2020 has been a topsy-turvy year for every human on Earth. The impact of this widespread pandemic has now crossed 1.5 million cases. Apart from many changes that we have witnessed, the government has postponed major decisions related to Indian Income-tax.

The major decision is related to the last date for income tax return 2020.

While the trend in the past few years saw the deadline date for income tax return set between July to August, this time it has been extended beyond that too. Yes, the income tax return submission last date for 2020 is now set on 30th November 2020. This means we still have 4 full months to submit your returns.

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As we don’t know when this lockdown will open 100% and we go back to our regular life, we must be ready in case filing an income tax return online is the only option we have. This is a possible scenario and hence today I will shed light on how to file income tax return online for salaried employees in 2020.

I will share a 10-step process to e file income tax return online. The steps are simple and I hope that post-reading this, anyone will be able to file an income tax return form online.

Step 1 for filing an income tax return

You will first visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal, www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Step 2

Then you must log in to the Income-tax India e-filing portal. You can do this by entering your unique user ID (PAN), Password, and the Captcha code. Once you fill these details, click on the ‘Login’ button.

Step 3

Post logging in, you must click on the ‘e-File‘ menu. From there, you will select and click on the ‘Income Tax Return‘ link.

Step 4

On the Income Tax Return Page, your PAN number will be auto-populated. You will then have to select 4 specific aspects;

• First, select the ‘Assessment Year’.
• Second, you will select the ‘ITR Form Number’.
• Third, you must select ‘Filing Type’ as ‘Original/Revised Return’.
• Finally, select ‘Submission Mode’ as ‘Prepare and Submit Online.

After selecting all the above options, you will click on “Continue” to move on to the next steps.

Step 5

You will find various instructions on the income tax e filing form. I request you to read them carefully. Once you are done reading, start filling all applicable and mandatory details of the online ITR form.

Please Note – There are high chances of a “Session timed out” scenario taking place. This might erase whatever fields you filled while filling the form. The best way to solve this problem is to click on the “Save Draft” button once a while so your session will continue to exist.

Step 6

Post filling the form, you will then choose the appropriate verification option in the ‘Taxes Paid and Verification’ tab. There are 3 specific options and after carefully understanding them, you must choose any one of those options to verify your income tax return filing online. Here are the options;

• I would like to “E-verify” my ITR.
• I would like to “E-verify” later within 120 days from the date of filing my ITR.
• I don’t want to “E-verify” now. I wish to send my signed ITR-V through a normal or speed post method to the Centralized Processing Center, Income Tax Department in Bengaluru (Pincode – 560500). This must be done within 120 days from the date of your ITR filing.

After reading these options, choose any one option to continue filling the form.

Step 7

Once you are done filling all these details, you must click on the ‘Preview and Submit’ button. Read and verify all the data that you have entered on the income tax e filing website. Once done, click on “Submit” to send your submission.”

Step 8

In Step 6, if you chose the first option i.e. “I would like to E-verify my ITR” then please note that e-verification can be made via any of the following methods by entering the EVC/OTP.

• Verification can be made via the EVC generated through a bank ATM or the Generate EVC option found under “My Account”.
• You can also get verification via Aadhaar OTP.
• Pre-validated Bank & Demat Account can be used for verification as well.

In case you chose the 2nd or 3rd option in Step 6, then your ITR will be submitted but the process of filing the ITR will not be completed until it is completely verified. Your submitted ITR must be e-verified later. This can be done by using the ‘My Account > e-Verify Return’ option or your signed ITR-V must be sent to CPC, Bengaluru.

Step 9

You must enter the EVC/OTP within 60 seconds. If you don’t do it in this time frame then your Income Tax Return (ITR) will be auto-submitted. The submitted ITR must be verified later by you. You can do this using the ‘My Account > e-Verify Return’ option or by sending your signed ITR-V to CPC.

Step 10

The final step is that you can view your complete uploaded ITRs.

This is how the online filing of the income tax return in India can be done.

FAQs on income tax return:

1. When an income tax return is filed?
Ans – Income tax returns are filed once a year for the period ended 31st March.

2. How income tax return filing can be done?
A – You can visit the income tax e filing website and follow the instructions mentioned above to file your returns online.

3. What is the last date to fill the income tax return form in 2020?
A – As mentioned above, the last date to file your ITR in 2020 is set on 30th November 2020.

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