Income Tax Return: How To Instantly Verify Your ITR Filing Before The Portal Deadline Ends Tonight?

The ITR journey for AY 2025-26 has been anything but ordinary, with multiple extensions keeping taxpayers on edge. What began as a 31st July 2025 deadline for non-audit taxpayers stretched into August, rolled over into September, and has now reached its absolute finish line, including a final grace period—16th September 2025.

As the cut-off nears, millions of taxpayers are logging in together, creating peak-hour activity on the e-filing portal.

"If you've filed your ITR already, don't celebrate just yet; your return isn't complete until you e-verify it. Skip this step, and your ITR won't be processed. Your refund could be held back, and your filing may even be treated as invalid," said CA Shefali Mundra, Tax Expert at ClearTax.

The good news? e-Verification is quick and easy. To seal the deal and stay compliant, here's a simple step-by-step guide you can follow tonight to get it done instantly.

Step-by-Step: Instant e-Verification

Log in to the e-Filing Portal

• Visit www.incometax.gov.in
• Enter your PAN, password, and Captcha.

Navigate to e-Verify

• On the dashboard, go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → e-Verify Return.
• Enter the Acknowledgement Number of the return you want to verify.

Choose Your Verification Method (pick the fastest available)

• Aadhaar OTP: An OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it instantly.
• Net Banking: Log in via your bank's net banking and select e-Verify Return.
• EVC (Bank/Demat): Generate an Electronic Verification Code through your pre-validated bank or demat account.
• DSC (Digital Signature Certificate): Use if already registered on the portal.

Submit & Confirm

• Once your OTP/EVC is validated, you'll see a success message with an Acknowledgement Number/Transaction ID.
• You will also receive an email and SMS confirmation on your registered mobile number.

Verification Window

With less than 24 hours left for the final deadline, timely e-verification has never been more critical.

CA Shefali Mundra, a tax expert at ClearTax, said that taxpayers have 30 days to verify their returns, which means if you file today, you must e-verify without delay to ensure your return is considered valid.

Alternate Options

For those unable to complete the process online, a signed physical copy of the ITR can be sent to CPC Bangalore. Alternatively, an authorised representative can e-verify on behalf of the assessee using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or bank/demat account EVC.

In conclusion, while deadline extensions offer short-term relief, the process is only truly complete once the return is verified. e-Verification is fast, secure, and essential to ensure refunds are processed and compliance is intact.

Whether done digitally or through alternate methods, taxpayers must not overlook this final step to close their ITR journey with confidence. Tonight could be the final deadline; file, verify, and secure your tax compliance without delay, says CA Shefali Mundra.