Electronic Verification Code (EVC) for E-verification of Income Tax Returns Filing

Online filing of Income Tax Return is paperless, only if the person has a digital signature. Taxpayers who did not have a digital signature had to post a physical copy of the ITR V form to the Central Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru, within 120 days of filing tax returns online.

Good news.. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued a notification on 13^th July,2015 regarding the usage of Electronic Verification code for verifying the Income Tax Returns (ITRs) that are filed electronically. If you e-verify your Income Tax Return using EVC, no need to mail (post) ITR V physical copy to CPC Bangalore.

In this post let us understand – What is  Electronic Verification code? How to generate EVC? What are the different modes of generation of EVC? How to link Aadhar number to your PAN in e-filing website? How to do an electronic verification of Income Tax Return (e-verify)?

What is Electronic Verification Code?

• The Electronic Verification code would verify the identity of the person (Verifier) furnishing the return of income and this can be be generated on the E-filing website of Income Tax Department.
• The EVC can be used by a Verifier to verify his ITR 1 / ITR 2 / ITR 2A / ITR 3 / ITR 4 /ITR 4S. Karta of an HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) also can use the EVC to verify the returns.
• The EVC would be unique for an Assessee PAN and will not be valid for any other PAN at the time of filing the ITR.
• Only one EVC can be used to validate one ITR of the assessee irrespective of the Assessment Year or Return filing type (ie original or revised returns).
• The EVC will be stored against the Assesse’s PAN along with the other verification details. The EVC is valid for 72 hours.
• The Verifier can use more than one mode to obtain EVC and can generate the EVC multiple times.

Latest News (29-July-2016) : The last date for filing Income Tax Returns for Assessment Year (AY) 2016-17 has been extended to August 5, 2016.

Modes of generation of EVC

Electronic Verification code through Net-Banking

• The EVC can be generated after the verifier (Assessee) logs in to the e-filing website through Net banking. The specified banks registered with the IT Department provide direct access to the e-filing website through Internet Banking facility. These banks provide this facility to all the account holders whose bank accounts have a validated PAN (as per KYC norms). The account holder can access his / her bank’s internet banking website through his / her internet banking ID / password and can seek redirection to e-filing website, where he/she can generate the EVC. The EVC will be displayed and also sent to the registered mobile number. This EVC can be used to verify the Income Tax Return.
• If you click on ‘income tax e-filing’ after log in to your net-banking account then you can find options as below. You can select step 2 ‘Click on generate EVC link’ to generate new EVC. (I have got the below options after logging into my ICICI Bank net-banking account and after opting for ‘Income tax e-filing’ option under ‘Manage your taxes’ menu.)

• The banks which provide this facility as of now are – Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Axis Bank Ltd, Bank or Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra,Canara Bank, Central Bank of India,City Union Bank Ltd, Corporation Bank-Corporate Banking, Corporation Bank-Retail Banking, Dena Bank,HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Rank,  Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank,UCO Bank Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, Vijaya Bank .

Electronic Verification code using Aadhar One Time Password (Aadhar OTP)

• You can link your Aadhar with your PAN on the e-filing website. Once the linking is successfully done, the Electronic Verification code can be generated and will be sent to your mobile number registered with UIDAI Aadhar. This Aadhar OTP is the EVC and can be used to verify your ITR. OTP is valid for 10 minutes only. 

EVC using Bank ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)

• You can use this mode if your ATM card is linked to PAN verified bank account and your bank is registered with the IT department. You can access your Bank’s ATM using ATM PIN and can select ‘generate EVC for ITR filing’ option on the ATM screen. The EVC will be sent to your registered mobile number.

Latest News (04-June-2016) : State Bank of India (SBI) is the first bank to launch ‘ EVC through ATM ‘ facility which will facilitate its customers, who may not have a net-banking account, to e-verify their income tax return. Other banks are expected to launch this facility soon.

Latest News (30-July-2016) : Electronic Verification Code (EVC) can now be generated through AXIS bank and Canara bank ATMs too.

EVC through e-filing website

• Where the total income as per ITR is Rs 5 Lakh or below and there is no Refund claim, you (assessee) can generate an EVC one the E-filing website. The code will be sent to the Registered email ID / Mobile number of assessee.

Once you have received your Electronic Verification code, you can login to e-filing website to e-verify your Income Tax Return which you have already uploaded or submitted online.

Latest News (23-Jan-2016) : In addition to the above modes, the Income Tax Department has now included two more modes through which you can e-Verify your ITR. You can now e-verify  through Bank Account (or) Demat account modes also.

• You have to provide Demat account number, email id and mobile number. These details, along with Permanent Account Number (PAN), would be validated against the information with depository (CDSL/NSDL). The Generated EVC will be sent by e-filing portal to your email id and or mobile number which is verified from CDSL or NSDL. You can use this EVC to verify your ITR electronically.
• The e-Filing website of the Income Tax department would now provide a facility to pre-validate your bank account details. You (tax assessee) will have to provide bank account number, IFSC code, email id, and mobile number and these details will be validated against the details of the tax payer registered with your bank. The Generated EVC will be sent by e-filing portal to your email id and/or mobile number verified from bank.

How to e-verify Income Tax Return?

• Log in to e-filing website using your login credentials.
• Click on e-file menu option and then click on ‘e-verify return’ option.
• The pending ITRs for e-verification will be displayed as below. Click on ‘e-verify’.
• You can find three options as below to complete the e-verification process.
• If you already have the Electronic Verification code, you can enter it by selecting ‘option 1’. Otherwise, you can proceed with either option 2 or option 3.
• If you select option 2, below sub-options will be displayed.
• If you select option 3 then you need to link your Aadhar number to PAN and get OTP.
• Once you submit EVC (generated through any of the above options), the entire process of verification of your ITR is complete. There is no need to send (mail) ITR V physical copy .
• You may check the status of your ITR. It should be displayed as ‘successfully e-verified’.
• Once you successfully verify your Income Tax returns, you can download the ‘Acknowledgment Form’. This form looks similar to ITR V.
• Kindly note that do not send this form to CPC Bangalore. 

I hope you find this article informative. If you have any queries on Electronic verification code and how to e-verify your Income Tax Returns AY 2015-16, kindly ask your queries in the below ‘comments’ section. I will surely reply to them 🙂

Continue reading;

• Latest Article : How to Verify Income Tax Returns (ITRs) of previous Assessment Years (past years 2009 to 2015)?
• List of Income Tax Deductions for FY 2016-17 / AY 2017-18
• Income Tax Return Filing FY 2015-16 or AY 2016-17 – New ITR Forms 

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