The Electronic Verification Code (EVC) would verify the identity of the person furnishing the return of income (hereinafter called ‘Verifier). The EVC can be used by a Verifier being an Individual to verify his Income Tax Return or that of an HUF of which he is the Karta in Income Tax Return Form 1, 2, 2A, 3, 4 or 4S or the Income Tax Return Form filed in ITR 5 or 7 of any person in accordance with Section 140 of the Income Tax Act. The EVC would be unique for an Assessee PAN and will not valid for any other PAN at the time of filing of the Income Tax Return. One EVC can be used to validate one return of the Assessee irrespective of the Assessment Year or return filing type (original or revised). The EVC will be stored against the Assessee PAN along with the other verification details. The EVC will be valid for 72 hours or as otherwise specified. The Verifier can use more than one mode to obtain EVC and can generate the EVC multiple times.
Specified banks registered with the Income Tax Department for this purpose, provide direct access to the e-filing website https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in “My Account” to a Verifier through Internet Banking. The Banks will be providing such facilities to their account holders whose bank accounts have a validated PAN number (Primary Account Holder) as part of the ‘Know Your Client’ (KYC). The facility will be available on their present Internet Banking website and the Verifier will use this facility using existing internet banking user id, login password & transaction password. When the user logs in via Net-banking and seeks redirection to e-filing then he will be redirected to the E-filing website where he can generate the EVC which will be displayed and also sent to his validated Mobile number registered with https://incometaxindiaefilinq.gov.in. This EVC generated through this net-banking mode can be used to verify Assessee’s Income Tax return.
Case 2: Where the EVC (Electronic Verification Code) is generated after Aadhaar authentication using Aadhaar One Time Password (Aadhaar OTP)
The Aadhaar authentication framework of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is an example of what is called ‘Federated Identity Services for Government’ — i.e. an independent agency of the Government undertakes to authenticate the identity of the citizen/person using Aadhaar for all ‘relying parties’ or verifiers. The Income Tax Department has registered with UIDAI for Aadhaar authentication service.
A Verifier can provide his Aadhaar number for linking with his PAN on the e-filing website i.e. https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in which will be verified on the basis of his name, date of birth and gender as per PAN database with similar data available under his Aadhaar with UIDAI. If the Aadhaar authentication in this manner is successful, the Verifier’s Aadhaar will be linked to his PAN. Thereafter, an OTP will be generated by UIDAI and sent to the Verifier’s mobile number registered with UIDAI. This Aadhaar OTP will be the EVC generated under this Aadhaar Authentication and OTP mode and can be used to verify the Assessee’s Income Tax return.
The Aadhaar OTP as EVC will be valid for 10 minutes (or as specified by UIDAI).
Case 3: Where the EVC (Electronic Verification Code) is generated using Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) of a Bank
Verifier whose ATM card is linked to PAN validated bank account and the Bank is registered with the Income Tax Department for providing this service can generate an EVC through this mode. A Verifier can access the ATM of the Bank in which he/she has n account using ATM (Debit/Credit) card. After due authentication by using ATM PIN at the Bank ATM the Verifier can select the ‘Generate EVC for Income Tax Return Filing’ option on the ATM screen (A new option that will be available at ATMs of specified banks). The Bank will communicate this request to the Income Tax Department E-Filing website which will generate the EVC and send the EVC to Assessee on the Assessee’s registered mobile number with E–Filing. EVC generated through this Bank ATM mode can be used to verify Assessee’s Income Tax return.
Case 4: Where the EVC (Electronic Verification Code) is generated and sent to the Registered Email ID and Mobile Number of Assessee with E-filing Website
Where the total income as per the Income Tax Return is Rs. 5 Iakhs or below and there is no refund claim, the Verifier can generate an EVC on the E-filing website that will be sent to the Registered Email ID and Mobile Number of Assessee Website. This option may further be restricted to Assessees based on other risk criteria that may be determined from time to time. EVC generated through this E-filing EVC mode can be used to verify Assessee’s Income Tax return.