How To Check If You Have E-Filed Previous Years Tax Returns

How to Check if You’ve E-filed Previous Year’s Returns

• Go to the official web-portal of the Indian Income Tax Department
• From the homepage, locate and click on the ITR-V Receipt Status tab
• When the dialogue box opens up, input PAN number and the assessment year for which you want to check your return filing.
• Next, enter the Captcha as shown and click on Submit
• If you have filed that assessment year’s return, you will receive a message saying ITR-V Received
• In case you have forgotten to file your returns for that particular year, you will receive the following message- “No return has been filed”

How to Check E-Filing Status

• 1. Visit this website
• 2. Enter your PAN number and required assessment years
• 3. If it says ITR-V Received, that means you have submitted your returns
• 4. If it says No Return, then you have not filed any returns for that particular year
• 5. Furthermore, if it displays No ITR-V Received, then that means you have e-filed your return, but have not completed the verification process.
• 6. To complete the verification, use one of the methods mentioned below,
• The best way to verify your e-filed tax returns is to send them a copy of the 1-page document which serves as the verification page- ITR-V
• Another way to verify your e-filed returns is to verify using your Aadhaar, Website OTP or Net banking details via the IT department portal
• 1. Furthermore, to know if your return has been successfully submitted, see if you have received a confirmation number after submitting your e-filed returns.
• 2. Both confirmation number and message indicating success comes from the IT Department, in case of a successful filing.

Why E-filing?

Advancements in science and technology have touched every sphere of our lives and resulted in monumental changes in most daily processes we are used to. Therefore, the ushering in of the digital age has transformed our lives. India is still witnessing an internet revolution as more and more people get access to facilities such as computers, mobile devices, and the internet. As internet penetration rises, the government can move more and more processes online. Long gone are the days wherein we had to stand in lines in government offices to get things done.

Several State governments have set up web-portals to facilitate services that earlier required people to wait at offices physically. Such digital platforms have made it possible for people to e-file their IT returns online. This not only makes the entire process more efficient and faster but has also made it more transparent. E-filed returns are easier to keep track of, and the entire process is much faster now than it used to be.

Can You file IT returns for the previous year?

You can still e-file a belated return because people are allowed to e-file their returns until two fiscal years are completed. For instance, Arjun wants to e-file his return for the assessment year 2018-2019. The fiscal year of 2019 comes to a close on the 31st March 2019. Therefore, Arjun can file his return for this year, up to FY 2020-21, that is up to two years from the end of 31st March 2019. Simply put, he can e-file his return for 2018-2019 up till 31st March 2021. However, this means that for periods pre-dating two years, you will not be able to file your returns.

Consequences of late filing:

• 1. In case you have no tax liability, there is no penalty
• 2. If you have any liability, as per Section 234A, a 1% interest is levied for every month of the delay
• 3. In case you are entitled to pay advance tax, interest is calculated as per Section 234B and Section 234C.
• 4. Furthermore, a person can e-file their returns for two years simultaneously. While doing so, the best thing would be to file the previous return first as it makes it easier to carry forward losses from the belated return.