Income Tax

How to e-Verify Your ITR: Methods, Deadline & What Happens If You Don't

How to e-Verify Your ITR: Methods, Deadline & Consequences

CA Nikhil Gupta·June 2026·6 min readITR Filing

Reviewed by CA Nikhil Gupta · Last reviewed 17 June 2026

Filing your ITR is only half the job. An unverified return is treated as if it was never filed at all - and every year, lakhs of taxpayers miss this final step. Here's how to e-verify in under two minutes, and what happens if you don't.

Why e-Verification Is Mandatory

Once you submit your Income Tax Return online, it is not considered "filed" in the eyes of the law until it is verified. Verification confirms that the return was indeed filed by you (or your authorised representative) and authenticates its contents. Without verification, the Income Tax Department does not process the return - no refund is issued, and the return may be treated as invalid/not filed.

The 30-Day Deadline

You have 30 days from the date of filing to verify your ITR (electronically or by sending a signed physical ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru). If you miss this window, your return is treated as not filed, which can mean: loss of the ability to carry forward losses, applicability of late filing fees under Section 234F (if the original due date has also passed), and potential best-judgment assessment by the department.

Methods of e-Verification

Method	How It Works	Best For
Aadhaar OTP	OTP sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar	Most taxpayers - fastest method, instant
Net Banking EVC	Login to your bank's net banking, navigate to the income tax e-filing link	Taxpayers with net banking access at an authorised bank
Bank Account EVC	Generate an Electronic Verification Code via your pre-validated bank account	Those without Aadhaar-linked mobile but with a validated bank account
Demat Account EVC	Generate EVC through a pre-validated demat account	Active stock market investors
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)	Sign digitally using a registered DSC	Mandatory for certain taxpayers (e.g., companies, audit cases)
Physical ITR-V	Print, sign in blue ink, and post to CPC, Bengaluru	If none of the e-verification methods are usable

Step-by-Step: e-Verify via Aadhaar OTP

Log in to the e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in)
Go to "e-File" → "Income Tax Returns" → "e-Verify Return"
Select your filed return and choose "e-Verify"
Choose "I would like to verify using OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar"
Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile within the time limit (typically 15 minutes)
On success, you'll receive an acknowledgement confirming successful e-verification

What If You Don't Verify in Time?

If 30 days pass without verification:

The return is treated as if it was never filed.
If the original due date has passed, you may need to file a belated return (with late fees under Section 234F, where applicable) and verify that instead.
You can request condonation of delay in verification by submitting a request on the e-filing portal explaining the genuine reason for delay - the department may accept this at its discretion, especially for genuine hardship cases.

How to Check Verification Status

Log in to the e-filing portal, go to "e-File" → "Income Tax Returns" → "View Filed Returns". The status will show as "Successfully e-Verified" once complete. You'll also receive an email/SMS confirmation from the department.

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Filed but not verified yet?Don't risk an invalid return - verify within 30 days using Aadhaar OTP for instant confirmation.

Read on Belated Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I e-verify my ITR after the 30-day window has passed? ▼

Not automatically. After 30 days, your return is treated as not filed. You can submit a condonation of delay request on the e-filing portal explaining your reason; if accepted, the department may allow verification. Otherwise, you may need to file a belated or updated return instead.

Is sending the physical ITR-V to CPC Bengaluru still accepted? ▼

Yes, this remains a valid verification method for those unable to use electronic methods. The signed ITR-V (in blue ink) must be sent by ordinary or speed post to 'Centralized Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru - 560500' within 30 days of e-filing.

Do I need to e-verify even if my return shows zero tax payable and zero refund? ▼

Yes. Every filed ITR must be verified regardless of the tax outcome. An unverified return - even one with nil tax liability - is treated as not filed and is not processed by the department.

Source and review trail

Use the current official instrument, portal or regulator publication before acting. This panel separates the category authority from page-specific references.

Primary category: Income Tax
Official starting point: www.incometax.gov.in

Page source links

The prior page did not embed a page-specific external source. The category authority above is the minimum verification starting point; a specific instrument should be added when available.