How to e-Verify Your ITR Online: Aadhaar OTP, Bank EVC, Net Banking and DSC

Just filing your income tax return online is not enough. You must verify it for the Income Tax Department to process it. You can do this electronically using Aadhaar OTP, an Electronic Verification Code (EVC), net banking or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). If you cannot e-verify, you can submit a signed ITR-V to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC).

The general deadline is 30 days from the date you file your return. This is separate from the deadline for filing the ITR. After verification, check the return status on the Income Tax e-Filing portal and save the confirmation.

Why you must verify your ITR

Verification confirms that you submitted the return and authorises the department to process it. Until verification is complete, your return remains unverified. A return that is not verified within the applicable time may be treated as invalid.

The portal usually lets you verify the return immediately after filing or choose to verify it later. Selecting “e-Verify Later” does not complete the process. You must return to the portal and verify the return within the time limit.

You should also verify a revised return after submitting it. Verification of the original return does not automatically verify a later return. Check the status of the latest ITR you filed.

ITR e-verification deadline

The current time limit is 30 days from the date the return is filed. This limit applies to returns filed from 1 August 2022. Under the current procedure, if you verify after 30 days, the verification date may be treated as the date you furnished the return. Applicable late-filing consequences can follow.

If you do not verify the return, it may be treated as invalid. If you miss the deadline, follow the portal’s instructions for making a condonation request where required. Approval is not automatic.

The verification deadline does not extend the time allowed to file your ITR. Filing on the last day does not give you extra time to file; it gives you the applicable verification period after filing.

For help with a missed deadline, see how to request condonation after missing the 30-day ITR verification deadline.

Choose an e-verification method

The portal provides several electronic methods. The options available depend on your account, bank or demat setup, and the return or taxpayer. Choose one available method; you do not need to use all of them.

Before you start

Keep these details ready:

• Your e-Filing portal user ID and password, usually your PAN.
• The acknowledgement number and assessment year of the return.
• Access to the mobile number and email linked to your chosen verification method.
• A pre-validated, EVC-enabled bank or demat account if you plan to use an EVC.
• A valid DSC and access to the required signing setup if you plan to use DSC.

If your PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, Aadhaar OTP may not be available. Before relying on a bank or demat account EVC, check the account’s status on the portal. You may need to pre-validate the account and enable EVC first.

The portal’s instructions and available methods can change. Follow the options displayed when you verify your return.

General steps to e-Verify a filed return

The wording of portal menus can change, but the process is usually:

1. Sign in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
2. Open the e-Verify Return service. It may appear under e-File, Income Tax Returns or a similar menu.
3. Find the ITR you want to verify. Check its assessment year and acknowledgement number.
4. Select e-Verify and choose an available method.
5. Follow the instructions for that method and submit the verification.
6. Wait for the success message. Note the transaction ID or acknowledgement shown.
7. Return to your filed returns and check that the status shows Successfully e-Verified or the equivalent completed status.

Do not close the page before the portal confirms success. Receiving an OTP or generating an EVC is not enough: you must enter the code and complete verification. Save or download the confirmation for your records.

If an authorised e-Return Intermediary (ERI) filed the return on your behalf, check the status rather than assuming verification has also been completed.

How to e-Verify using Aadhaar OTP

Aadhaar OTP is a straightforward option if your PAN is linked with Aadhaar and you can access the mobile number registered with Aadhaar.

1. Choose the Aadhaar OTP option on the e-Verify page.
2. Select the option to generate an OTP if one is not already available.
3. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
4. Submit it and wait for the successful verification message.

An OTP is time-limited. Enter it promptly, and use the latest OTP if you request a new one. If it does not arrive, check your mobile network and confirm that you can access the number registered with Aadhaar.

If the option is unavailable, check PAN-Aadhaar linking and any identity issue shown on the portal. If you are eligible, you can use another method, such as bank EVC or net banking.

How to e-Verify using a bank account EVC

A bank account EVC is a code sent to the contact details registered with an eligible, pre-validated bank account. The account must be enabled for EVC on the e-Filing portal.

1. Select the bank account EVC option on the e-Verify page.
2. Choose the eligible bank account if the portal asks you to select one.
3. Request or generate the EVC.
4. Check the mobile number and email associated with the bank account for the code.
5. Enter the code on the portal and select e-Verify.
6. Save the success message or transaction details.

If no account appears, confirm that it is pre-validated and EVC-enabled. Check that the bank has your current contact details. If you have changed your mobile number or email, update them with the bank first. A bank account used to receive an income tax refund is not necessarily ready to generate an EVC until the required validation is complete.

How to e-Verify using a demat account EVC

You can use a demat account EVC if the account is pre-validated and enabled for EVC on the e-Filing portal.

1. Select the demat account EVC option.
2. Choose the eligible demat account and request the EVC.
3. Retrieve the code sent to the contact details registered for that account.
4. Enter the code on the portal and submit it.
5. Check that the return status shows successful verification.

If the account is not listed, check its validation status and contact details. You may need to complete validation or enable EVC before using it. Do not assume your trading account and demat account have the same contact details.

How to e-Verify through net banking

Net banking can take you from your bank’s website to the e-Filing portal. PAN must be linked with the bank account, and net banking must be enabled.

1. Sign in to the e-Filing portal.
2. Select Through Net Banking on the e-Verify page.
3. Choose your bank and continue.
4. Read the authorisation notice, then sign in through the bank’s official net banking page.
5. Use the bank’s link to access the e-Filing portal.
6. Return to the relevant ITR and complete verification if the portal asks you to.
7. Check the return status for confirmation.

Start from the official e-Filing portal and use the bank link provided there. Never share your net banking password, PIN or OTP with someone who calls you. If the redirect fails, try a supported browser, check whether pop-ups are blocked, or use another method.

How to e-Verify with a DSC

A DSC lets you digitally sign the return. It is required for some taxpayers and may be available as an option for others, depending on the applicable filing requirements and portal settings.

1. Ensure your DSC is valid and active, and that you can access the signing token if required.
2. Install or open the signing utility required by the portal.
3. Connect the DSC token to your computer if the certificate is stored on one.
4. Select the DSC option on the e-Verify page.
5. Choose the appropriate certificate and sign the verification request.
6. Wait for the success message and check the return status.

Verification may fail if the certificate has expired, is not registered where required, or the signing utility cannot detect it. Follow the portal’s current DSC instructions and ensure the certificate belongs to the taxpayer or authorised signatory permitted to sign the return.

EVC through a bank ATM

Some taxpayers can request an EVC through a participating bank’s ATM and then use it online. The steps vary by bank.

Follow the bank’s ATM instructions to request an income tax EVC. Return to the e-Filing portal and enter the code on the verification screen. This method depends on the bank and account being eligible. If the ATM option is unavailable, choose another method rather than delaying verification.

Verify without logging in

The portal also provides a pre-login e-Verify Return service. It can be useful if you filed a return but did not verify it immediately. You generally need your PAN, assessment year, ITR acknowledgement number and a mobile number for the portal’s identity check. After that check, select an available verification method and complete the process.

The mobile OTP used to access the pre-login service is not necessarily the Aadhaar OTP used to verify the return. Follow the instructions for the method you select.

Common problems and how to resolve them

Aadhaar OTP is not received

Check that your mobile number is active and registered with Aadhaar. Confirm PAN-Aadhaar linkage, wait briefly and request a fresh OTP if the earlier one has expired. If the option remains unavailable, use another eligible method.

Bank or demat EVC is not generated

Confirm that the account is pre-validated and EVC-enabled on the portal. Check whether the contact details are current and whether your bank or depository supports the service. Complete the required validation before trying again.

Net banking does not redirect

Start from the Income Tax portal, choose a listed bank and use the bank page that opens from there. Check whether your browser blocks redirects, or try another browser. Do not enter your details on a page reached through an unsolicited message.

DSC is not detected

Check that the DSC is active, the token is connected and the required signing utility is running. Restart the utility or browser as directed on the portal. If the certificate has expired, arrange a valid one before trying again.

The return still shows “Pending for e-Verification”

Generating a code does not complete verification. Enter it, submit it and wait for the success message. Refresh the return status. If you have a transaction ID but the portal still shows pending, check again after a short interval and keep the transaction details.

You selected the wrong return

Check the assessment year and acknowledgement number before confirming verification. If you have filed more than one return, verify the correct return and check the status against its acknowledgement number. A successful verification applies to the specific return submitted.

If you have missed the 30-day limit

A late verification is not automatically accepted. The portal may ask you to submit a condonation request, select a reason for the delay and provide remarks. Explain the circumstances accurately and provide supporting information if requested. Submit the request and monitor its status.

If the department approves the request, follow the portal’s instructions to complete verification. Until approval and verification are complete, do not treat the return as successfully filed. Depending on the date of verification and applicable rules, late-filing consequences may apply. A late fee is not necessarily payable in every case; the consequences depend on the taxpayer and return.

See TaxClear’s guide to requesting condonation after missing the ITR verification deadline. For the broader online filing process, read the ITR filing guide for AY 2026-27.

FAQs

Is an ITR filed if I have not verified it?

The return is not complete for processing until verification is done. If it remains unverified, it may be treated as invalid.

How long do I have to e-Verify my ITR?

The general time limit is 30 days from the date you file the return. Check the portal for your return’s status and deadline information.

Can I e-Verify without Aadhaar OTP?

Yes. Depending on what is available to you, you may use bank or demat EVC, net banking, DSC or bank ATM EVC.

What if I verify my return after 30 days?

The verification date may be treated as the filing date, and applicable late-filing consequences may follow. The portal may require a condonation request; approval is not automatic.

Do I need to e-Verify a revised return too?

Yes. Check the status of the revised return and complete its verification. Do not assume that verification of the original return covers a later submission.

Can I send ITR-V instead of e-verifying online?

Yes. You can submit a signed ITR-V as an alternative, subject to the prescribed procedure and deadline. Follow the current portal instructions for the mailing method and CPC address. For a mailed ITR-V, the date it is received by CPC—not the date it is posted—is relevant to the deadline.