Government
is trying hard to go green but the necessity of sending signed ITR-V form to Bangalore was becoming an
obstacle to make e-filing process completely paperless. Digital Signature has
already been mandated for the companies to file and verify their returns but
individuals were given an option to sign the physical copy of ITR-V and send it
to CPC, Bangalore .
Government has come out with the Electronic Verification
Code for verifying the income tax return to get rid of this last piece of paper
and make the e-filing process completely paperless. Now, you just have to put
an EVC after filing your return and you are done with e-filing, no need to send
signed ITR-V to CPC, Bangalore
within 120 days’ time frame.
What is Electronic Verification Code
(EVC)?
Electronic
Verification Code (EVC) is a 10 digits alpha numeric code to verify your income
tax return and can be generated via various methods. Let’s see the features and
usage of Electronic Verification code to e-verify your income tax return.
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EVC is a 10 digit alpha numeric code which would verify
the identity of the person filing the income tax return.
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The EVC could be used to verify ITR 1 (Sahaj) / ITR 2 /
ITR 2A / ITR 3 / ITR 4 /ITR 4S (Sugam).
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EVC would be unique and can be used only with the PAN of
the person furnishing the income tax return. This means one EVC for one PAN.
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One EVC can be used to validate only one ITR whether it is
original or revised return.
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The EVC remains valid for 72 hours but can be generated
various times through various modes.
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In case the tax returns are already filed or uploaded, the
verification needs to be done within 120 days of filing of return.
How to Generate Electronic Verification
Code (EVC)?
CBDT has
notified four methods to generate Electronic Verification Code (EVC). Before
proceeding to generate EVC please ensure that the mobile number and email
address registered with the CBDT is accessible by you.
1. Generate EVC through
e-filing website
I consider this
as the simplest method because you just need to click few buttons and you will
get EVC on your mobile and registered email.
But this method
is only available if your salary income is up to Rs.5 lacs and you are not
claiming any tax refunds.
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Simply login to your account with PAN number as user id
and your password.
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Click on the e-file tab and select Generate EVC as shown
in the image below:
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You would then receive EVC on your registered mobile
number as well on your registered email address.
- Put the code in the box on the screen and the process of e-filing gets completed.
2. Generate EVC through Linking Aadhaar Card with PAN
Before
generating EVC through Aadhaar Card, make sure that your mobile number
should be registered with your aadhaar. (I faced this problem generating
EVC).
How to link your aadhaar with PAN?
After login, you would see “Profile Settings” Tab besides downloads. Click on it and a drop-down menu would appear, select Link Aadhaar with PAN.
You would then be presented with the image as shown below:
Fill in the required details and click on Link Now to complete the process.
Next
Step would be to generate EVC and for that you have to select “I would
like to generate Aadhaar OTP to e-Verify my return” at the time of
e-verifying your tax return.
3. Generate EVC through Bank ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)
For
this option you have to use the ATM card of the bank which is
registered with the IT department. You can generate EVC by selecting
“generate EVC for ITR filing” appears on the ATM Screen. The EVC would
be sent to your registered mobile number with Bank.
4. Generate EVC through Net Banking Facility
Generating
EVC using Net Banking requires you to route your process of e-filing
through the bank which is registered with IT Department. You would have
to login into your net banking account and seek the redirection to
income tax e-filing website where you can generate EVC. The EVC would be
sent to your registered mobile number with Bank.
This option requires a valid PAN to be linked with your Bank account as per KYC norms and ITR should be for same PAN number.
How to use Electronic Verification Code (EVC) to verify Income Tax Return?
Electronic Verification Code (EVC) for e-verification process of Income Tax Return can be used while:
- Uploading of Return using Net Banking
- Uploading of Return without using Net Banking
- For already Uploaded Return
1.
In case you are Uploading Tax Return without using Net Banking than as
soon as you are finished with uploading of return, a screen having
following options would popup:
- Option-1 – “I already have an EVC and I would like to Submit EVC”
- Option-2 – “I do not have an EVC and I would like to generate an EVC”
- Option-3 – “I would like to generate Aadhaar OTP to e-Verify my return”
- Option-4 – “I would like to e-Verify later! I would like to send ITR-V”
You
can use any one of the above options (1 to 3) to e-verify your Income
Tax Return and download the Acknowledgement (No Further action
required).
Option
1 requires you to put the EVC you have already generated and then
download the Acknowledgement (No Further action required).
Option 2 requires you to generate EVC either through AMT or E-filing website.
Option 3 would use generating EVC through Aadhaar Card (As described above).
Option
4 would means you don’t want to use the new method of EVC and would
like to go with the old method of ITR-V signing and sending it to CPC
Bangalore.
2.
In case you have routed to e-filing website through net banking account
then after you finish uploading tax return three options would be shown
on your screen:
- Option-1 – “I would like to e-Verify my return now”
- Option-2 – “I would like to generate Aadhaar OTP to e-Verify my return”
- Option-3 – “I would like to e-Verify later! I would like to send ITR-V”
You
can use any one of the above options (1 and 2) to e-verify your Income
Tax Return and download the Acknowledgement (No Further action
required).
Option
1 would simply need you to confirm the verification of ITR by clicking
on “Continue” button. Download the Acknowledgement (No further action is
required).
Option 2 remains same as in above case and ECV would be sent to your registered mobile number.
Option 3 would be old method of ITR-V signing.
3.
Verification of Already Uploaded Returns requires you to verify them
within 120 days of submission or uploading by following below mentioned
steps:
- Login to your income tax e-filing website.
- Click on e-file button and select e-verify in the drop-down menu.
- List of all the ITRs which are pending for e-verification will be displayed.
- Click on the e-verify link as shown in the image
- You would be directed to the screen with three options to e-verify your tax return.
- Select any of the options to complete the e-verification process of Income Tax Return.
Remember:
E-Verification of Income Tax Return through Electronic Verification
Code (EVC) is available from the current assessment year i.e. 2015-16
(F.Y. 2014-15). If you are filing belated return of the last previous
year u/s 139(4) or filing revised returns for past years u/s 139(5) than
you would have to follow the old method of ITR-V signing and sending it
to CPC, Bangalore within 120 days of filing of return.