New Income Tax Portal – Intro & Key Features Of New Income Tax E-Filing Portal | E-filing 2.0 Guide

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched the new income tax e-filing portal on 7th June 2021. The new portal ‘www.incometax.gov.in’ has replaced the previous e-filing portal ‘www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in’. The taxpayers will now have to file their income tax returns (ITRs) and do all other tax-related tasks through the new portal. The portal is being redesigned for the convenience of the taxpayers which will provide the facility of income tax return filing and other tax-related services in a modern and seamless manner.

Features Of New Income Tax E-Filing Portal

• ITR Processing: The new user-friendly portal will immediately process a taxpayer's income tax return. This will enable faster refunds to the taxpayers.
• Free ITR Preparation Software: The taxpayers will benefit from the free ITR preparation software - Excel-based as well as Java based utility. Every year after considering the changes in ITR forms, the department releases the ITR forms specific to each financial year. Taxpayers can prepare returns by downloading the ITR preparation software or also prepare and submit online within the website itself. The interactive questions available in the software will make the e-filing process simpler.

• Call Centre Services: The new web portal is integrated with a ‘new call centre’ for immediate response to queries. Additionally, detailed FAQs, tutorials, videos, and chatbot/live agents address taxpayers’ issues.
• Single Dashboard Interaction: A taxpayer can see all the interactions, uploads, and pending actions in a single dashboard along with the follow-up action.
• Multiple Payment Options: The new portal offers multiple payment options for taxpayers. These options include RTGS/ NEFT, credit card, UPI, and net banking via any taxpayer's account in any bank. It has enabled easy tax payment. Click here to learn how to make tax payments via the Income tax portal.
• Mobile Application: The income tax department has launched the Aaykar Setu app that helps taxpayers understand taxation and provides solutions to many of their queries. The app was launched in July 2017. The app provides utilities such as Ask IT (answers to your queries), Tax calculation Tools, Apply for PAN online, Pay your taxes online, Tax Gyaan etc., 
• Pre-filled ITRs: The new portal allows the pre-filling of some details related to certain incomes. These can relate to Salary, house property, business/profession, etc. In addition, it enables the detailed pre-filling of details of Salary income, interest, dividend, and capital gains. The pre-filling will happen when the concerned entities upload the TDS and SFT statements.
• Annual Information Statement (AIS): It consists of a comprehensive view of information for a taxpayer displayed in Form 26AS. Taxpayers can provide feedback on information displayed in AIS. AIS shows both reported value and modified value (i.e. the value after considering taxpayer feedback) under each section (i.e. TDS, SFT, and Other information).
• The National Faceless Appeals Centre (NFAC): It has been set up to implement the Scheme and facilitate the centralized conduct of e-appeal proceedings. This includes assigning appeals for disposal to Commissioners of Income Tax (Appeal) units through an automated allocation system.
• Electronic verification: Taxpayers can electronically verify their returns using methods such as Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or digital signature.
• Communication with the Income Tax Department: Taxpayers can receive notices, updates, and communicate with the Income Tax Department through the portal. The notices, responses/submissions and orders etc., will be available within the income tax portal itself, without the requirement to chase behind the income tax officials.
• Pre-validate bank account to get income tax refund: Upon the filing of ITRs, the income tax department will review them and process the refund, if any. Such refunds are now transferred electronically to your bank account linked with your PAN. 

Features Of Old Income Tax E-Filing Portal 

The income tax e-filing portal, www.incometaxidiaefiling.gov.in, was created by the department to provide e-filing related services to taxpayers. The users use the existing income tax e-filing portal to file their income tax returns and other forms. In addition to income tax return filing, they can do the following tasks on the portal:

• E-verify income tax returns.
• View and respond to an outstanding income tax demand.
• File audit reports and certificates.
• View tax credit statement (Form 26AS).
• View tax credit mismatch.
• Request for refund re-issue.
• Request for intimations.
• Request for change of ITR particulars.
• Link Aadhaar with PAN.
• Lodge grievance online.
• Respond to e-proceedings.

The income tax department uses the portal to access the uploaded income tax returns and other forms for further processing, issue notices, receive taxpayer responses, and communicate final orders such as assessments, appeals, exemptions, and penalties.

Taxpayers Update

• Re-register their Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) as the old registered DSCs are not migrated due to security issues.
• They are advised to update the user ID and mobile number under primary contacts in their profile,
• Link Aadhaar and pre-validate bank account if not done previously and
• Reset e-Filing Vault Higher Security Options