Major change in Income Tax Return verification rule, time limit reduced to 30 days [Details here]

New Delhi: The time limit for online verification (e-verification), or the duration for submission for that via a hard copy (ITR-V), and post-filing taxpayer returns has been reduced by the IT department to just 30 days. Earlier, the time limit used to be from 90 – 120 days.

The Income Tax department informed of this major change in the timeline through an official notification on July 29, and the duration of thirty days is to begin from August 1.

The submission of e-verification within the given period of time plays a crucial role in one’s return filing process, and not doing so can result in the ITR being declared invalid.

“It has been decided that in respect of any electronic transmission of return data on or after the date of this notification comes into effect, the time limit for e-verification or submission of ITR-V shall now be 30 days from the date of transmitting/uploading the data of return electronically”, said the Income Tax department’s notification.

Till now, the period of submitting the ITR verification online or via post was counted from the date of filing the tax returns to the next 120 days.

The notification further informed that in case the return verification is sent through post beyond the allowed period of 30 days, it shall be marked post due date.

Persons willing to post their tax returns verification in a hard copy are allowed to send it through “speed post only” from their registered address to Centralised Processing Centre, Income Tax Department, Bengaluru-560500, Karnataka.

“The date of dispatch of speed post of duly verified ITR-V shall be considered for the purpose of determination of the 30 days period, from the date of transmitting the date of Income-tax return electronically”, read the notification.