The ITR-V (Income Tax Return — Verification) is the one-page acknowledgement PDF generated the moment you file your return. Download it from incometax.gov.in → e-File → View Filed Returns. The PDF is password-protected — the password is your PAN in lowercase + date of birth in DDMMYYYY format. Filing alone is not enough: you must e-verify within 30 days (Aadhaar OTP, net-banking or bank EVC) or your return is treated as never filed.
How to Download the ITR Acknowledgement (ITR-V)
The ITR-V and the full ITR acknowledgement are downloaded from the same place on the portal. After filing your return, follow these five steps.
Two PDFs sit under the same download menu. ITR-V is the short verification form you sign and post if you do not e-verify. The ITR Acknowledgement is the longer computation summary (income, tax, refund). Both carry the same acknowledgement number and both are password-protected the same way.
ITR-V PDF Password Format
The ITR-V is protected so nobody else can open it. The password is your PAN in lowercase immediately followed by your date of birth in DDMMYYYY — no space, no symbol between them.
| Component | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| PAN | All 10 characters, lowercase | abcde1234f |
| Date of birth | DDMMYYYY, no slashes | 15031990 |
| Final password | PAN + DOB joined | abcde1234f15031990 |
For a company/firm, use the date of incorporation in DDMMYYYY in place of DOB. If the PDF still will not open, use Adobe Acrobat Reader — some browser and mobile viewers do not support this protection.
Typing PAN in UPPERCASE, adding a slash or space in the date, or using the assessment year instead of your date of birth are the usual reasons the ITR-V will not open. The PAN is always lowercase and the date is always eight digits with no separators.
Filed already but the return still shows unverified? Get it verified before the 30-day window closes.
Talk to an ITR Expert →How to E-Verify Your ITR
E-verification is instant and removes the need to post anything. Your return is only treated as filed once it is verified — an unverified return is invalid. Pick any one method below.
| Method | Speed | Requirement | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar OTP | Instant | Mobile linked to Aadhaar | Yes · fastest |
| Net-banking EVC | 2-3 min | Net banking with e-filing link | Yes |
| Bank-account EVC | 2-3 min | Pre-validated bank account | Yes |
| Demat-account EVC | 2-3 min | Pre-validated demat account | Yes |
| TOTP (app) | Instant | e-Filing mobile app | Yes |
| Physical ITR-V | 7-10 days | Print, sign, post to CPC | Last resort |
Aadhaar OTP is the most common — the OTP is sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
If you cannot e-verify, print the ITR-V, sign it in blue ink and send it by ordinary or speed post (no courier) to: Centralized Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru — 560500, Karnataka. It must reach CPC within 30 days of filing.
What Happens If You Miss the Verification Deadline
You have 30 days from the date of filing to e-verify or post the signed ITR-V (Notification 2/2024, effective 1 April 2024). What happens next depends on when you complete verification.
Verified within 30 days
- Filing date is the original upload date
- Return goes for processing by CPC
- No late-fee consequence for verification
- Refund (if any) is released after processing
Verified after 30 days
- Date of verification becomes the filing date
- May become belated if it crosses 31 Jul 2026
- Late fee u/s 234F up to Rs 5,000 can apply
- Not verified at all = return treated as invalid
If you file on time but verify after 30 days, the verification date becomes the filing date. If that date falls after the 31 July 2026 due date, the return is treated as belated and a late fee under Section 234F of up to Rs 5,000 (Rs 1,000 if total income is up to Rs 5 lakh) applies. Verify the same day you file.
Tracking Status After You Verify
Once verified, the status moves through Filed → e-Verified → Processing → Processed u/s 143(1). Processing usually takes 15-45 days but can run longer in peak season. Track it under e-File → View Filed Returns, and check your refund status separately if a refund is due.
- Return filed and ITR-V generated
- ITR-V PDF opens with PAN + DOB password
- Return e-verified within 30 days
- Acknowledgement number noted
- Status shows e-Verified / Processing
- Bank account pre-validated for refund
- Form 26AS & AIS match the filed figures
- Physical ITR-V posted (only if not e-verified)
Want us to file and e-verify your ITR correctly the first time?
Get ITR Filing Help →ITR Acknowledgement — Frequently Asked Questions
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