Time Limit of ITR is reduced

CBDT, through Notification No. 05/2022 dated 29 July 2022, reduced the time limit for verifying an Income-tax Return (ITR) from 120 days to 30 days from the date of electronic transmission. Effective for returns transmitted on or after 1 August 2022, the rule remains in force through FY 2026-27. Despite seeming like a simple procedural tweak, the 30-day verification window has tangible consequences on filing strategies, refund timelines and late-fee exposure.

Why Verification Matters

Filing an Income-tax Return is incomplete without verification. Until verification, the return is treated as non est — that is, as if not filed at all. Verification can be done electronically using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, demat account, bank account validation, DSC, or physically by sending a signed ITR-V acknowledgement to the Centralised Processing Centre, Bengaluru.

What Changed With the 30-Day Rule

• Returns transmitted electronically on or after 1 August 2022 must be verified within 30 days, down from 120 days earlier.
• If verified within 30 days, the date of e-transmission is treated as the date of filing.
• If verified after 30 days, the date of verification becomes the date of filing.
• Where verification is delayed beyond 30 days, the return is treated as filed on the date of verification, with consequential interest, fee and possibly belated/condonation implications.
• Physical ITR-V must reach CPC Bengaluru within 30 days; counted by date of receipt, not the date of dispatch.

Implications for the Filing Calendar

1. If you file your return on the last day, you must complete verification within 30 days to retain the filing benefit; otherwise, you may slip into the belated category.
2. Refund processing begins only after successful verification, so faster verification means faster refund.
3. Late fees under Section 234F and interest under Sections 234A, 234B and 234C may apply if the verification falls after the original due date.
4. Belated returns under Section 139(4) and revised returns under Section 139(5) must also be verified within 30 days of e-transmission.
5. Returns claiming carry-forward of losses can lose the carry-forward benefit if treated as filed late due to delayed verification.

Best Practices for Verification

• Use Aadhaar OTP — fastest and most reliable, provided your mobile is linked to Aadhaar and Aadhaar is linked to PAN.
• Net banking verification works for SBI, HDFC, ICICI and most major banks.
• Pre-validate your bank and demat accounts in your income-tax profile to keep verification options open.
• Avoid the physical ITR-V route unless you must; the courier risk is high.
• Once verified, download the acknowledgement (ITR-V with verification stamp) for your records.

What If You Miss the 30-Day Window

If verification is missed beyond 30 days, the return is treated as filed on the date of verification. In such cases, you can apply for condonation of delay under Section 119(2)(b) by writing to the jurisdictional Principal Commissioner of Income Tax. Condonation is discretionary and granted in genuine hardship cases — illness, technical glitch, courier failure or similar reasons supported with evidence.

Interaction With Other Provisions

Section 139(9) defective return procedure requires the assessee to remedy defects within 15 days; verification within that window is essential to retain the original filing date. For revised returns under Section 139(5), the 30-day verification window applies to the revised return separately. Refund of any excess TDS or advance tax is paid only after the return is verified and processed under Section 143(1).

Conclusion

The 30-day verification rule has tightened the discipline around ITR filing and pushed taxpayers to plan verification as the immediate next step after submission. For FY 2026-27 filings, set up Aadhaar OTP, pre-validate bank accounts and treat verification as part of the filing event itself. A 30-day clock starts the moment you hit submit — use it well to protect refunds, losses and timely-return benefits.