How to e-Verify Your ITR: Methods and the 30-Day Rule (2026)

Your income tax return does not exist legally until you verify it. Since 2022 the verification window is just 30 days from filing, and an unverified return within that window is treated as if you never filed at all. This guide covers every e-verification method and the fixes available if the deadline slips.

The 30-day verification deadline

For returns filed on or after 1 August 2022, e-verification must be completed within 30 days of filing. Returns filed on or before 31 July 2022 enjoyed a longer 120-day window, but that regime is over. If you filed on 31 July and the deadline is counted from that date, the return must be verified by 30 August.

Missing the deadline has real consequences. The return is treated as not filed, which can mean a belated filing with late fee if the deadline for revised filing still exists, loss of carry-forward of losses, and interest on any unpaid tax. The safest habit is to verify immediately after the acknowledgement page loads.

Five ways to e-verify your return

Aadhaar OTP — the default choice

Log in to the e-filing portal, open e-File, Income Tax Returns, e-Verify Return, and choose Aadhaar OTP. The one-time password lands on the mobile registered with Aadhaar, and the return stands verified the moment you enter it. The option is also available through the prelogin e-Verify flow for returns filed recently. This works only if your PAN is linked to Aadhaar and your current mobile number is updated in Aadhaar — complete that update first if you changed numbers.

EVC through prevalidated bank or demat accounts

The portal lets you prevalidate a savings bank account or demat account after matching your PAN, name and contact details with the institution’s records. Once validated, an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) can be sent to your registered mobile and email for verification. The bank ATM route — generating an EVC from your bank’s ATM — also exists, though only some banks still support it.

Net banking and digital signatures

Most major banks offer a direct jump to the e-filing portal from their net banking login, which verifies the return in one click without an OTP. A digital signature certificate is mandatory for companies and for taxpayers whose accounts are auditable, and it works for anyone who has one registered.

How to check your e-verification status

On the e-filing portal, open e-File, then Income Tax Returns, then e-Verify Return to see filings awaiting verification. A verified return shows the status as e-Verified, after which the Centralised Processing Centre begins processing and issues the intimation under Section 143(1) (Section 270 of the Income-tax Act, 2025). Unverified returns display a countdown against the 30-day deadline — treat any countdown under a week as urgent. Keep the verification acknowledgement saved as well, since CPC will not begin processing an unverified return no matter how early it was filed.

Belated and revised returns follow the same rule: each gets its own 30-day verification clock from its own filing date. A revised return receives a fresh acknowledgement number even if the original return was already verified, so verify the revision separately and retain both acknowledgements.

If you missed the 30-day deadline

• File the return again — as a belated return if the belated window is open, or as directed by the portal’s pending actions.
• The refiling inherits belated consequences: late fee under Section 234F (late-fee provision renumbered under the Income-tax Act, 2025) and no carry-forward of certain losses.
• In genuine hardship — for example, hospitalisation or a technical failure — you can request condonation of the delay under Section 119(2)(b), which the department may admit along with a levy of fee.

Key takeaways

• e-Verify within 30 days of filing; older 120-day rules applied only to returns filed on or before 31 July 2022.
• Aadhaar OTP is the fastest method, provided PAN and mobile are linked.
• Prevalidated bank or demat accounts and net banking are reliable alternatives; DSC is mandatory for audit cases.
• An unverified return is treated as not filed, so check the status countdown on the portal.
• Condonation under Section 119(2)(b) exists for genuine hardship but is not guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I do not e-verify within 30 days?

The return is treated as invalid — as if it was never filed. You must then refile, facing belated-return consequences such as late fee under Section 234F, and losses may lose their carry-forward.

Why is my Aadhaar OTP not arriving?

The OTP goes only to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Update the number in Aadhaar first, ensure your PAN is linked to Aadhaar, and retry. If the problem persists, use the prevalidated bank account EVC route.

Can I verify a return I filed years ago?

Older unverified returns cannot simply be verified after the window closes. The remedy is condonation of delay under Section 119(2)(b) for genuine hardship, decided by the jurisdictional authority.

Is e-verification different from e-filing?

Yes. E-filing submits the return; e-verification confirms that you filed it. Both steps are compulsory, and the 30-day clock starts from the date of filing.

Do I need a PAN card update before verifying?

Aadhaar OTP verification needs PAN linked to Aadhaar and an active Aadhaar-registered mobile. If your PAN or Aadhaar details are outdated, complete the correction through the PAN card service on taxgst.in before the verification countdown runs out, or consult an income tax consultant if the deadline is imminent.

Disclaimer: Tax laws change frequently. Verify current rates and deadlines on the official portals (incometax.gov.in, gst.gov.in) or consult a qualified professional before acting.