How to check whether Income Tax Return Acknowledgement (ITR-V) is genuine or fabricated?

 Most of income tax returns are filed online and taxpayers are giving the computerized printed copy as an acknowledgement of Income Tax Return, called as ITR-V. Therefore it is difficult for bankers to check the genuineness of ITR as it is just computerized printed pdf copy. Following are the two options for verification of ITR acknowledgement.

Option 1 – Download Online

The best option of verification of ITR- V is to ask the taxpayer to login income tax e-filing website (incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in) and download the ITR-V in front of bankers to check its genuineness.  In this process bankers can get the genuine ITR on his own computer.

But most of taxpayers do not remember the password or they do not have password as return is filed by tax professionals and it is not practically possible to follow this procedure for each banker. 

Option 2 – Verify the ITR-V Receipt status

When banker wants to check the genuineness of ITR and when online login of taxpayer is not possible then the banker has following option to verify the ITR acknowledgement:-

Click on the given link below:

https://portal.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/UserLogin/LoginHome.html?nextPage=eVerifyReturn&lang=eng

Give the input of

1.    PAN / e-Filing Acknowledgement number

2.    Assessment year

3.    and image i.e. Captcha Code

 When you give the PAN and other Details you will get the ITR-V status in following ways

1.    When return is not filed, you will get the status as “No return has been filed for this PAN and assessment year or e-filing acknowledgement number”

2.    When return filed and it is digitally signed then you will get the status as -“E-return for this assessment year or acknowledgement number is digitally signed”

 3.    When return filed and it is NOT digitally signed then there are  two possibilities

a. ITR filed online but signed acknowledgment is NOT received by Income Tax Department – CPC, Bangalore – You will get the status as ITR-V not received

b. ITR filed online but signed acknowledgment is received by Income Tax Department – CPC, Bangalore –  You will get the status as ITR-V received

It is also advisable to the bankers to verify status of ITR–V on PAN as well as e-filing acknowledgement number basis. As return many be filed but acknowledgement many be fabricated.

Drawbacks of verification by second option

We can verify only PAN and acknowledgement number but not data (like gross total income, taxes paid, etc,). If PAN and acknowledgement number is correct, but other data of the ITR-V is fabricated, then it is not possible to track such fabrication in this verification method.

 Observe ITR-V carefully

Banker can also verify the ITR-V on the basis of some observations tools (applicable when return is not digitally signed), as given below:

1.Confirm that last six digits of acknowledgement number is date of filing return, as mentioned on the acknowledgement.

 

2.    Check bar code carefully, the first 10 characters is the PAN, also check bar code also
contain 15 digits acknowledgement number.

3.    Banker can also cross verify the contents of ITR-V with tax challans and TDS certificate, Form 26 AS and other financial statements.

 If banker verify the ITR-V carefully as explain above then they can easily track the genuineness of ITR .

CA Rajendra Shete
The author is FCA, Dip. IFRS (ACCA, UK). He is practicing Chartered Accountant since 2004. He can be reached at ca.rajendra.shete@gmail.com. CA Rajendra Shete is the author of the book The Rules and Red Flags. - To know more about the book pls visit !

26 thoughts on “How to check whether Income Tax Return Acknowledgement (ITR-V) is genuine or fabricated?”

  1. Very nice article.
    I have been doing my own research on the same topic.
    PAN Card also contains date of issue, one can also check if ITR date is shown prior to PAN CARD issuance date.

    CA Saburuddin Shaikh,
    Practicing CA,
    saburuddinshaikh@gmail.com

    Reply
      • But if someone has reissued/remake the PAN card by updating details or just to change the photograph, then we cannot relate the date of PAN card with ITR.

        Lot of person keep 2-3 PAN card with different photo for ID purpose with same PAN details.
        So we cannot relate the date on PAN card with that of ITR in all cases.

        Reply
      • Good Explantion. Is there any mechanism to verufy the manual returns filed with Income tax. Lot of fake return are being circulated in the market. Kindly explain.

        Reply
    • But if someone had applied for a correction in existing PAN card due to any reason, then PAN Card will have the date of issuance of new card.
      OR if someone is wrong and give this excuse, how to cross check…

      Reply
  2. sir please help me.i have received a msg from income tax department. ITR V of Acknowledgement no 5268424………………………….. for assessment year 2014-15 not received at cpc , please submit within 1230 days of filing of the return. I want know. how can i search pan no or name that person by ITR Acknowledgement no.

    Reply
  3. i have filled the PAN number, it shows ITR not filed, if given the ack. number it shows ITR filed. in this case ITR filed or not

    Reply
  4. I received a one message from Income tax side that the ITR V not received of Pan No. CSOXXXXX8B for AY 2012-13 or AY 2013-14 in my mobile No.9251251554. but this is not my pen number will you please how can i get the information of this Pan Card i have a acknowledgement no of both Year ITR
    Acknowledgement No. for AY 2012-13 is 845041650061213 or Acknowledgement No. for AY 2013-14 is 845049700061213 return filling date is 06/12/2013.

    Reply
  5. HOW FIND REFUND STATUS WITH OUT PAN NUMBER ONLY FIND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NUMBER OF ITR.

    SUGGEST ME .
    I HAVE NOT A PAN NUMBER ONLY HAVE A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NUMBER

    Reply
  6. I have not received ITR V Acknowledgment. But msg came thatI should submit the ITR V within 120 days. I have the acknowledgment no. I am not able to open as my PW may be incorrect
    How can I take print of ack

    Reply
  7. I HAVE RECEIVED A MASSAGE
    ITR V of Acknowledgement No 827081870270617 for Assessment Year2017-18 not received at CPC, please submit within 120 days of filing of the e-return

    WHICH PROCESS KNOW WHO PERON RETURN OR PAN.

    Reply
  8. Sir filed itr 4 with refund on June 2017 but not yet received the refund. Itr not getting processed. How to get refund sir.

    Reply
  9. IS THERE IS ANY WAY TO CHECK WHETHER THE INCOME DECLARED IN ITR IS GENUINE OR NOT? IF YES, THEN PLS SEND ME A FORMAT REGARDING THE SAME

    Reply
  10. Dear Sir,

    I have got an SMS stating – processing of the ITR Ack No. 8267783802706 AY 2017-18 is not completed due to income mismatch. Details are not to your e-mail id. Kindly check and respond.

    I need you help – I filed my income tax return myself for the first time. There may be some discrepancy. I did not get any mail as indicated.

    Despite by best efforts and despite having the advise from the CPC; I could not trace out the above information. Kindly arrange to send me the details so that I can respond the mail. I need your help.

    Thanks,

    Reply

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