ITR verification is the last step of filing: you confirm the return as yours within 30 days of uploading it, either online by e-verifying or by posting a signed ITR-V to the processing centre in Bengaluru. A return that is never verified is treated as not filed at all, so no refund is issued and late fees can follow.
E-verification takes a minute with an Aadhaar OTP or an electronic verification code (EVC) from a pre-validated bank or demat account. After that, the ITR acknowledgement with its 15 digit number is your proof of filing. This page also shows how to download it and how to check status. For the full filing process, see how to file an ITR.
Quick facts
Time limit
30 days from the date of filingOnline methods
Aadhaar OTP, bank EVC, demat EVC, net banking, DSCOffline method
Signed ITR-V by speed post to CPC BengaluruLate verification
Verification date is treated as the filing dateNot verified
Return treated as invalidProof of filing
ITR-V acknowledgement with a 15 digit numberPDF password
PAN in lowercase + date of birth as DDMMYYYY
Ways to e-verify ITR
| Method | What you need | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar OTP | Aadhaar linked to PAN and a mobile number registered with Aadhaar | Fastest for most individuals |
| EVC through bank account | Bank account pre-validated and EVC enabled on the portal | Set up under My Profile, My Bank Account |
| EVC through demat account | Demat account pre-validated on the portal | Useful when Aadhaar mobile is not updated |
| Net banking | Net banking with a bank that offers e-filing login | Log in to the portal through your bank |
| Digital signature (DSC) | Registered class 3 DSC | Compulsory for audited cases and companies |
| Signed ITR-V by post | Printed ITR-V, signed in blue ink | Must reach CPC within 30 days |
The ITR-V goes by speed post only, to Centralized Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru 560500. Do not send it by courier, and do not send it if you have already e-verified.
How to e verify ITR on the portal
- Log in on the e-filing portal.
- From the e-File tab choose Income Tax Returns and select e-Verify ITR.
- Pick the return from the list by assessment year and acknowledgement number.
- Choose a method, for example "I would like to verify using OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar".
- Tick the consent box, enter the OTP and submit.
- A success message shows a transaction ID; a confirmation also reaches your registered email and mobile.
If you file and verify in one sitting, the portal offers e-verification right after submission, so you do not need to come back.
What happens if you verify late
Under CBDT rules applying to returns filed from 1 April 2024, the window is 30 days. You can still verify after that, but the date of verification is then taken as the date of filing. If that pushes the return past the due date, it becomes a belated return with all the costs of one.
Late verification in practice. Kavita, salaried, uploads her ITR-1 for AY 2026-27 on 25 July. Her 30 days end on 24 August. She forgets and e-verifies on 5 September. The return is treated as filed on 5 September, after the 31 July due date. Her income is ₹9 lakh, so a late fee of ₹5,000 under section 234F applies, plus 1% a month interest under 234A on any unpaid tax.
ITR acknowledgement download and the ITR V
The ITR acknowledgement, headed Indian Income Tax Return Acknowledgement on the page and still widely called the ITR-V, is a one page PDF that shows your name, PAN, assessment year, total income, tax paid, the date of filing and the acknowledgement number. Lenders, visa offices and landlords ask for it as proof of income.
- Head to View Filed Returns, found inside e-File under Income Tax Returns.
- Find the assessment year.
- Download Receipt gives the acknowledgement; Download Form gives the whole return.
- Unlock the PDF: lowercase PAN, then birth date as DDMMYYYY.
The same password rule is explained on the ITR password page.
ITR status check by acknowledgement number
The acknowledgement number in an ITR is the 15 digit reference given at upload. You can check status without logging in: the portal home page has an Income Tax Return Status service that asks for the acknowledgement number and a mobile number for an OTP. After login, View Filed Returns shows each stage: submitted, verified, processed, and refund issued if any.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Submitted and pending for e-verification | Not yet verified; act within 30 days |
| Successfully e-verified | Verification done; waiting for processing |
| Processed | Intimation under 143(1) issued; check your email |
| Defective | Notice under 139(9) issued; respond within the time given |
Form 16 verification and other checks before you verify
Verification is your declaration that the return is correct, so check it first. Match salary and TDS with Form 16 and with Form 26AS and AIS. If your employer's Form 16 shows TDS that is missing from Form 26AS, the employer has not reported it correctly, and the credit will not be given until it is fixed. A refund is paid only after verification and processing, see the refund status guide.
ITR verification mistakes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar OTP not received | Update the mobile number with Aadhaar, or use bank or demat EVC |
| Bank EVC option greyed out | Pre-validate the account and enable EVC in My Profile |
| ITR-V posted after 30 days | E-verify online instead; the late date counts as filing date |
| Sent ITR-V by courier | Only speed post is accepted; e-verify to be safe |
| Verified a return with an error | File a revised return, then verify that one |
Independent general guidance only; Business Tax Slab is not connected to the Income Tax Department. Verification procedures change, so rely on the portal's own instructions or a chartered accountant for your case.
Sources we checked
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 139
- CBDT notification on time limit for verification of returns
- E-filing portal help: e-Verify Return
- E-filing portal help: View Filed Returns
Frequently asked questions
What is the time limit for ITR verification?
You must verify within 30 days of filing. If you verify later, the verification date is treated as the filing date, which may make the return belated.
What is ITR V?
ITR-V is the acknowledgement of a filed return. It is used for verification by post when you do not e-verify, and it serves as proof of filing.
What is EVC in income tax?
EVC stands for electronic verification code, a ten character code sent to your registered mobile and email through a pre-validated bank or demat account. Entering it on the portal verifies the return.
How to download ITR acknowledgement by PAN number?
Sign in with your PAN, open the list of filed returns, and download the receipt for the year you need. There is no download without login.
What is the ITR acknowledgement password?
It is the PAN typed in small letters with the birth date attached as DDMMYYYY, no gaps. Firms and companies use their date of formation or incorporation.