Verifying your income tax return is a crucial step in the tax filing process in India. ITR filing is not considered complete until it has been properly verified. The verification of an income tax return confirms that the information provided in the return is true and accurate to the best of the taxpayer’s knowledge. It also helps prevent fraudulent or incorrect filings.
Electronic verification can be done using various methods:-
- Digital Signature Certificate
- Aadhaar OTP
- Electronic Verification Code (using bank account / demat account)
- Physical verification
In cases where electronic verification is not possible, taxpayers can physically verify their return by submitting a signed ITRV (Income Tax Return-Verification) form to the Centralized Processing Center (CPC) in Bangalore. The ITR-V serves as proof of verification.
What is ITR verification?
Verification means proving the authenticity of your income tax return. After you file your income tax return, the income tax department will need to verify the authenticity of your return. If the verification of your ITR is not done within 30 days, then your ITR filed earlier will be considered invalid. To do so, the department sends ITR Form V, which stands for ‘Income Tax Return – Verification.’ You are required to sign and submit it to the income tax department for verification, after which your filing process will be complete
How to Download ITR-V Acknowledgement
Step 1:
Visit the official website of the income tax department and log in to your account.
Step 2:
On your dashboard, click on the e-file and hover over the Income tax return. Click on ‘View Filed Returns.
Step 3:
You will see a page with your filed returns. Click on the download form button next to your return details.
Step 4:
Once the receipt is downloaded, send it to CPC Banglore within 30 days of filing the return.
Ways to e-verify Income Tax Return
ITR verification via Aadhaar-based OTP
Choose ‘I would want to verify using OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar’ and click ‘Continue’ on the ‘e-Verify’ page. On your screen, a pop-up will display. You must check the box next to ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’ and then click ‘Create Aadhaar OTP’.
Your registered cellphone number will receive an SMS with the 6-digit OTP.
ITR verification via net banking
Choose ‘Via Net Banking’ and click ‘Continue’ on the ‘e-Verify’ page. Choose the bank where you wish to validate your ITR and press the ‘Continue’ button. A disclaimer will appear on your screen as a pop-up. Read and then press the ‘Continue’ button. You will next be asked to log in to your bank account’s net banking. Choose the e-verify option, generally found under the ‘Tax’ page. You will be transferred to the income tax department’s e-filing website. Go to the appropriate ITR form and select e-verify. Your tax return will be successfully e-verified.
ITR verification via bank account
The third method of validating an ITR is to generate an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) through one’s bank account. To create EVC, you must have a pre-validated bank account. Remember that pre-validation of a bank account is required to get an income tax refund.
Choose ‘Via Bank Account’ and click ‘Continue’ on the e-verify screen. The EVC will be generated and sent to the mobile number and email address associated with your EVC-enabled bank account. Input the EVC received on your registered mobile number and email address and click on e-verify.
ITR verification via Demat account
The method of certifying ITR via a Demat account is similar to that of validating ITR via a bank account.
Choose ‘Via Demat Account’ and click ‘Continue’ on the e-verify screen. The EVC will be generated and sent to the cellphone number and email address associated with your EVC-enabled Demat account. Enter the EVC obtained on your registered mobile number and email address and click e-verify.
ITR verification via bank ATM
EVCs can also be generated with a bank ATM card. This service is only provided through a few banks: Axis Bank, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and State Bank of India.
Swipe your ATM card at your bank’s ATM, input your ATM PIN, and select ‘Create EVC for Income Tax Filing’. An EVC will be delivered to your registered mobile number and email address with the e-filing portal. Remember that your PAN must be registered with the bank.
Go to the ‘e-verify returns’ tab. To verify the ITR, pick the option ‘I already have an Electronic Verification Code’ (EVC). Input the EVC code and press the e-verify button.
ITR-V Submission to CPC in Bangalore
If the assessee manually verifies the income tax returns, they must print a copy of the ITR-V form obtained by email or the income tax portal. The taxpayer should sign and keep the printed acknowledgement in an A4 envelope. Each envelope should only contain one ITR-V. There is no necessity to keep any other documents besides the signed ITR-V. The envelope must then be mailed (no courier services) to the CPC in Bangalore within 30 days of filing the income tax return. ITR-V should be sent to the following address:
Income Tax Department – CPC
Post Box No.1,
Electronic City Post Office,
FAQs
What is ITV-V Status?
ITR V status refers to the process of checking the status of your Income Tax Return (ITR) verification. This is crucial to ensure that your return has been successfully processed by the Income Tax Department.
What is the due date for submitting ITR-V for verification?
You get a period of up to 30 days from the date of filing your returns for submitting Form ITRV.