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• Have you forgotten to verify your Income Tax return?

Filling of income tax returns on time is not only a financial obligation but also a way to ensure optimum financial health. Income Tax Return (ITR) is something which every person who is earning should file every year. Those who file Income Tax Return must be aware of verification process of Income Tax Return. Income Tax Return filing and verification of Income Tax Return are two separate things. Filing of ITR process has two dedicated components 1) ITR Filing and 2) ITR verification.

As per Income Tax rules, all Income Tax Returns must be verified within 120 days of filing the return, failing which they would be considered invalid and shall not be taken on record by the Income Tax officer. Filling of the ITR must be done as per the designated time frame allocated each year. For example, for the assessment year (AY) 2017-18 the last date for ITR filling was July 31, 2017 which was later extended till August 5, 2017.

However, even if you have filled your ITR within the stipulated date but have not sent the same for verification, your ITR filling process remains incomplete. All filled ITRs must be verified within 120 days of filing failing which the ITR is considered to be invalid.

In other words, Non verification of ITR after filing it is like preparing and writing an application to be sent to an official but never posting it to the concerned department.

• What if you failed to file your ITR completely on the due date?

If you missed the ITR filling deadline completely, you can still file a belated ITR before March 31, 2018 which is the date of the end of the assessment year (AY) 2017-18. You can prepare and e-file your delayed ITR almost similar to how you file the ITR within its due date period.

While submitting the ITR, you will however need to choose ‘return filed under section 139(4)’ option for a belated ITR. Once submitted you can opt for e-verification using either a onetime password (OTP) or an Aadhaar based e-verification.

You can also choose for a physical e-verification process by sending a copy of your ITR physically to the income tax department’s Central Processing Centre (CPC) at Bengaluru within 120 days of filling your belated ITR.

• What if you filed the ITR but failed to verify the ITR?

If you have filed your ITR on time as per the due date but have not been able to verify the same by either sending it physically or through online mode, there is still hope. Not receipt of your ITR for verification within 120 days by the department shall invalidate the return filed. You have got two options in that case:

1. To submit a belated ITR and apply for e-verification; or
2. To request the ITR department to reconsider the ITR filed e-verification using what is known as a ‘condonation delay request’.

Opting for such a condonation delay request is only granted if you have a genuine reason for not being able to verify your submitted ITR within the given time period of 120 days post submission.

However, a condonation delay request is no guarantee that the ITR department would consider it and accept your delayed verification of the ITR. The department can accept or reject your request under section 119(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act as per the merits of the case.
After submitting your condonation delay request, keep checking back to make sure you are aware of the status of your request. There is no fixed timeline for acceptation or denial of your service requests. Keep checking the request status periodically.