Income Tax E-Verification (EVC): How to E-verify ITR for FY 2025-26?

E-verification of ITR is the final step in the income tax return filing process, completed after you successfully submit your return. It can be done online through the Income Tax Department of India portal, making the process quick and paperless.

Every ITR must be e-verified within 30 days of filing, failing which the return will be treated as invalid. Timely e-verification ensures that your return is processed and any eligible refund is issued without delays.

Key Highlights

The following options are available to E-Verify ITR:

• Aadhaar OTP
• Net Banking
• Demat Account
• Bank Account
• DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)

What is Income Tax Return (ITR) e-Verification?

Income Tax E-verification is the process by which the taxpayers agrees or authenticates that the return filed under his PAN was done by himself, or with his knowledge. This process ensures that the ITR filed is authentic and not tampered.

Ways to E-verify ITR

There are several methods available to e-verify ITR:

1. Aadhaar OTP
2. Existing EVC
3. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
4. Generate EVC through a bank account
5. Generate EVC through the Net Banking
6. Generate EVC through DEMAT account
7. Generate EVC through the bank ATM option (offline)

How to E-Verify ITR through the Income Tax e-filing Portal?

1. E-Verify ITR through Aadhaar OTP

1. Log in to your Income Tax e-filing account. Under the ‘e-file’ select ‘Income Tax Returns’ then ‘e-Verify Return’.
2. Select the option ‘I would like to verify using OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar'. 
3. You will see a pop-up window on your screen. Tick the checkbox stating 'I agree to validate my Aadhaar details' and then click on 'Generate Aadhaar OTP'.
4. Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your registered mobile number and click on the ‘Validate’ button. On successful submission, your ITR will be verified. The OTP will be valid for 15 minutes. 

Note: 

• For e-verification of your ITR through Aadhaar, ensure that your mobile number is linked to Aadhaar. Also, ensure that your PAN is linked with your Aadhaar number.
• If you already have an Aadhaar OTP available 
  1. Select ‘I already have an OTP on my Mobile number registered with Aadhaar’.
  2. Enter the OTP and click on the ‘Continue’.

2. E-verify ITR through Existing EVC

If you already have an EVC code, select ‘I already have an Electronic Verification Code (EVC)’.

Enter the EVC and click on ‘Continue’.

3. E-verify ITR using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Earlier it was compulsory to get the e-verification done through Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) in a case where books of accounts are audited. However, the said rule is now done away with and you can e-verify your return without DSC even if the tax audit provision is applicable. To e-verify using DSC:

1. On the e-verify page, select the option ‘I would like to e-Verify using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)’. 
2. Now download and install the 'emsigner utility’.
3. After you download and install the emsigner utility, select the option ‘I have downloaded and installed emsigner utility’ and ‘Continue’.
4. Add the 'provider', 'certificate', and 'provider password' on the Data Sign page. Then, simply click on the 'Sign' button.

After completing the process, you will see a success message and a Transaction ID. Make sure to record the Transaction ID for future use. Additionally, a confirmation message will be sent to the email address and mobile number registered with the e-Filing portal.

4. E-verify ITR through Net Banking

If you want to e-verify using the net banking facility, you need to have an active net banking facility on your bank account.

• Select ‘Through Net Banking’ option and click on ‘Continue’.
• Choose your bank and click on 'Continue’. 
• Review and acknowledge the disclaimer and ‘Continue’.
• You will be redirected to the login page of your bank's net banking portal. 
  1. Enter your net banking credentials 
  2. You will have an 'e-verify your return' option. Select that. 
  3. You will again be redirected to the e-filing portal. 
  4. Go to the respective ITR form and click on ‘e-verify.

5. E-verify ITR through Bank Account

• To e-verify ITR through your bank account, it is important that the bank account is prevalidated. 
• On the ‘e-Verify’ page, select ‘Through Bank Account’ and click ‘Continue’.
• Enter the EVC received on your mobile number and email ID registered with your bank account and click on the ‘e-verify’ button.

6. E-verify ITR through Demat Account

Verifying ITR through a Demat account is similar to verification via a bank account. The only difference is that the EVC will be generated and sent to your mobile number and email ID registered with your prevalidated and EVC-enabled Demat account. 

1. On the ‘e-Verify’ page, select ‘Through Demat Account’ and click ‘Continue’
2. Enter EVC received and click on the ‘e-Verify’ button.

E-Verify through ClearTax

1. After submitting your return through ClearTax website, you can click on the 'E-verify Now' and complete the verification instantly. However, if you missed e-verifying at the time of return filing, please refer to the next step.
2. Log in to your account on ClearTax and navigate to ‘My Tax Returns’ option.
3. You have two options for completing the e-verification: either through OTP received on your Aadhaar registered mobile number or through the Bank EVC. Just select your preferred option and enter the OTP or the Bank EVC on the next screen. 
4. Once you enter the OTP and press verify OTP. Your return will be e-verified and you will see a success message with an acknowledgement number. You will also receive an email confirmation from the Income Tax Department.

Key Takeaways:

1. E-verification is mandatory and must be completed within 30 days of filing Income Tax Return
2. E-verification helps in speeding the process ad refund issuance when done timely. 
3. DSC is no longer compulsory even for taxpayers under tax audit-initially this was mandatory for them.
4. Net Banking process redirects you to your bank's portal to verify
5. Bank Account and D-emat Account process requires the account to be pre-validated and EVC enabled on the portal.