Income tax news: No ITR refund till you verify it. Here's how to e-verify your tax returns

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Income tax news: If you have been wondering why your income tax return (ITR) has not been processed yet or why there has been a delay in getting tax refund, first check whether you have e-verified your ITR. If you do not e-verify your ITR, the filing process is treated as incomplete and your ITR becomes invalid.

“E-verification of ITRs is mandatory for it to be treated as valid. Effective August 2023, the income tax department has made it mandatory for tax filers to e-verify their returns within 30 days of filing returns," said Abhishek Soni CEO and Co-founder Tax2win.

While an offline verification can be done by printing and delivering a hard copy to the department's Central Processing Centre in Bangalore, e-verification offers a far more efficient digital alternative, said Abhishek Soni

The income tax department allows you to complete the e-verification process using either Aadhaar OTP (one-time password), or pre-validation using internet banking, bank account, or demat account. One can e-verify either through the digital signature certificate also.  “E-verification through the digital signature certificate can happen only if the e-verification is done immediately after filing," said Soni.

-Go to the income tax department's e-filing portal. Click on  'e-Verify Return'.

-You need to enter your PAN, assessment year for which the verification is being done (2023-24), and acknowledgment number.

-Alternatively, you can also log in with your PAN and password, then go to «My Account» and then click «e-Verify Return». 

-The new page will then display the file for which verification is pending. 

-Click on «e- verify» where you will be shown three options:

1) I already have an EVC to e-verify my return.

2) I do not have an EVC