e-Verification

e-Verification is the electronic step that validates a return you have submitted on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. Because a return is treated as not filed until it is verified, this step is essential and time-bound.

What it is

After you submit your return on the portal, you confirm that it is genuinely yours by e-verifying it. The portal offers several methods: an Aadhaar OTP sent to your registered mobile, logging in through net banking, or generating an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) through your bank or demat account. Each method links the submission to you electronically, so no paper needs to be posted.

Why it matters

Until a return is verified, the department treats it as not filed — processing does not start and no refund is released. There is a limited window after submission to complete verification, so it is best done immediately. If you miss e-verification entirely, the alternative is to post a signed physical ITR-V to CPC within the allowed time. Verification is what makes your filing for the assessment year count.

Example Illustrative

Suppose you submit your return for AY 2026-27 on the portal one evening. Right after submitting, you choose Aadhaar OTP, enter the code sent to your registered mobile, and the portal marks the return as verified within seconds. Had you closed the browser without verifying, the return would have stayed unverified until you completed the step. This example is illustrative only; check the current methods and window on the official portal.