ITR Password: Simple Steps to Unlock Your Income Tax Return File

Introduction

It is essential for every taxpayer to pay close attention to income tax notices received from the Income Tax Department. One such notice is issued under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. For security and confidentiality, this notice is password-protected. Once an Income Tax Return (ITR) is processed, the department sends an intimation to inform the taxpayer whether additional tax payment is required or if a refund is due.

While the notice contains crucial information, it is often written in a technical and complex manner. Despite its complexity, it is vital that taxpayers read and understand every part of the notice thoroughly. It outlines whether the details submitted in the ITR match the records maintained by the tax department.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the simple steps to open your ITR-V form using the correct password and help you decode the intimation effectively

What is ITR-V?

ITR-V stands for Income Tax Return Verification, a document issued by the Income Tax Department to acknowledge the receipt of a taxpayer’s return. It serves as a confirmation that the ITR has been filed successfully, especially for those who submit their return without using a digital signature.

This one-page verification form is sent via email by the department and can also be downloaded from the official income tax e-filing portal. E-filing has simplified the process, allowing taxpayers to access and submit the ITR-V conveniently from their home or office

Steps to Download the ITR-V Acknowledgment Form

After a taxpayer successfully files their Income Tax Return, the Income Tax Department generates the ITR-V (Verification) acknowledgment form. This document is sent to the taxpayer’s registered email address and can also be downloaded from the official income tax e-filing portal. Follow these steps to download it:

Visit the official e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in
Log in using your PAN (as the user ID), password, and captcha code
Go to ‘e-File’ → ‘Income Tax Returns’ → ‘View Filed Returns’
Select the relevant Assessment Year
Click on ‘Download ITR-V Acknowledgment’

The ITR-V form will be saved to your device. You can open it using a password (typically your PAN in lowercase followed by your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format).

Step 1: Log in to the official Income Tax Department website and click on the “View Filed Returns” option under the e-File menu.

Step 2: Select the relevant option such as “Income Tax Return” and the applicable Assessment Year, then click on “Submit” to proceed.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Acknowledgement Number’ to download the ITR-V form. Alternatively, if you wish to e-verify your Income Tax Return, simply select ‘Click here’ on the corresponding page to begin the e-verification process.

Step 4: Select ‘ITR-V/Acknowledgement’ to initiate the download of the form.

Step 5: The Income Tax Processing Centre (IPC) will send the ITR-V file, which is password-protected, to the taxpayer. It is important to note that this document is confidential and should be handled with care.

How to Obtain the ITR Acknowledgement Number?

To get your ITR Acknowledgement Number, follow these steps:

Check Your Registered Email: After you file your ITR, you will receive the ITR-V on your registered email, which contains the ITR Acknowledgement Number.
Log in to the e-Filing Portal: You can log into the e-Filing portal and locate your acknowledgment number under the “View Filed Returns” option.
Download ITR-V: You can download the ITR-V from the e-filing portal, and the acknowledgment number will be displayed on the form.

Remember to regularly check your ITR status to ensure it has been accepted and processed by the Income Tax Department

How to Verify ITR Using Acknowledgement Number?

Follow these steps to verify your ITR using the Acknowledgement Number:

Navigate to the e-Filing Portal Homepage: Go to the homepage of the e-filing portal.
Select “Income Tax Return (ITR) Status”: Click on the “Income Tax Return (ITR) Status” option.
Input Your Acknowledgement Number: On the ITR Status page, enter your acknowledgment number and a valid mobile number, then click “Continue.”
Enter OTP: A 6-digit OTP will be sent to your mobile. Enter the OTP and click “Submit.”

Important Notes:

The OTP is valid for 15 minutes.
You have three attempts to enter the correct OTP.
The countdown timer will show the remaining time for the OTP’s validity.
If the OTP expires, you can request a new one.
After successful validation, you can view your ITR status.

Important Additional Notes:

Inoperative PAN: If your PAN is inoperative, a pop-up message will appear stating that a refund cannot be issued. You can link your PAN by clicking “Link Now” or proceed with “Continue.”
Use Filters: You can use the “Filter” option to view filed returns based on criteria like Assessment Year (AY) or Filing Type.
Export Data: You can click on “Export to Excel” to export your return data to an Excel file.
View Details: To view the life cycle of your return, including action items like pending e-verification, click “View Details.”

Verify Return Using EVC (Electronic Verification Code)

You can verify your ITR using one of the following four methods to generate an EVC:

Net Banking:
- Log in to your Net Banking account.
- Visit the e-filing portal.
- Click on the E-Verify link associated with the uploaded return.
- Successfully complete the e-return verification.
Bank ATM:
- Swipe your ATM card at a Bank ATM.
- Select the option for e-filing PIN.
- You will receive the EVC on your registered mobile number.
- Log in to the e-filing portal and select the option to E-Verify Return using Bank ATM.
- Enter the received EVC to complete the verification.
Bank Account Number:
- Go to the e-filing portal.
- Pre-validate your Bank Account Number if not already done.
- After validation, click the e-verify link, select the “E-Verify using Bank Account Details” option, and generate OTP.
- The EVC will be sent to your registered mobile number.
- Enter the EVC in the portal to complete the verification.
Demat Account Number:
- Go to the e-filing portal.
- Pre-validate your Demat Account Number if not already validated.
- After validation, click the e-verify link, select the “E-Verify using Demat Account Details” option, and generate OTP.
- The EVC will be sent to your registered mobile number.
- Enter the EVC on the portal to successfully verify the e-return

Why is E-Verification of ITR Important?

E-verification of Income Tax Returns (ITR) plays a vital role in ensuring the accuracy, efficiency, and security of the income tax filing process. Below are some key reasons why e-verification of ITR is crucial:

Confirmation of Filing
E-verification acts as a confirmation that the taxpayer has successfully filed their ITR. It ensures that the entire filing process is complete and legitimate.
Timely Processing
By verifying the authenticity of the ITR quickly, e-verification helps expedite the processing of the tax return, including any refunds that might be due to the taxpayer.
Eliminating Manual Submission
Before e-verification, taxpayers had to manually submit a signed ITR-V to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC). E-verification removes the need for this tedious and time-consuming process.
Enhanced Security
E-verification introduces an additional layer of security through methods like One-Time Password (OTP) verification. This helps to protect taxpayers’ personal information from unauthorized access or misuse.
Faster Refund Processing
By confirming the authenticity of the ITR, e-verification accelerates the refund process, enabling faster disbursement of refunds to eligible taxpayers.
Reduction in Paperwork
E-verification removes the need for physical documentation to be sent to the tax department. This not only reduces paperwork but also supports environmental sustainability by promoting paperless processing.
Compliance with Regulations
E-verification ensures that taxpayers comply with the regulations of the Income Tax Department, making the entire tax filing process more efficient, transparent, and accountable.

In summary, e-verification is crucial for guaranteeing the accuracy, security, and efficiency of the ITR filing process. It ensures completeness, reduces errors, and promotes a more secure, digital tax system, benefiting both taxpayers and tax authorities.

ITR Password Format for Opening ITR Acknowledgment Form

The ITR-V acknowledgment form can only be accessed with a password that is unique to each taxpayer. The password required to open the ITR is created by combining the taxpayer’s PAN number and Date of Birth (DoB). Here’s the format:

The password consists of the taxpayer’s PAN number in lowercase followed by their date of birth in the format DDMMYYYY, without any spaces.

For example, if the taxpayer’s PAN is BCDEF2485T and their date of birth is May 12, 1990, the password to open the ITR form would be:

Bcdef2485t12051990

This password can be used to open the ITR-V form only in Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or higher.

If the taxpayer experiences any issues accessing the ITR-V form with this password, they can contact the Income Tax E-filing Administrator by email at ask@incometaxindia.gov.in. Be sure to mention the PAN number and date of birth in the communication.

Once the ITR-V acknowledgment form is obtained using the correct password, it must be sent to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) of the Income Tax Department by post to complete the verification process

Generation of Electronic Verification Code (EVC):

The Electronic Verification Code (EVC) is an alternative to submitting the ITR-V form to the Income Tax (IT) department. The EVC is a 10-digit alphanumeric code required to e-verify the income tax return that has been filed. This code can be generated online via the official Income Tax website. It’s crucial to verify the return within 120 days of filing; otherwise, the return will be considered invalid by the Income Tax Department.

Steps to Generate EVC:

Login to Net Banking Account:
Taxpayers need to log in to their Net Banking account.
Navigate to Income Tax Filing Tab:
On the home page, locate and click on the tab related to income tax filing.
Select the “E-Verify” Option:
Clicking this option will redirect the user to the official Income Tax website.
Generate EVC:
Once on the website, select the ‘My Account’ tab to generate the EVC. The code will then be sent to the registered email ID and mobile number.
Verify ITR Using EVC:
Use the EVC received to complete the e-verification of the ITR.

E-Verifying Using Aadhaar OTP:

If the taxpayer’s PAN is linked with Aadhaar, the ITR can also be verified using an Aadhaar-based OTP. Here’s how:

Link PAN with Aadhaar:
Ensure that the PAN and Aadhaar cards are linked.
Select e-Verify Using Aadhaar OTP:
Visit the Income Tax Department’s official website and select the option to e-verify using Aadhaar OTP.
Receive OTP:
An OTP will be generated and sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar.
Enter OTP:
Enter the received OTP on the website. Note that the OTP is valid for only 10 minutes.
Complete E-verification:
After entering the OTP, the ITR will be successfully verified, and the attachment can be downloaded for reference purposes.

E-Verifying Using Bank ATM (Debit Card):

Taxpayers can also verify their ITR using a debit card through the following steps:

Swipe Debit Card at Bank ATM:
Go to a bank ATM and swipe your debit card.
Select “Generate PIN for e-Filing” Option:
Choose the option to generate an e-filing PIN.
Receive EVC/PIN on Registered Mobile:
The PIN (EVC) will be sent to the registered mobile number.
Visit e-Filing Website:
Go to the Income Tax Department’s e-filing website and select the option to “e-verify” using Bank ATM.
Enter EVC and Verify ITR:
Input the EVC received to complete the ITR verification process.

For detailed guidance on each method, you can reach out to experts at auriga accounting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on ITR-V Password

Is the Password to Open ITR document the same every year?

No, the ITR password is unique for each taxpayer and is generated based on a combination of the taxpayer’s PAN number and date of birth. The password may change each year if either the PAN or the date of birth is updated.

Can I set my own ITR password for my file, or is it assigned by default?

The Password to Open the ITR document is assigned by default. It is automatically generated using the taxpayer’s PAN number and date of birth, and cannot be customized by the taxpayer.

What should I do if I forget the ITR password to open my ITR document?

If you forget the password to open your ITR document, you should contact the Income Tax Department or the e-filing helpline by email. Provide your PAN number and date of birth so they can assist you in retrieving the correct password.

Are there specific password requirements, such as length or special characters, for ITR files?

The Password to Open the ITR document is composed of your PAN number in lowercase letters, followed by your date of birth in the DDMMYYYY format. The password does not include spaces or special characters. To open the document, use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8.0 or higher.

Can I change the Password to Open ITR document after it has been generated?

No, the password cannot be changed after it has been generated. It is automatically created by the Income Tax Department based on your PAN and date of birth.

Is the Password to Open ITR different for various ITR forms (ITR-1, ITR-2, etc.)?

The Password to Open the ITR document is the same across all ITR forms, whether it’s ITR-1, ITR-2, or any other. The password is always generated using the taxpayer’s PAN number and date of birth.

Are there any security measures or best practices I should follow regarding the password for my ITR document?

Yes, it is crucial to keep the password confidential. Do not share it with anyone. Additionally, ensure that the email account used for e-filing has a strong password to safeguard your personal and tax-related information.

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