e-Verify Income Tax Returns: Meaning and Various Methods

Do you know the date to file your income tax return in 2025 has been extended till 15^th September? Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) by this date is essential to avoid penalties of ₹1,000 or ₹5,000, depending on your income level.

Notably, the return filing process remains invalid if you do not e-verify income tax return. You can e-verify your ITR using various methods, so explore these options to find the one that works best for you.

Quick Synopsis

• You can e-verify income tax returns using methods such as EVC, DSC, net banking, and Aadhaar OTP.
• As an assessee, you can generate EVC online or offline.
• The DSC mandate has been eliminated for the verification of income tax. 

e-Verification of Income Tax Return: What it Means

The e-Verification of income tax return is the electronic verification process to ensure accurate filing of income tax returns by taxpayers. The Income Tax Department aims to simplify the verification process with the e-verification method.

E-Verification has been introduced alongside the traditional method of sending physical copies to the Central Processing Centre (CPC). The tax return filing process is considered complete only after the e-verification of the filed income tax returns. 

Different Ways to E-Verify Income Tax Return

E-verification of income tax return can be undertaken online in the following ways:

• OTP received on Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
• EVC generated from a pre-existing bank account or a demat account.
• Net banking.
• EVC through ATM.
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).

Steps to e-Verify Income Tax Return Using Various Methods

Know about the steps to e-verify income tax return using different methods here:

e-Verification of ITR Using Aadhaar OTP

• Step 1: Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal using valid credentials.
• Step 2: Navigate to the ‘e-file’ option, choose ‘Income Tax Returns’ and ‘e-verify Return’.
• Step 3: If you do not have access to Aadhaar OTP, choose 'I would like to verify using OTP on a mobile number registered with Aadhaar'.
• Step 4: Select the check box on the pop-up window ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’ and then ‘Generate Aadhaar OTP’.
• Step 5: Fill in the 6-digit OTP before you click on the ‘Validate’ option.

Notably, your mobile number needs to be linked with your Aadhaar number for this process. Moreover, your PAN number needs to be linked to your Aadhaar card number. The OTP remains valid for 15 minutes. 

e-Verification Using Already Available Aadhaar OTP

• Step 1: Log in to the ITR portal and navigate to the e-verify option.
• Step 2: Select ‘I already have an OTP on my mobile number registered with Aadhaar’.
• Step 3: Fill in the OTP and select ‘Continue’ to complete the process.

e-Verification Using Existing EVC

• Step 1: If you have an existing EVC, choose ‘I already have an electronic verification code (EVC)’.
• Step 2: Fill in the EVC and click ‘Continue’.

e-Verification of IT Return Using DSC

• Step 1: Choose ‘I would like to e-verify using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)’ on the e-verify page.
• Step 2: Download and install the emsigner utility.
• Step 3: Choose 'I have downloaded and installed the emsigner utility and click on 'Continue'.
• Step 4: On the data sign page, add 'Provider', 'Certificate', and 'Provider Password' before you click on 'Sign'.
• Step 5: On successful completion, you will receive a transaction ID and a success message on the screen. 

Note the transaction ID for future reference. Further, you will receive a success notification on your registered mobile number or email ID. 

e-Verification Using Net Banking

• Step 1: Choose the ‘Through Net Banking’ option and then ‘Continue’.
• Step 2: Select the bank and ‘Continue’.
• Step 3: Review the disclaimer message and click ‘Continue’.
• Step 4: On the redirected bank net banking page, log in using valid credentials.
• Step 5: Select the ‘e-Verify Your Return’ option to be redirected to the e-filing portal. 
• Step 6: Choose the ITR form and click on ‘e-Verify’.

e-Verification Using Bank Account

• Step 1: You will receive EVC on your pre-validated and registered mobile number and email ID.
• Step 2: Choose ‘Through Bank Account’ on the e-Verify page before you click ‘Continue’.
• Step 3: Enter the EVC and click on the ‘e-Verify’ option.

e-Verification Using Demat Account

• Step 1: You will receive an EVC on your demat account-registered mobile number and email ID.
• Step 2: Choose ‘Through Demat Account’ on the e-Verify page before you click on ‘Continue’.
• Step 3: Fill in the EVC and click on ‘e-Verify’ to complete the process.

e-Verification with Bank ATM (Offline EVC Generation)

• Step 1: Visit the bank ATM and swipe your ATM card.
• Step 2: Fill in the ATM PIN and select ‘Generate EVC for Income Tax Filing’.
• Step 3: You will receive an EVC on your registered mobile number and email ID.
• Step 4: Log in to your account and choose ‘I already have an Electronic Verification Code (EVC).
• Step 5: Fill in the EVC you received and click ‘e-Verify’.

Notably, limited banks such as the Central Bank of India, Axis Bank, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and IDBI Bank offer this offline EVC generation method at their ATMs. 

To e-verify an income tax return, you can use any of the available methods based on your convenience. e-Verification completes the income tax return filing process for an assessee. 

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