E Verification of Income Tax Return: 2026 Complete Guide

E-verification of Income Tax Return simply means informing the Income Tax Department that yes, you have filed the ITR and it is indeed your return. Without e-verification of ITR, your filed income tax return is not considered complete even if you file it. You have to do it within a period of thirty days from the filing date. There are 6 easy online methods, like Aadhaar OTP verification, net banking, EVC, etc. 

Quick Reads

• E-verification of your ITR is the last and most crucial process after filing your ITR.

• You can e-verify by Aadhaar OTP, net banking, EVC, or through a DCS.

• E-verify your ITR within thirty days after you file your return.

• You can even e-verify another person's return if you are their legal helper or guardian.

Lakhs of taxpayers file their Income Tax Return every year and move on with their lives, leaving the task at that. However, there is a step that is missed by many, which is the e-verification of the Income Tax Return. Simply filing the return on the portal does not complete the task, as the department also needs to ensure the return was indeed filed by the taxpayer.

Like writing a letter and then forgetting to sign it. The letter is not complete without a signature. In the same way, your ITR is not complete without e-verification.

It is a process where a taxpayer confirms his identity online after they have filed their Income Tax Return. The verification is done digitally instead of manually signing their tax forms. This can be done through OTP, net banking, or other secure online platforms.

People prefer it because it saves time, as they don't have to physically appear before the tax office to submit forms. They can do it from the comfort of their home or wherever they have an internet connection. 

For the tax year 2026-27, a new Income Tax Return (ITR) e-verification procedure is essential as it has become more digitalized than before. The Income Tax Department only accepts and processes a valid return if it is verified. If the ITR is not verified, no one can claim a refund, and the return will be deemed invalid.

In case you miss this step, all your efforts in filing the ITR get wasted, and you cannot get your tax refund claims processed. Therefore, it is mandatory to e-verify the ITR.

Taxpayers can choose any of the following six methods to verify their e-filed return. We have explained all the processes, one by one, below.

1. Aadhaar OTP

The taxpayer will get a 6-digit One-Time Password (OTP) on their mobile number registered with Aadhaar. The OTP will be active for fifteen minutes. The taxpayer will be given 3 attempts to enter the correct OTP.

2. Net Banking

You sign in to the net-banking website of your bank and get the special income tax link there. This link provides you with e-filing portal access through your authenticated session.

3. Bank Account-Based EVC Verification

Your bank account has to be linked and activated for the service. Fill in the code in the portal that you receive on your mobile or email to complete the verification.

4. EVC through Demat Account

This is the same as the former, but here you use your demat account. The code will be sent to your mobile and email, which you have to enter in the designated space to verify the return.

5. EVC Verification Using an ATM

Some banks give the choice to generate an EVC by swiping the card on the ATM. The code is sent to the user for his/her reference, which they can use while filing the income tax return.

6. Verification Using DSC

It is mostly used by corporations or professionals. This process requires a Digital Signature Certificate or DSC along with a smaller utility program known as emSigner to electronically sign the return.

The government has laid down a specific date to e-verify your tax return within thirty days of filing the return. This rule has been in force since August 2022 and will continue to be applicable for the 2026-27 tax year as well.

Many taxpayers fall prey to the temptation, as thirty days seems far away, and overlook the due date. It's good practice to e-verify your returns on the same day of filing to avoid such hassles.

Here are the steps that explain the proper method to e-verify ITR.

1. Go to the Income Tax e-filing website and log on to the e-filing system by clicking on the 'e-verify Return' button on the home page. If required to log in, enter your User ID and Password.

2. If you choose not to log in, you will be redirected to a new page where you must enter your PAN, Assessment Year, Acknowledgment Number, and Mobile Number.

3. Select your preferred mode of Aadhaar OTP, EVC, or Net Banking.

4. Enter the OTP/EVC received on the mobile number or email registered during the ITR.

5. Click on ‘Submit’ to obtain a success status with a Transaction ID.

6. Remember to carefully keep the Transaction ID for later.

Sometimes a person may be unable to verify his/her own return. This could be a minor, a deceased person, or a taxpayer in need of a legal representative. In such cases, someone else can e verify ITR on his behalf.

The legal heir or representative should first register himself on the e-filing portal as a representative. After he has been approved by the tax department, he can log on to the e-filing portal and go through the e-verification process for the other person's return using the same simple methods.

If you have missed the 30-day time frame, you can request the Income Tax Department to condone the delay by giving reasons regarding your late submission. It is better to file on time to avoid having to request condonation of delay.

There are a number of minor errors made by individuals which end up creating larger issues at later stages. Here are a few such slip-ups that people tend to make while trying to verify their income-tax returns:

• Checking the status of the return after filing it but forgetting to actually verify it.

• Entering the wrong OTP repeatedly until no attempts remain.

• Using mobile numbers that have not been registered with Aadhaar or one’s bank.

• Leaving it till the last moment and missing the deadline by even a single day, then having to wait 30 long days before checking the status again.

• Not saving the Transaction ID after successfully verifying the return.

• Trying to verify someone else’s return while not having been registered as their representative.

E-verification of an Income Tax Return is an easy process that completes the filing of tax returns and also informs the Income Tax Department that the return is genuine and has been filed by the taxpayer himself. It is necessary to e-verify the Income Tax Return; otherwise, it will be considered as not filed.

The best part is that the ITR e-verification process is simple, free of cost, and can be done from the comfort of your home. Choose any of the methods as per your convenience and complete your tax filing process within 30 days.