Filing your income tax return is only half the job done. The process is not complete until you verify it. The Income-Tax Department has made it clear that an ITR must be e-verified within 30 days of filing, or else it will be treated as invalid.

This could also delay any refunds you are expecting.

WHY E-VERIFICATION MATTERS

When you file your return online, the system requires confirmation that the filing has genuinely been made by you. This step, known as e-verification, is a safeguard against fraud and ensures the return is officially recorded.

Without this step, your ITR will be considered incomplete even if you have submitted all the details correctly.

HOW YOU CAN E-VERIFY

The income tax portal offers multiple ways to complete this process. You can log in and verify using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or an electronic verification code (EVC) linked to your pre-validated bank or demat account.

Once verified, an acknowledgement is instantly generated, confirming that your filing is complete.

OPTIONS BEYOND THE PORTAL

Some taxpayers still prefer offline methods. In such cases, you can verify through your bank’s ATM, or send a signed copy of the ITR-V form by speed post to the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru.

The date on which the form is received at CPC is what determines whether it falls within the 30-day window.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU MISS THE DEADLINE

If you fail to verify within the time limit, the return will either be treated as invalid or considered filed on the date you finally verify it. This means you could end up facing late-filing consequences, including interest, penalties, and loss of certain benefits.

More importantly, your refund will not be processed until verification is completed.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE DO IT FOR YOU?

Yes, in cases where an authorised signatory or representative is allowed to act on your behalf, they can also complete the e-verification.

They can use Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or EVC generated through a linked bank or demat account.

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