Income tax return (ITR) filing season for financial year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) is underway and it's crucial that taxpayers make note of an important step in the process. Missing this step could render your ITR invalid.
The Income Tax Department has asked all taxpayers to complete the e-verification process after filing ITRs to avoid any hassles.
If you have submitted your ITR for AY2025-26, but have not yet verified the same, it will not be considered valid. Taxpayers need to finish the verification process within 30 days from the date of the ITR filing. Otherwise, the return would be considered void. It may lead to consequences like delays in refunds and even late filing charges.
How To e-Verify Your Return
There are a few ways to e-verify your ITR, and all of them can be done through the Income Tax e-filing portal. Do the following:
• Use the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar to get an OTP and verify it.
• Log in via net banking and select the e-verify option from the dashboard.
• Generate an electronic verification code (EVC) through your pre-validated bank or demat account.
Once you are successfully e-verified, you will be shown an official confirmation in your record.
Step-By-Step On The Portal
You can either use the 'e-Verify Return' facility on the home page or simply log in through your PAN and password. Select the applicable assessment year and acknowledgement number, and you will be shown verification options. Select the one that is convenient for you and proceed with it.
Offline Method
If online verification is not possible, you may also send a physically signed hard copy of your ITR-V form through speed post or regular post to the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru. Keep in mind that the date when CPC accepts receipt of your ITR-V will be taken into account while computing the 30-day period.
Postal Address:
Centralised Processing Centre,
Income Tax Department,
Bengaluru - 560500, Karnataka
Can Someone Else Verify It On Your Behalf?
Yes. An authorised representative can verify the return using any of the approved electronic methods—Aadhaar OTP, EVC via net banking, or through a pre-validated bank or demat account. The verification code will be sent to the registered mobile number and email ID linked to the e-filing portal.
Missed The Deadline?
If you verify your return after the 30-day period, the date of verification—not the original filing date—will be taken as the official date of submission. This means you could be penalised for late filing. Worse still, if you simply fail to verify the return, it will be considered invalid and treated as if you never filed the ITR.
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