e-verification of ITR: How to e-verify Income Tax Return

Income Tax Return (ITR) verification the final crucial step after filing your return. After you have submitted your ITR, it may seem that the process is complete, but in reality, the filing process remains incomplete until the filed ITR has been verified. As per current rules, the tax payer gets 30 days to complete ITR verification and if the process is not completed within this period, the return is treated as invalid.

E-verification of ITR confirms that the return has been filed by the person concerned and that all the information entered, such as income, deductions, and taxes paid, is accurate. This step ensures authenticity of the ITR and is designed to help prevent fraudulent or unauthorised ITR filings. Completion of ITR verification in a timely manner can help ensure that your return is legally valid and any refunds due to you are processed with minimal delay.

ITR verification is not just a routine step after filing. The process carries both legal and practical significance, so, missing it can create unnecessary complications for taxpayers.

Online ITR verification is the quickest way to verify your income tax return (ITR). The following are the most commonly used online methods for e-verification:

If you prefer not to use any of the ITR e-verification options mentioned in the previous section, you can verify your returns offline by sending a signed copy of the ITR-V (Acknowledgement) to the Income Tax Department in Bangalore.

• Firstly, download the ITR-V from the e-filing portal.
• After that, print the ITR-V document in black ink and sign it in blue ink.
• After that, print the ITR-V document in black ink and sign it in blue ink.
• Once the CPC receives your signed ITR-V document, they will update the verification status of your filed ITR.

While the Income Tax Return verification process is straightforward, a few errors may lead to a delay in verification or lead to your return being invalided due to missing verification. You may even end up receiving an Income Tax Notice . Below are the common mistakes to avoid with respect to ITR verification:

E-verification of ITR is an important process as it confirms your return, and it enables the timely processing of your refund. Moreover, if you do not verify your returns within the time allotted, your return is not even considered a defective return . This means you can be liable to be charged a fine for late filing if you miss the due date.

You can e-verify using different online and offline methods. Additionally, you must verify your ITR within 30 days so you can ensure a smooth tax-filling experience and avoid unnecessary penalties.