The income tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) is the official CBDT platform to file your ITR, pay tax, view Form 26AS and AIS, track refunds and respond to notices. Log in with your PAN as the User ID, your password, and a 6-digit OTP sent to your registered mobile. PAN must be linked with Aadhaar or login and filing are blocked. The current portal was revamped in June 2021.
If your PAN is not linked with Aadhaar it becomes inoperative — the portal blocks login and ITR filing. Link it under incometax.gov.in → "Link Aadhaar" after paying the ₹1,000 fee (Section 234H); the PAN typically becomes operative in about 7 working days.
Login Methods on the e-Filing Portal
There are three common ways to log in to incometax.gov.in. All require an active PAN-Aadhaar link.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| PAN + Password + OTP | Enter PAN as User ID, portal password, then a 6-digit OTP to your registered mobile | Everyday login for individuals |
| Aadhaar OTP | Enter PAN, get an OTP on the mobile linked to Aadhaar — no portal password needed | If you forgot your portal password |
| Net Banking | Pick your bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis…), log in via net banking, get redirected as logged in | Users who remember bank, not portal login |
| Static Password / DSC | DSC login for companies and audit cases; Class 3 DSC on a USB token | Companies, LLPs, auditors |
OTP expires quickly — request a fresh one if it lapses. Keep your registered mobile and email current under Profile → Contact Details.
Locked out or PAN inoperative? Get your portal access sorted.
Talk to a Tax Expert →Key Features & Where to Find Them
The portal is a single window for every income-tax task. The most-used services and their navigation paths:
| Feature | Navigation Path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File ITR | e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return | Select AY 2026-27; data pre-filled from AIS / 26AS |
| View Filed Returns / ITR-V | e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns | Download acknowledgement & computation; e-verify if pending |
| Pay Tax (Challan 280) | e-Pay Tax → New Payment → Income Tax | Advance / self-assessment / demand; UPI & net banking |
| Annual Information Statement | Services → Annual Information Statement (AIS) | Salary, dividends, MF, property; submit feedback if wrong |
| View Form 26AS | e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Form 26AS | Redirects to TRACES; shows TDS/TCS & advance tax |
| Track Refund | Services → Know Your Refund Status / View Filed Returns | Enter PAN & AY to see refund status |
| Respond to Notice | Pending Actions → e-Proceedings | Notices under 143(1), 139(9), 147 etc. |
| File Form 10E | e-File → Income Tax Forms → File Income Tax Forms | Salary-arrears relief; file BEFORE the ITR |
| Register DSC | Profile → My Profile → Digital Signature Certificate | Class 3 DSC for companies & audit cases |
| Link Aadhaar | Dashboard widget or Profile → Link Aadhaar | Mandatory; ₹1,000 fee if late |
The AIS-ITR mobile app by CBDT (Play Store / App Store) lets you view your AIS & TIS and file a simple ITR-1 on the go with the same PAN + OTP login as the web portal — handy for salaried taxpayers verifying data before filing.
Pre-Filled ITR — Always Verify These
The portal pre-fills your ITR from your employer's TDS return, Form 26AS, AIS, the demat/registrar and mutual-fund data. Pre-fill is a convenience, not gospel — the responsibility for correctness is yours. Check these three before you file:
- Cross-check pre-filled salary against Form 16 Part B — treat Form 16 as authoritative
- Match every TDS credit to Form 26AS; add missing entries only if they appear there
- Review AIS for extra transactions — report all income, flag wrong entries as feedback
- Confirm the correct regime (new is default for AY 2026-27) and standard deduction
- Verify bank account is pre-validated for a refund
If your employer files their TDS return late, some credits may be missing when you fetch pre-fill. Filing after the quarterly TDS deadline ensures 26AS is complete. See our income tax slabs and run the numbers in the income tax calculator before you finalise.
Want your pre-filled data checked and ITR filed by a CA?
File My ITR →Refunds, e-Verification & Notices
Filing is only complete once you e-verify within 30 days — Aadhaar OTP is instant; net banking, bank-account or demat validation also work. Miss the window and the return is treated as never filed. Track your refund and any notices from the same dashboard.
- 1File ITRSubmit on incometax.gov.in
- 2e-VerifyWithin 30 days — Aadhaar OTP
- 3CPC ProcessingIntimation u/s 143(1)
- 4RefundCredited to pre-validated bank
- Track refund under Services → Know Your Refund Status — check your refund status with PAN & AY.
- Refunds go only to a pre-validated bank account with an active PAN link.
- Notices appear under Pending Actions → e-Proceedings; a 143(1) intimation is routine, not a scrutiny notice.
- Not filing Form 10E before the ITR when claiming Section 89 relief triggers a defective-return notice.
Common Portal Errors & Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Portal slow / server error | Peak-season load (Jul–Aug) | File 11 PM–6 AM; use Chrome/Edge; Save Draft often |
| Login OTP not received | DND blocking / wrong number | Use Aadhaar OTP; check Profile → Contact Details; enable transactional SMS |
| "PAN inoperative" | PAN not linked to Aadhaar | Pay ₹1,000, link Aadhaar; ~7 working days to activate |
| ITR not processed | e-verification pending | e-verify within 30 days (Aadhaar OTP) or post ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru |
| DSC / emSigner error | Old utility / blocked local port | Update emSigner, plug in the token, allow the local port |
The department never asks for card PINs, passwords or full bank details by SMS or email, and issues refunds only to a pre-validated account — never via a link. The only official portal is incometax.gov.in. Helpdesk: 1800-103-0025.
- Official portal: incometax.gov.in
- TDS / Form 26AS: TRACES (tdscpc.gov.in)
- PAN-Aadhaar link fee: Section 234H, Income-tax law
- e-verification window: 30 days from filing (CBDT notification)
Disclaimer: This guide is general information based on the law and notifications in force when it was last updated. It is not professional advice for your case — rates, thresholds and due dates change, so check the current position or speak to our CA team before you act on it.