Income Tax Return Filing Tips: Previously, 120 days were allotted for ITR verification, but now this has been reduced to only 30 days. Therefore, if you have filed your return, it is essential to verify it as soon as possible.
Filing an income tax return is as important as verifying it on time. The Income Tax Department does not process your return until it is verified. If you do not verify it within the stipulated time, your return is declared invalid. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the verification process and how it can be completed.
Time limit for verifying returns reduced this year
Earlier, taxpayers had 120 days to verify their ITR, but now this period has been reduced to just 30 days. This means that if you have filed your return on July 1, you must verify it before July 30. According to the rules of the Income Tax Department, the return will not be valid if it is not verified within the specified time limit, and you may have to repeat the entire process.
When can you file ITR?
The last date for filing income tax returns for the year 2025 has been set as July 15. So far, more than 96 lakh returns have been filed, of which about 92 lakh have also been verified. The department is continuously issuing alerts regarding returns that have not been verified.
Verifying with Aadhaar OTP is the easiest method
If your Aadhaar card is linked to your PAN and you are receiving OTP on your mobile number, you can verify your ITR in just a few seconds. Log in to the e-filing portal, select the Aadhaar OTP option, and the verification will be completed as soon as you enter the OTP. This is the fastest and most convenient method, which is adopted by most taxpayers.
Verification can also be done through a Demat account
If you have a Demat account and are involved in the stock market, you can also generate an EVC code through that account. For this, it is necessary that your Demat account is linked to PAN and the registered mobile number is active.
Verify directly via net banking
By logging in directly to the e-filing portal with net banking, you can also verify your ITR without any code. For this, log in to the portal, then select the net banking option and select your bank. You will find the verification option as soon as you log in.
Some banks also provide the facility to generate EVC from ATMs
There are some select banks from where you can also get the EVC code through the ATM. For this, insert your card into the ATM, select the tax verification or EVC generation option, and the code will come to your mobile number. However, this facility is not available in every bank, so it is necessary to get information from the bank first.
Verification with Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is necessary
In some special cases, such as returns of companies or those with an annual income of more than ₹50 lakh, verification with a Digital Signature Certificate is mandatory. For this, a valid DSC token is required. This method is not for general taxpayers, but it is useful in professional and corporate matters.
ITR will not be valid without verification
Even if you have filed the return on time, if you have not done the verification, that return will not be considered valid in the records of the Income Tax Department. Without verification, neither your refund will be processed, nor will the tax details be confirmed. Therefore, verify through the appropriate medium within the stipulated time.
How to check the status related to verification
If you have done the verification and want to know its status, log in to the e-filing portal and go to the "View Filed Returns" section to see whether your return has been verified or not. The date and method of verification are also shown here.
