Important Keyword: Income Tax Account, ITR Refund, ITR Refund Status, TIN NSDL.
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How to check Income Tax Refund status?
An income tax refund serves as a reimbursement initiated by the income tax department whenever the sum paid in taxes surpasses the actual amount owed. This excess payment may arise from various sources such as Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Tax Collected at Source (TCS), Advance Tax, or Self-Assessment Tax. However, to qualify for an income tax refund, it’s imperative that the taxpayer files an income tax return.
Upon filing, the processing of returns typically takes around 4 to 6 weeks, after which the taxpayer can anticipate receiving their refund. Given this timeframe, it’s natural for individuals to be eager to ascertain the status of their Income Tax Refund and ensure they receive the refund they are entitled to.
How to check Income Tax refund status using the NSDL Portal?
1. Visit the TIN NSDL website,
Enter the PAN and select the relevant assessment year for which the status of the refund is to be checked, enter the captcha code and click on Proceed
2. On the next screen, you can view the details of the refund status
Details include PAN, Assessment Year, Mode of Payment, Reference Number, Status, Account Number, and Date.
How to check Income Tax Refund status using Income Tax Portal?
Go to the e-filing Income Tax portal homepage. On the Income Tax Portal, Under ‘Quick Links’, you will find an option called ‘Know Your Refund Status’. Click on it.
Enter the required information. Enter the PAN and AY along with the Aadhar-linked mobile number for which refund status is required.
Enter OTP. Enter the OTP and click continue. The OTP is valid for the next 15 min and 3 attempts are allowed.
View Details The details of the refund status are specified after entering the OTP.
Types of Income Tax Refund Status
Once a taxpayer has completed the arduous task of filing their income tax return, the next pressing matter on their mind is often the status of their refund. The Income Tax Department has streamlined this process by categorizing different refund statuses, each carrying its own significance for the taxpayer. Understanding these statuses is crucial as they dictate the subsequent steps the taxpayer needs to undertake.
Refund Status
Meaning
Action
Refund Issued
The return is processed and a refund is deposited in the Bank Account.
Check your bank for the refund received.
No demand No refund
You are neither eligible for any refund nor you are required to pay tax.
Review the comparison received from the IT department if you have claimed a refund and file a rectified return if required.
Refund failure
The refund has been accepted by the IT department but was not paid due to an error in bank details as bank details are not prevalidated
Please update the correct details on the income tax portal and validate the bank account. And raise a refund reissue request
Refund status not determined
Your ITR has not been processed yet.
Recheck the status after a few days.
Demand determined
Your tax calculation does not match with that of the IT department and an additional tax has to be paid.
Verify the calculation provided in intimation u/s 143(1) to figure out the mismatch/error. In case of error, make a payment to the IT Department within the specified timeline. In case of nil error, file a rectification along with all the supporting information and documents to justify your refund claim.
How to request a Refund Reissue?
When a taxpayer encounters a hiccup in receiving their refund, there’s a solution at hand through the Income Tax Portal. Let’s walk through the simple steps to request a refund reissue:
Step 1: Begin by logging into the e-filing Portal. Navigate to the Services tab and find Refund Reissue.
Step 2: Click on Create Refund Reissue Request to initiate the process.
Step 3: Here, you’ll need to select the appropriate acknowledgment number and details related to your Income Tax Return (ITR). Once done, hit Continue to proceed.
Step 4: Now, it’s time to designate the bank account where you’d like to receive your refund. Choose from the validated bank accounts listed and click Proceed to Verification.
Step 5: On the verification page, pick your preferred method of authentication from the provided options. Once selected, submit your request.
Once your request has been successfully submitted, a confirmation tab will appear, signaling that your request has been received and processed. From there, you can conveniently access and review your Refund Reissue Requests. This streamlined process ensures transparency and allows taxpayers to stay informed about the status of their refund reissue requests.
Important Keyword: PAN Aadhaar Link, Income Tax Account, Income Tax Website, Link Aadhaar PAN, PAN.
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PAN Aadhaar Link: Step-by-step Process
It’s imperative to link your PAN and valid Aadhaar number by June 30, 2023, as mandated by the government. Failure to do so will render your PAN “inoperative” starting from July 1, 2023, which entails certain consequences.
Latest Update
The deadline for PAN Aadhaar Link has seen several extensions, from March 31, 2022, to March 31, 2023, and now extended further to June 30, 2023. However, after this latest extension, taxpayers who fail to link their PAN and Aadhaar by July 1, 2023, will face consequences while their PAN remains inoperative:
No Refunds: No refunds will be issued against such PAN during this period.
No Interest on Refunds: Interest will not be payable on any refund due during this period.
Higher TDS/TCS Rates: TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) and TCS (Tax Collected at Source) deductions will be at a higher rate, as specified in the Income Tax Act.
It’s important to note that this additional window for PAN Aadhaar Link comes with a nominal fee, the amount of which depends on the date on which the linking is completed.
Linking Completed
Applicable Fee
Before June 30, 2023
₹500
After July 1, 2023
₹1,000
What is PAN Aadhaar Link?
The PAN (Permanent Account Number) and Aadhaar are vital identification tools issued by the government, each serving distinct purposes. Linking these two unique identification numbers holds significance for both legal compliance and operational efficiency.
PAN:
PAN, a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department, serves as a crucial tool for tax-related transactions and identity verification.
Aadhaar:
Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique number issued by the UIDAI, is aimed at providing universal identity acceptance across India, encompassing biometric and demographic information.
Benefits of PAN Aadhaar Link:
Comprehensive Activity Trail: Linking Aadhaar with PAN streamlines the tracking of all financial transactions, aiding the Income Tax Department in monitoring activities efficiently.
Easy E-Verification: Taxpayers can seamlessly e-verify their returns without digital signatures, enhancing the tax filing process.
Prevention of Duplicate PANs: By linking PAN with Aadhaar, the government can identify individuals with multiple PAN cards, facilitating streamlined governance.
Enhanced Fraud Prevention: The integration of PAN and Aadhaar enables better oversight of transactions, reducing the scope for fraudulent activities and tax evasion.
Exemptions from Mandatory Linking:
Certain categories of individuals, such as residents of specific states, non-resident Indians (NRIs), and individuals above the age of 80, are exempt from the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with PAN.
Consequences of Non-Linking:
Failure to link PAN with Aadhaar can result in significant consequences, including rendering the PAN inoperative, higher tax deductions, penalties, and restrictions on financial transactions.
Process of PAN Aadhaar Link Online:
The linking process involves two steps: payment of a prescribed fee on the Income Tax Portal and submission of the PAN-Aadhaar link request. Taxpayers can complete this process conveniently through the Income Tax e-filing portal.
Submit an online request to link PAN Aadhaar
The request can be made in 2 ways:
Income Tax Portal – Pre Login/Post Login
Via SMS
Steps to link PAN Aadhaar on the Income Tax portal(Pre Login)
Visit the e-Filing portal Navigate to the Income tax e-filing portal
Click on “Link Aadhaar” from the left side nav On your Dashboard, under the Link Aadhaar to PAN option, click Link Alternatively, go to ‘My Profile > Personal Details and select ‘Link Aadhaar’
Enter your PAN & Aadhaar details Enter the required details such as PAN, Aadhaar, name as per Aadhaar, and a valid mobile number.
Note: It is mandatory to give your consent by selecting the check box ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’. In case only your year of birth is mentioned in your Aadhaar card, then select the check box asking I have only year of birth on Aadhaar card.
Success Message On success, you will get a message about your Aadhaar-PAN linking request being sent to UIDAI. Once the application is successful, you can verify the status of the application after 2-3 days.
Steps to link PAN Aadhaar on the Income Tax portal (Post Login)
Step 1: Visit the e-Filing portal and log in using your IT portal credentials
Step 2: On your Dashboard, under the Link Aadhaar to PAN option, click Link Alternatively, go to ‘My Profile > Personal Details and select ‘Link Aadhaar’
Step 3: Next, enter the required details such as PAN, Aadhaar, name as per Aadhaar, and a valid mobile number.
Note: It is mandatory to give your consent by selecting the check box ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’. In case only the year of birth is mentioned in your Aadhaar card, then select the check box asking ‘I have only year of birth in Aadhaar card’.
Step 4: On success, you will get a message about your Aadhaar-PAN linking request being sent to UIDAI. Once the application if successful, you can verify the status after 2-3 days.
Steps to link PAN Aadhaar via SMS
Individuals can conveniently link their PAN (Permanent Account Number) with Aadhaar using the SMS facility. Follow these simple steps:
Compose Message: Type a message in the following format: UIDPAN <12-digit Aadhaar> <10-digit PAN> Example Message: For instance, if your Aadhaar number is 256514531487 and PAN is ABCDP5858X, your message should be: UIDPAN 256514531487 ABCDP5858X Send Message: Send the composed message to either 56161 or 567678 from your registered mobile number.
Confirmation: After sending the message, you will receive a confirmation message acknowledging the successful linkage of your PAN and Aadhaar.
Important Keyword: Income Tax, Income Tax Account, ITR Refund, ITR Service Request, Refund & Notices.
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How to submit refund reissues request?
The Service Request feature is accessible to registered users on the e-Filing portal. This functionality allows users to submit requests for refund reissues, particularly in instances where the initial refund reissues failed. Additionally, users can file a condonation request under the Service Requests tab. When a refund fails, taxpayers can initiate a refund reissues request on the e-Filing portal after receiving communication from the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC). The primary reasons for refund failure typically include:
Incorrect Bank Details: Errors or inaccuracies in the provided bank information lead to refund failure.
Incorrect Residence Address: Refund may fail if the residence address provided is inaccurate or outdated.
Name Mismatch: A discrepancy between the name on the refund and the bank account holder’s name can result in refund failure.
Expired Cheque or Closed Bank Account: Refunds may fail if the issued cheque has expired or if the designated bank account is closed.
Steps to Submit refund reissues request
Visit e-Filing portal Login to the e-Filing portal using the user ID and password.
Refund Reissue Post login, click on Services > Refund Reissue from the dashboard.
New Refund Reissue Request On the Refund Reissue page, the details and status of refund reissue requests you have raised is displayed. To create a new request for refund reissue, click Create Refund Reissue Request.
Select the Record On the Create Refund Reissue Request page, select the record for which you want to submit request of refund reissue and click Continue.
Select the Bank Account On the Select a Bank Account page, select the bank account where you would like to receive the refund and click Proceed to Verification.
Success Message After successful verification of the bank details, select your preferred option on the verification page. After successful e-Verification, a success message along with a Transaction ID will be displayed. Please keep a note of the Transaction ID for future reference. You will also receive a confirmation message on the email ID and mobile number registered with e-Filing portal.
Important Keyword: Aadhaar, Bank Account, Demat Account, EVC, Income Tax Account, Income Tax Login, IT e-Vault, ITR Website Credentials.
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e-Filing Vault Higher Security
The e-Filing Vault Higher Security service provides an additional layer of protection for registered users, enhancing the security of their e-Filing portal accounts. This feature introduces a second level of authentication during the login process and adds a secondary factor authentication for password resets. Users can choose from the following options for the second factor authentication:
Net Banking: Users can authenticate themselves through their net banking credentials.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Authentication can be performed using a Digital Signature Certificate.
OTP on Mobile Number Registered with Aadhaar: Users receive a one-time password (OTP) on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar for authentication.
Bank Account EVC: Authentication can be completed using Electronic Verification Code (EVC) received on the user’s bank account.
Demat Account EVC: Users can authenticate themselves using Electronic Verification Code (EVC) received on their demat account.
Steps to Set Up e-Filing Vault Higher Security
Visit the e-Filing Portal Login to the account using valid credentials.
e-Filing Vault Higher Security Navigate to the My Profile page from the dashboard and click on the e-Filing Vault Higher Security option.
Options to Enable e-Vault Higher Security 1. Enable OTP on Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar 2. Enable Bank Account EVC / Demat Account EVC / DSC / Through Net Banking 3. Deselect Higher Security Options
Enable OTP on Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar After selecting this option, select the higher security option that you would like to apply. If you prefer second factor authentication using OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar, select that particular option.
Pop up message A popup message is displayed stating you need to be authenticated through Aadhaar OTP. Click Ok.
Validate OTP Generate the Aadhaar OTP if you don’t already have it and enter the 6 digit code and click on validate.
Enable Bank Account EVC / Demat Account EVC / DSC / Through Net Banking In the Set Higher Security for Login and Set Higher Security for PasswordReset sections, select the higher security option that you would like to apply.
Successful Validation Based on the option selected, on successful validation, an information message is displayed. Click Ok.
Deselect Higher Security Options On the e-Filing Vault Higher Security page, you will see the option you selected for second-factor authentication for Login and Password Reset. Deselect the options where you do not need higher security and click Continue.
Confirm the changes On doing so, you will receive a success message on the screen which will also contain the transaction ID.
Important Keyword: DSC, DSC Registration, DSC Utility, Income Tax Account.
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Register Your DSC On the Income Tax e-Filing Portal
The Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) serves as an electronic signature for taxpayers, verifying and confirming their identity in the digital realm. It encompasses vital details like the user’s name, PIN code, email address, and the certificate’s issuance date.
On the e-Filing platform, registered users can submit their tax returns by affixing their Digital Signature Certificate . To achieve this, users must first enroll their digital signature on the e-Filing portal. This process necessitates the installation of the latest Java software on their systems.
Registered users can execute several actions on the e-Filing platform:
Register Digital Signature Certificate: Users can initially register their Digital Signature Certificate on the platform.
Re-Register for Expired Digital Signature Certificate: If a user’s Digital Signature Certificate has expired, they can re-register it on the portal.
Re-Register for Active Digital Signature Certificate: Even if the Digital Signature Certificate is still valid, users can choose to re-register it.
Register Digital Signature Certificate of Principal Contact: Additionally, users have the option to register the Digital Signature Certificate of their principal contact.
Prerequisites:
Registered User of the e-Filing Portal: To begin, ensure you are a registered user of the e-Filing portal with a valid user ID and password.
Downloaded and Installed em-Signer Utility: Prior to registering your Digital Signature Certificate, download and install the em-Signer utility. Alternatively, you can download and install it during the registration process.
USB Token from a Certifying Authority Provider: Obtain a USB token from a Certifying Authority Provider and ensure it is plugged into your computer.
Digital Signature Certificate USB Token Classification: The Digital Signature Certificate USB token you possess should be either a Class 2 or Class 3 Certificate.
Active Digital Signature Certificate: Verify that the Digital Signature Certificate you intend to register is currently active and has not expired.
Non-Revoked Digital Signature Certificate: Ensure that the Digital Signature Certificate has not been revoked before proceeding with the registration process.
Steps to Download & Install Embridge
Visit the income tax portal
Click on the downloads option from the dashboard
Click on the DSC Management utility option from the sidebar on the left
Download Utility (emBridge)
Extract the files from the zip folder.
Open the setup application to install the software after accessing the extracted folder
Select the destination location when prompted and click on next.
Upon completing the installation process, click on the finish option after reaching the last screen of the setup.
DSC Certificate Installation Procedure
Upon attaching the DSC token to your system, a pop-up will prompt you to initiate the installation process for the DSC Certificate. Follow these steps for the installation procedure, using the ePass token:
Language Selection Pop-up: Upon the initial prompt, a pop-up window will appear, allowing you to select your preferred language. Choose the language you are comfortable with and proceed by clicking on “Next.”
Setup Window: After selecting your language, you will be directed to the setup window. Click on the “Next” option to proceed with the installation process.
Choose the installation location
Choose the CSP option as Private CSP
The extraction process begins. Next, you will receive a confirmation window to commence the installation process. Click on yes.
Once the process is complete, click on finish.
Process to Change PIN for DSC Certificate Token Manager
Launch e-Pass software or the relevant DSC certificate manager
Click on the change user PIN option from the left sidebar
Enter the required details in the required fields.
Hence, you will receive a success message on the successful change of the PIN.
Steps to Register DSC on the Income Tax e-Filing portal
Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal Login to the e-Filing portal.
My Profile Click on the my profile option from the top right.
Register DSC Click on the option to register the DSC from the left side.
Provider and Certificate Select the Provider and Certificate. Enter Provider Password. Click Sign.
Successful Validation On successful validation, a success message will be displayed with the option to go to the Dashboard.