How to know the status of your income tax return filing

Most of you have finished your income tax filing for the AY 2020-21. While some of you would have paid tax, some may have claimed a refund. The next step involves the processing of your income tax return (ITR) by the income tax department. Your ITR may be processed or remain unprocessed for some reason. However, you would want to know the status of the ITR filed. 

In a normal case, you would know the status of your ITR after logging into the e-filing portal by clicking on ‘ITR Status’ on the home page. The feature enables taxpayers to know the status of their ITR without logging into their e-filing account. 

Under the feature, a taxpayer has to enter the Permanent Account Number (PAN), the acknowledgement number of the ITR filed and the captcha code displayed.

Also Read: Watch out for 6 income tax law changes w.e.f September 1

Upon entering the data mentioned above, the next screen will display the status of the ITR filed: 

1. In the case of an ITR which remains unprocessed, the status would show ‘Return submitted and verified’.
2. In the case of an ITR which is processed, the status would show ‘Return processed’.
3. In a case where your ITR is not verified, the status would show ‘Return submitted but not e-verified’.

It is important to note you should verify (e-verify) your ITR filed. The income tax department will not process ITR, which is not verified or e-verified. You can e-verify your ITR using an EVC generated through the netbanking facility or an OTP generated through Aadhaar.

EVC refers to Electronic Verification Code. OTP refers to One-Time Password. You would receive the EVC or OTP as a text message on your mobile number registered with the bank or Aadhaar authorities.

Once your ITR is e-verified, the income tax department will take it up for processing. Upon processing of your ITR, you will receive an intimation under section 143(1) from the income tax department. The intimation will compare your income and tax figures and show processed figures against them. In the end, the intimation will state the amount of refund or tax due. Your ITR stands processed. 

In a case where your ITR is not processed correctly, you can respond to the intimation through your e-filing account.