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ITR Verification — How to e-Verify Income Tax Return After Filing

Updated: 3 June 2026  |  Income-tax Act, 2025  |  CBDT Circular 16/2022

ITR verification deadline: You must verify your ITR within 30 days of e-filing (reduced from 120 days w.e.f. 1 August 2022). E-verification methods include Aadhaar OTP, net banking EVC, bank account EVC, demat account EVC, DSC, and offline via posting signed ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru. An unverified ITR is treated as invalid (not filed), and refunds are not processed.
30 Days
Verify your ITR within 30 days of e-filing — not 120 days.
CBDT reduced the verification window from 120 days to 30 days w.e.f. 1 August 2022 (Circular No. 16/2022). Returns filed before 1 Aug 2022 still get 120 days.

Why ITR Verification Is Mandatory

Filing an ITR on the Income Tax e-filing portal is only the first step. The filing is not complete until verified. The Income Tax Department treats an unverified ITR as a non-est filing — meaning it is legally as if the return was never filed. Consequences include:

All E-Verification Methods at a Glance

Method Requirement Time to Verify Best For
Aadhaar OTP PAN linked to Aadhaar; Aadhaar-linked mobile active Instant Most taxpayers — simplest method
Net Banking EVC Net banking login with authorised bank Instant Taxpayers with active net banking
Bank Account EVC Pre-validated bank account on IT portal Instant Taxpayers with pre-validated accounts
Demat Account EVC Pre-validated demat account (NSDL/CDSL) on IT portal Instant Equity investors with demat accounts
TOTP (Time-based OTP) TOTP app (Google Authenticator) linked to IT portal Instant Advanced users who have set up TOTP
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) Class 2/3 DSC registered on IT portal Instant Companies, tax audit cases (mandatory for some)
Offline — ITR-V Post to CPC Printed, signed ITR-V; India Post speed post or ordinary post 5–15 days Taxpayers without internet / smart phone

How to e-Verify via Aadhaar OTP (Step-by-Step)

Aadhaar OTP is the fastest and most used method. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to incometax.gov.in and log in with your PAN and password.
  2. Navigate to e-File → Income Tax Returns → e-Verify Return.
  3. Select the unverified ITR and click “e-Verify”.
  4. Choose “I would like to verify using OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar”.
  5. Click “Generate Aadhaar OTP” — a 6-digit OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile.
  6. Enter the OTP in the box and click “Submit”.
  7. A success message appears and an EVC acknowledgement is sent to your registered email.
Pre-condition: Your PAN must be linked with your Aadhaar (mandatory since 1 July 2023), and your mobile number must be updated in your Aadhaar. Verify at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.

Offline Verification — Sending ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru

If you cannot e-verify, you can physically sign and post the ITR-V to the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru. Steps:

  1. After e-filing, download the ITR-V (one page PDF) from the IT portal — e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns → Download ITR-V.
  2. Print the ITR-V on A4 paper (do not use thick paper; ink-jet preferred).
  3. Sign with blue ink only in the box marked “Signature”.
  4. Do not sign anywhere else. Do not staple or fold.
  5. Post by ordinary post or speed post (India Post only — no private couriers) to:
    CPC, Income Tax Department, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru – 560 100, Karnataka.
  6. CPC will send a confirmation email to your registered email address once processed.
Timeline: You must post within 30 days of e-filing. CPC processing takes 5–15 days from receipt. Use Speed Post and keep the tracking number.

What Happens If ITR Is Not Verified?

Situation Consequence
ITR not verified within 30 days ITR treated as invalid — treated as never filed
Refund claimed but return unverified Refund not processed
Loss carry-forward claimed Carry-forward denied if ITR invalid
Verified after 30 days (if condonation granted) Date of verification treated as date of filing — may attract 234F late fee
No verification at all, filing window closed Must apply for condonation u/s 119(2)(b) or file ITR-U

Frequently Asked Questions

Within how many days must I verify my ITR?
You must verify your ITR within 30 days of e-filing. This 30-day window was reduced from 120 days with effect from 1 August 2022 (CBDT Circular No. 16/2022). If you file and verify on the same day, the date of filing is the date of processing. If you verify within 30 days but after the date of filing, the date of verification becomes the date of filing for the purpose of determining belated return and Section 234F applicability.
What happens if ITR is not verified within 30 days?
If the ITR is not verified within 30 days of filing, the ITR is treated as invalid — as if it was never filed. This means: (1) the return becomes a non-est filing; (2) any refund claimed will not be processed; (3) you may attract late filing consequences under Section 234F if the original due date has passed; (4) you may need to file a fresh ITR and request condonation of delay from the CBDT if the filing period has expired.
What is the easiest method to e-verify ITR?
The easiest and most instant method is via Aadhaar OTP. Log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in), go to e-Verify Return, select "Generate Aadhaar OTP", and enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. The ITR is verified instantly. Ensure your PAN is linked with Aadhaar and your mobile number is updated in your Aadhaar. Other quick methods include net banking EVC and bank account EVC.
Can I verify my ITR without a smartphone or internet?
Yes. If you cannot e-verify electronically, you can verify offline by printing, signing, and sending the ITR-V acknowledgement (one page) to CPC Bengaluru by ordinary or speed post within 30 days of filing. The address is: CPC, Income Tax Department, Post Bag No. 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru – 560 100. CPC will send a confirmation email once ITR-V is received and processed. Note: do not send it by courier — only India Post is accepted.
Can I e-verify an old unverified ITR after 30 days?
After the 30-day window, the ITR is already treated as invalid. You will need to request condonation of delay under Section 119(2)(b) from the CBDT / jurisdictional Commissioner. If the condonation is granted, you can then verify the return. The CBDT has allowed e-verification of returns filed for earlier years in specific circumstances (e.g., certain COVID-period returns). Alternatively, you may file a fresh return if the filing window is still open, or an Updated Return (ITR-U) if within 2 years of the assessment year end.

Related Pages

File ITR Online ITR Late Fee (Section 234F) Belated Return Filing Updated Return (ITR-U) ITR Refund Status IT e-Filing Portal Guide

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