ICICI Net Banking
• Axis Net Banking
• Kotak Mahindra Net Banking
• Yes Net Banking

You can download your ITR-V by logging into the Income Tax e-filing portal, going to “View Returns/Forms”, and clicking Download ITR-V for the filed return.