How To E-Verify Your Itr

The last stage of filing your income tax return (ITR) is the verification. Complete it within 120 days of filing your ITR, or your return will be deemed invalid. Verification is critical especially if you have an income tax refund. That is because ITR processing and issue of income tax refund begin only after the verification.

Although verification used to be a time-consuming process, e-verification has simplified things. Here are five ways to get it done.

Aadhaar-Based E-Verification

Before starting, check that your mobile number is linked with your Aadhaar card. Your Aadhaar and PAN cards should also be linked. Now, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing website.
2. Choose ‘My Account’ and select ‘e-verify return’.
3. Select ‘I would like to generate Aadhaar OTP to e-verify my return.’
4. You will receive an SMS containing a six-digit OTP.
5. Enter the OTP on the e-filing website within 30 minutes to complete the verification.

Verification Via Net Banking

Select banks allow you to e-verify your ITR. If your bank is on the list, follow these steps:

1. Log into your bank account via net banking.
2. Select the e-verify option under the tab on ‘Tax’ to reach the e-filing website.
3. Click on ‘My Account’ and select ‘Generate EVC’.
4. A 10-digit alphanumeric code will reach your registered mobile number and email. The code is valid for 72 hours.
5. Click on ‘e-verify return’ option and select ‘I have EVC already’.
6. Submit the EVC to complete the verification.

Verification Via Bank Account

If your bank offers the facility, first pre-validate your bank account: Enter the bank’s name, your account number, IFSC code, and registered mobile number (as per the bank’s records) on the e-filing website. Your PAN and name should match that in the bank’s records. Once pre-validation is complete, follow these steps:

1. Go to ‘My Account’ and choose ‘Generate EVC’.
2. The EVC will be sent to your mobile number.
3. Select ‘e-verify return’ and choose ‘I have EVC already’.
4. Enter the code and submit to complete verification.

 Verification Via Demat Account

Here too, you must pre-validate your demat account. In your profile settings on the e-filing site, enter your demat account number, name of depository, and your mobile number and email ID (as per the demat account records).

Once pre-validation is complete, follow these steps:

1. Select ‘Generate EVC option’ under ‘My Account’
2. Choose ‘Generate EVC through Demat Account number’.
3. The code will be sent to your registered mobile number.
4. Now, select ‘I have EVC already’.
5. Enter the EVC to verify your ITR.

Verification Through Bank Atm

Select banks allow you to e-verify ITR from their ATM. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Swipe your ATM card in the ATM.
2. Select ‘Pin for Income Tax filing’.
3. An EVC will be sent to your mobile number.
4. Within 72 hours, log in to the e-filing website.
5. Select ‘My Account’ and choose ‘e-verify return’.
6. Select the ITR and choose ‘Already generated EVC through bank ATM.’
7. Enter the EVC and hit submit for ITR verification.

Summing Up

With e-verification, there is no need to send any documents by post. The verification happens instantly, and you can do it right after filing your ITR. If you can complete the verification before the last-minute e-filing rush, any income tax refund dues will also get processed quicker.