How to verify your income tax return (ITR)

This year the due date of filing income tax return for individuals is November 30, 2020. After filing your income tax return (ITR), the next step is to verify it. Therefore, here I will discuss the various methods to verify income tax return (ITR) online.

The tax return filed by you will not be processed by the Income Tax Department until it is verified by you. Therefore, you need to verify income tax returns after successfully filing your ITR.

Verify Income Tax Return (ITR)

Post-filing your Income Tax Return (ITR), you get 120 days to verify it. You can verify your return either online (electronic methods) or offline/physical method. The online method is the best way to verify your ITR. The e-verification of ITR is an easy, fast, and secure way to verify your tax return online.

Ways to Verify Income Tax Return (ITR)

There are two ways to verify your tax return:

1. Online Verification

2. Offline Verification

Online Verification (e-Verification of ITR)

E-Verification of ITR is easy, fast, and secure. Verify income tax return online is easier than ever. The following are 6 possible options to e-verify ITR.

1. E-Verification with Aadhaar OTP

2. E-Verification using Net Banking

3. E-Verify Return using Bank Account

4. E-Verification using Bank ATM

5. E-Verification using Demat Account

6. E-Verify through Aadhaar OTP without login

Here are the step-by-step instructions to explain how you can use these methods to e-verify ITR.

E-Verify ITR with Aadhaar OTP

1. First of all, login to the e-filing portal. Click here.

2. Click on the “My Account” on the main menu and select on “e-Verify Return” option from the dropdown menu.

3. Select the verification mode as “Aadhaar OTP”.

4. Click “Generate Aadhaar OTP”. You receive an OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Note this OTP is valid for 30 minutes from the time of generation of OTP.

5. Enter the OTP in the corresponding field and click on the “Submit” tab.

6. Your ITR verification is complete.

Online ITR Verification using Net Banking

1. Visit your bank website and login to your Net banking account.

2. Click on the “e-Tax” option on the main menu. Example: For SBI personal banking, select the “Login to e-Filing/e-Verify” option. Enter the OTP and confirm to share your account number with the IT department.

3. Now you will be redirected to the e-Filing portal.

4. Login to the e-filing portal. Sometimes, it may ask you to update your address, mobile, etc.

5. Here, it will ask you “Do you want to add this bank”. Click on the “Confirm” tab. It will pre-validate your bank account.

6. Click on the “Continue” tab to e-verify return.

7. Your ITR verify is complete.

Income Tax E-Verification using Bank Account

1. Visit the e-filing portal. Click here to login.

2. Pre-validate your bank account if it is not validated.

3. To pre-validate, your bank account, click on the “Profile Settings” and select the “Prevalidate Your Bank Account” option. Enter your bank details and click on the “Pre-validate” tab. Must Read: How to pre-validate bank account to get tax refund.

4. Next, select the bank that you just added, and click the “Enable EVC” tab.

5. Click on the “My Account” on the main menu. Select on “e-Verify Return” option from the dropdown menu.

6. Select ITR you want to e-verify. Click on the “e-Verify” tab.

7. Select verification mode as “EVC using pre-validated bank account”.

8. EVC will be sent to the mobile number registered with the bank account. Note it is valid for 72 hours from the time of generation of OTP.

9. Enter your EVC and click on the “Submit” tab.

10. Your ITR verify is complete.

Online ITR Verification using Bank ATM

1. Swipe your ATM card at your Bank ATM.

2. Select the “PIN for e-Filing” option.

3. EVC will be sent to your mobile number registered with your bank account. Note that this is valid for 72 hours from the time of the generation of OTP.

4. Log in to the e-Filing portal.

5. Select the option to e-Verify return using Bank ATM.

6. Enter your EVC in the corresponding field.

7. This will complete your ITR verification.

Verify ITR using Demat Account

1. First of all, go to the e-filing portal. Click here to login.

2. Pre-validate your Demat Account if it is not validated.

3. Select verification mode as “EVC using pre-validated Demat Account”

4. EVC will be sent to the mobile number registered with the Demat account. Note it is valid for 72 hours from the time of generation of OTP.

5. Enter your EVC and click on the “Submit” tab.

6. Your ITR verification is complete.

E-Verify through Aadhaar OTP without login

This facility is available for the return filed for the Assessment year 2019-20 onwards.

1. Go to the e-Filing portal to e-Verify your income tax return.

2. Click on the “e-Verify Return” on the left side of the main page.

3. Next, enter your PAN number.

4. Select the assessment year from the dropdown menu.

5. Next, enter Acknowledgement Number as in ITR-V.

6. Next, income tax e-verify using the Aadhaar OTP option.

7. This will complete your ITR verification.

Offline Verification

After filing your ITR, you can download and print ITR-V from your e-filing account. ITR-V is a password-protected document. The password to open ITR-V is your PAN number in the lower case along with your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format. You need to sign a copy of ITR-V and send it to CPC (Centralized Processing Centre) in Bengaluru for physical verification.

Remember to send the signed copy to CPC within 120 days from the date of e-filing. Just send one page signed ITR-V without any supporting documents. Note that you need to send it either by ordinary or speed post only. You cannot courier the ITR-V. You will receive a confirmation mail once it is received at CPC.

Final Thoughts

Ideally, you should opt for online verification using the Electronic Verification Code (EVC) to verify income tax returns. The process of the E-verification of ITR gives you immediate confirmation. Instead of sending ITR-V to CPC, Bengaluru, just use any of the above e-verification methods to verify income tax return (ITR) online.

Note: This post was originally published on July 16, 2018 and has been completely updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Also read: e-filing Income Tax Return Online

Also read: Income Tax Slabs for FY 2020-21 (AY 2021-22)