No Need To Send Signed Copy Of IT Return, Get It Verified Via Aadhar

In a bid to streamline the filing of IT Returns and make it more convenient for the tax payers government has started a new facility that will enable tax payers to verify their income tax return electronically. In an interesting move the income tax department has synced the IT return filing with internet banking and Aadhar.

Mooted as the future of all verification process, Aadhar has been used for the first time in the income tax process and experts are of the opinion that this is just a start for long journey, connecting all the income expenditure with Aadhar and bank account. As per the new system income tax payers can get their IT returns verified through Aadhar and online banking directly and by doing so they don’t have to submit the signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V) to the Bangaluru office of the income tax called CPC. Importantly, every tax payer has to follow this exercise of submitting the ITR copy, involving lots of paperwork and hassles.

Through online banking, a tax payer can file his/her IT returns via the bank website straight away if he has a PAN validated bank account and his know your client (KYC) is clean. On the other hand in the matter of Aadhar, EVC would be generated after Aadhar authentication using a one- time password (OTP) based on Aadhar. For this tax payer has to give his Aadhar to link with PAN while e-filing the IT return on IT website. After co-relating all the data like date of birth, name and gender etc. a link will be established between PAN and Aadhar under UIDAI, and an OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with UIDAI.

To expand the paradigm of IT enabled services, the department has also started a facility of generating Electronic Verification Code (EVC) via its website to those who have their total income less than or equal to Rs 5 Lakh and also don’t have any income tax refund. This code will be sent to the email ID and mobile number of the tax payer that is registered with the department. After this the tax payer can easily verify his return through the code on the IT website.

The Income tax department has expanded the EVC generation facility to include more and more categories of tax payers’ right from individual, HUF and any person in accordance with section 140 of IT act. Based on the risk profile of these tax payers, generation process of EVC would differ. EVC once issued, will be valid for 72 hours and would be unique for one PAN number. Also a tax payer can also generate EVC multiple times. Despite this electronic verification facility, if any taxpayer won’t be able to verify his tax return electronically, he can send the signed copy of ITR-V off line to CPC Bangaluru within 120 days.