iTech-Edu-Radar: Income Tax

Now Access Income-Tax Return Filing Account Without Updating Contact, Profile Details...

The income tax department has relaxed the 'compulsory/forcible' updation of tax payer details on its return filing website. When this new requirement was introduced on September 22, a tax payer was unable to log in to their e-filing account without first giving and verifying all contact, profile and bank account details. Now the income tax department has removed this compulsory 'forcible' updation method. Instead, a tax payer is able to log into his/her e-filing account, and a page for updation.

The department has further said that same mobile number and email ID can be used by a maximum of 3 assessees for their primary contact details.

On September 22, 2017, the income tax department has asked new as well as existing tax payers to update their profiles by logging into the e-filing website in order to facilitate effective communication between the department and tax payers.

Abhishek Soni, CEO, Tax2Win.in says, "Once the advisory came into effect, many tax payers were not able to login into their account unless they gave the required details to the department." Tax2Win is an online tax return filing and advisory firm.

Archit Gupta, CEO, ClearTax says, "On 22 September, 2017, many tax payers reached out to us saying they were unable to login to their accounts without the required details."

The advisory issued on September 22 said, "New Registration process to facilitate effective communication between the tax payer and department is enabled. The existing e-filing users are required to update their profile by logging into e-filing account. Users who have registered already and not activated has to register again."

The department has asked tax payers to provide details such as residential status and address, registered mobile number, secondary mobile number, primary and secondary email addresses, , and bank account details.

The department has further said that same mobile number and email ID can be used by a maximum of 3 assessees for their primary contact details.

Apart from this, the details provided by the tax payer will required to be authenticated via a one-time password (OTP) which is sent over email and SMS. The tax payer is required to confirm the same using the OTP.

Chetan Chandak, head of tax research, H&R Block India says, "Until 22 September, tax payers were able to link a single mobile number for more than 3 accounts on the e-filing portal. On 22 September, the department made it mandatory for all users to update their profile."

He further adds: "In this case, the tax payer was not able to get the OTP and the site was showing an error that the number is already registered for 3 users. Hence, the only option left was updating the mobile number for the other accounts first (i.e., delinking his own mobile number from other accounts and bringing the count to below 3) and then updating his own profile. However, it was difficult for a tax payer to identify all the accounts where his mobile number was already registered and getting it delinked from the other accounts. Fortunately, the income tax department has now inserted a skip button, by clicking it the tax payer can skip the profile update page and do all the necessary tasks on the e-filing portal which comes as a big relief for many who have to access their tax returns, 26AS, etc. or need to respond to any tax notice."

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How to check income tax return status without login?

After filing your return, if you want to check what stage it is at here are 2 easy ways to check the status of your ITR.

Once you've filed your income tax return and verified it, the Income Tax (I-T) Department starts processing your return. Refund, if any is due, is issued only after processing is complete. Normally, after verification the 'status' of your ITR would be 'Successfully Verified' or 'Successfully e-Verified'. After processing is complete, the status would be 'ITR Processed'.

During processing, the department checks if there are any discrepancies between the income declared and the tax paid by you and the data available to them. After processing is complete, the department will normally send you a notice under section 143 (1) informing you as to whether your return as filed has been accepted or there is some discrepancy. In case of a discrepancy in the department's tax calculations and yours, the notice under section 143 (1) will show additional tax payable. In case there is any refund due this will be reflected in the notice.

So after filing your return, if you want to check what stage it is at, here are 2 easy ways to check the status of your ITR:

1. Using acknowledgement number without login credentials

On the homepage of the e-filing website, on the extreme left under the services tab, you'll find the option to check the Check ITR Status.

Once you click the ITR Status option, you'll be redirected to a new page where you need to fill out your PAN number, ITR acknowledgement number and the captcha code.