How to Verify Your ITR —
e-Verify in 30 Days
Your income tax return is not complete until it is verified. Here are all 6 e-verification methods, the offline ITR-V route, and exactly what happens if you miss the 30-day deadline.
You must verify your ITR within 30 days of e-filing (reduced from 120 days w.e.f. 1 August 2022, CBDT Circular 16/2022). The quickest way is Aadhaar OTP; you can also use net banking, a pre-validated bank or demat account (EVC), TOTP or a DSC, or post a signed ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru. An unverified ITR is treated as invalid — as if never filed — and no refund is processed.
All ITR e-Verification Methods
You can verify electronically in minutes with any one of the methods below, or send a signed ITR-V by post. Every method below marks your income tax return as verified.
| Method | What you need | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar OTP | PAN linked to Aadhaar; Aadhaar-linked mobile active | Instant | Most taxpayers — simplest route |
| Net Banking EVC | Net-banking login with an authorised bank | Instant | Anyone with active net banking |
| Bank Account EVC | Pre-validated bank account on the IT portal | Instant | Pre-validated account holders |
| Demat Account EVC | Pre-validated demat account (NSDL/CDSL) | Instant | Equity investors |
| TOTP | Authenticator app linked on the IT portal | Instant | Advanced users |
| Digital Signature (DSC) | Class-3 DSC registered on the portal | Instant | Companies & tax-audit cases |
| Offline — ITR-V by post | Printed, signed ITR-V via India Post | 5–15 days | No internet / no smartphone |
For companies, LLPs and taxpayers under tax audit, verification by DSC is mandatory. Confirm the live steps at incometax.gov.in before verifying.
A successfully submitted ITR is still incomplete until verified. If you verify within 30 days, your original filing date holds. If you verify after 30 days (with condonation), the verification date becomes the filing date — which can trigger belated-return status and a Section 234F late fee.
e-Verify via Aadhaar OTP — Step by Step
Aadhaar OTP is the most-used method and takes under two minutes if your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar.
- Go to incometax.gov.in and log in with your PAN and password.
- Open e-File → Income Tax Returns → e-Verify Return and pick the unverified ITR.
- Choose "OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar" and click Generate Aadhaar OTP.
- Enter the 6-digit OTP and Submit — a success message and EVC acknowledgement are emailed to you.
Your PAN must be linked with your Aadhaar and your mobile number must be updated in Aadhaar, or the OTP method will not work. If PAN is inoperative, link it first, then verify. Check status at incometax.gov.in.
Filed but not sure how to verify? Let our CA team file and e-verify for you.
File & Verify My ITR →Offline Verification — ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru
If you cannot e-verify, sign and post the one-page ITR-V acknowledgement to the Centralised Processing Centre within 30 days of filing.
- Download the ITR-V (one-page PDF) from View Filed Returns
- Print on plain A4 paper
- Sign in the marked box with blue ink only
- Do not fold, staple or write elsewhere
- Send by ordinary or speed post — India Post only
- Wait for the CPC confirmation email
Address: CPC, Income Tax Department, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru – 560 100, Karnataka. Private couriers are not accepted; use Speed Post and keep the tracking number. CPC processing takes about 5–15 days from receipt.
The date of dispatch (speed post) is taken as the date of submission of ITR-V. Even by post, it must leave within 30 days of e-filing — a late ITR-V is treated the same as no verification.
What Happens If You Do Not Verify?
The Income Tax Department treats an unverified return as non-est — legally as if it was never filed. The practical fallout:
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| ITR not verified within 30 days | Invalid — treated as never filed |
| Refund claimed but unverified | Refund not processed |
| Loss carry-forward claimed | Carry-forward denied |
| Verified after 30 days (condonation granted) | Verification date becomes filing date — 234F fee may apply |
| No verification, filing window closed | Apply for condonation u/s 119(2)(b) or file ITR-U |
If you have missed the window entirely, you may still be able to file a belated return, or an Updated Return (ITR-U) within the extended timeline.
You are fine if
- You verified within 30 days by any method
- Your PAN is linked with Aadhaar and operative
- You kept the ITR-V speed-post tracking number
Act now if
- 30 days have passed and the ITR is still unverified
- Your refund is stuck on an unverified return
- You claimed losses you need to carry forward
Missed the 30-day window or have an invalid ITR? Get it sorted with a CA.
Talk to a Tax Expert →ITR Verification — Frequently Asked Questions
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