E-verify with net banking, bank account or demat EVC

If an Aadhaar OTP is not an option for you, you can e-verify your return with an EVC (electronic verification code) generated through a bank account or a demat account, or by logging in through net banking. All of them must be completed within 30 days of filing. TaxCare's own e-verification currently uses Aadhaar OTP only.

This guide is a complement to our main guide on how to e-verify your ITR. It explains the alternatives to an Aadhaar OTP. The mechanics of each method are set by the department and the banks and can change. The prerequisites below are those in the department's e-Verify user manual.

Why you might not use an Aadhaar OTP

• Your mobile number is not linked to your Aadhaar.
• You do not have the linked SIM with you.
• You do not have an Aadhaar number, or its details do not match your PAN.
• You prefer to verify through a service you already use.

The options at a glance

For an Aadhaar OTP the manual says the code is valid for 15 minutes and you have 3 attempts to enter it correctly.

EVC through a bank account

Outline:

1. Your bank account must be added on the portal, pre-validated (the portal has confirmed that the account belongs to you) and EVC-enabled.
2. You ask the portal to generate an EVC against that account.
3. The code is sent to the mobile number and email registered with that bank account.
4. You enter the code to verify the return.

Things to check: the mobile number and email linked to the bank account must be current. If you changed numbers, update them with the bank first.

EVC through a demat account

The idea is the same, through a demat account. The demat account must be pre-validated and EVC-enabled on the portal, and the code goes to the mobile number and email registered with the demat account. Use this option if you have an active demat account with up-to-date contact details.

Net banking

You log in to your bank's net banking, use the bank's e-filing option, and are taken back to the portal, which verifies the return. Your PAN must be linked with the bank account and net banking must be enabled on it. The advantage is that you use a login you already know. The limit is that your bank must offer this route.

A digital signature or ITR-V by post

A digital signature certificate (DSC) can verify a return if you already hold one. The paper route, ITR-V, means printing the acknowledgement, signing it and sending it by post to the department's processing centre. Follow the instructions printed on the ITR-V itself. The 30-day limit applies to e-verification or to submitting the ITR-V, under Notification No. 5/2022 (in force from 1-Aug-2022), so allow time for the post. A DSC needs a valid Class 2 or Class 3 certificate on a USB token and the emSigner utility on your computer.

Which one should you choose?

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for the last day. An OTP may be delayed, an account may not be pre-validated, and a posted ITR-V takes days.
• Verifying the wrong return. If you have more than one return for the year, verify the right acknowledgement number.
• Ignoring the deadline for postal verification. The 30-day count still runs.
• Sharing a code. Never give your EVC or OTP to anyone.

If you miss the 30 days

See our guide on what happens if you do not e-verify within 30 days. The discard option has a sting, and the way forward depends on the date.

After verification

The department processes the return and sends an intimation. If a refund is due it goes to your validated bank account. See our guide on refund status and delays.

How TaxCare helps

TaxCare takes you to e-verification right after you file, using an Aadhaar OTP, and treats an unverified return as unfinished until it is done. It reminds you the day after filing, and when 7, 2 and 1 days remain. TaxCare's own e-verification supports Aadhaar OTP only for now. If an Aadhaar OTP is not possible for you, use one of the other options on the portal, and a Tax Expert can help.

This guide gives general information and is not professional tax advice.