Filing Income Tax Return (ITR) in India involves multiple steps, and paying the tax is just one part of the process. After completing your tax payment, it is crucial to follow through with certain formalities to ensure proper compliance. One of the most important steps following tax payment is to download and save your tax return acknowledgement, which is referred to as the ITR-V (Income Tax Return Verification) form. This article is about what to do after paying tax and how to download the acknowledgement for your documentation purposes.
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What Happens After Payment of Tax?
After paying your tax liability by online payment or challan, you need to submit your Income Tax Return (ITR) online. Upon submission, you get a provisional receipt the ITR-V acknowledgement- from the Income Tax Department. This acknowledgement is a crucial document indicating that your return has been filed successfully.
Income Tax Department asks all taxpayers to verify the return they filed in order to finish the filing process. Electronic verification through Aadhaar OTP, Electronic Verification Code (EVC) through bank accounts or net banking, or sending the signed ITR-V form manually are the methods through which the verification can be completed. If the return is not verified within 30 days of filing, the return would be considered invalid.
How to Download the ITR-V Acknowledgement
Downloading the ITR-V is simple and can be done at any time after furnishing your return:
- Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal on https://www.incometax.gov.in with your user ID, password, and security code.
- Go to the ‘e-File’ menu and click on ‘Income Tax Returns’, then click on ‘View Filed Returns’.
- You would be able to view a list of all the returns that you have submitted for various assessment years along with their status.
- Click on the ‘Download Form’ button beside the corresponding assessment year to download the ITR-V form i.e. acknowledgement.
The ITR-V form is a one-page document that gives a brief overview of major details such as your total income, tax paid, and date of filing.
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What to Do After Downloading the ITR-V?
You don’t need to do anything if you have e-verified your return electronically via Aadhaar OTP or EVC. But in case you have not e-verified, you will need to:
- Take print of downloaded ITR-V form.
- Put signature in blue ink.
- Post signed ITR-V by normal or speed post (not courier) to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) at Bengaluru within 30 days from the e-filing date. The address is:
Income Tax Department – CPC, Post Box No.1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru – 560500, Karnataka.
Put one signed ITR-V form in each envelope.
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Important: Keeping the Acknowledgement
ITR-V acknowledgement is evidence that you have fulfilled tax filing duties. It is best to keep a copy handy for reference purposes in case of any audits or disputes over taxes. The majority of banks and financial corporations may also request this during loan processing or other financial checks.
Summary
Once you have paid taxes and e-filed or mailed your return, downloading and checking the ITR-V acknowledgement is an important last step. If you go for electronic verification or postal submission, completing it on time ensures that your income tax filing is valid and prevents unnecessary penalties. Keeping oneself updated and organized with the process makes tax compliance smooth sailing.
