All about Electronic Verification Code (EVC) for E-verification of Income tax Returns

EVC is for electronically filed Income Tax Returns

To reduce paper work and in light of promised 'Acche Din', the Modi Government has introduced EVC i.e. Electronic Verification Code to enable to verify e-filed income tax returns filed and done away with process of sending signed acknowledgment to CPC, Bengaluru.


The EVC would verify the person furnishing the income tax return and would be generated on the E-filing website (www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in).

EVC will be a 10 digit alpha-numeric number.

EVC can be used by any of the following persons:

1. Individual 

2. Individual who is a Karta of and HUF

3. AOP or BOI

The EVC would be unique for an Assessee PAN and will not be valid for any other PAN.

EVC is valid only for one return at a time irrespective of Assessment Year or type of return (original or revised).

Once issued, EVC is valid for 72 hours.

EVC can be generated multiple times and there are 4 methods to generate the same:

METHOD I: (NET BANKING)

EVC is generated after the verifier logs in to the e-filing website (https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in) through net banking. Specific bank registered with the tax department will be providing such facilities to their account holders, having a validated PAN as part of the ‘Know Your Clients’. When the user logs in through net banking and seeks redirection to e-filing website, he can generate an EVC, which will be displayed and also sent to the validated mobile number registered on the e-filing website.

Follow the below steps to Generate EVC through Net Banking:

1. Login to e-Filing portal through Net Banking.
2. Go to e-File menu-> Generate EVC.
3. Generated EVC will be sent to your Email ID and Mobile Number registered with e-Filing portal.
4. You can use this EVC to e-Verify your return.

Once you click on Continue you will be logged out of e-Filing portal and will be redirected to a page where you can select the bank through which you would like to go for Net Banking.

METHOD II: (AADHAAR OTP)

EVC is generated after completing Aadhaar authentication using Aadhaar One time password (Aadhaar OTP). The income tax department has registered with the ‘Unique Identification Authority of India’ (UIDAI) for Aadhaar authentication service. A verifier can provide his Aadhaar number for linking with his PAN on the e-filing website (https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in) which will be verified on the basis of his name, date of birth and gender as per PAN database with the similar data available under his Aadhaar with the UIDAI. On successful Authentication, verifier’s Aadhaar will be linked to his PAN. Aadhaar OTP generated and sent to the verifier’s mobile number shall be the EVC.

IF THE AADHAAR IS UNABLE TO LINK YOUR EFILING ACCOUNT, THERE MUST BE ADDRESS MISMATCH BETWEEN AADHAAR ADDRESS AND ADDRESS AS PER PAN DATABASE OF INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT

 Income Tax Department will validate your Name, Date of Birth, Gender as per PAN and Aadhaar Number with UIDAI. Please note that if the details do not match, the Aadhaar Number will NOT be linked to your PAN.

METHOD III: (ATM)

EVC is generated using Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) of a Bank. If a verifier’s ATM card is linked to PAN validated Bank account and the bank is registered with the income-tax department for providing this service, a verifier can generate an EVC through this mode. EVC is generated on the ATM screen and shall be sent on the verifier’s registered mobile number.

METHOD IV: 

EVC is generated and sent to registered email id / mobile number of the assessee with the e-filing website. This option is currently available for income-tax returns where income is Rs.5 lakhs or below and there is no refund claim.

Other caution:
DSC (Digital Signature) is required for all assesses who are mandated to submit ITR using DSC. Such assesses are not allowed to e-Verify using EVC.