The swift shift to digitalization has transformed governmental operations, exemplified by India's revamped income tax portal. Launched on June 7th, 2021, by the Indian Government, the new e-filing Portal of the Income Tax Department aims to simplify income tax payments, ensuring convenience and accessibility for taxpayers nationwide.

This online platform represents a groundbreaking change in traditional procedures. Now, tasks like paying income tax, monitoring refund status, and accessing essential documents have become remarkably more straightforward.

Important Features of Income Tax Filing Portal

Here are the key highlights of the new income tax portal to note before its use: 

• It features reminders prompting taxpayers to complete any pending filings, ensuring timely compliance.
• The portal introduces detailed FAQs, video guides, live agents, and a chatbox, all aimed at helping taxpayers understand its functionalities.
• With integrated online payment systems such as net banking, NEFT, credit card, UPI and RTGS, the portal significantly enhances the accessibility and convenience of tax payments.
• Taxpayers can now pre-fill their income, dividends, interest, and capital gains, reflecting after SFT and TDS deductions.

Income Tax Portal Advantages for Taxpayers

Below specified are the top advantages of using the income tax portal-

• Taxpayers can now file their income tax forms, respond to inquiries, and connect with tax professionals through this portal, streamlining the entire process.
• Taxpayers can input their professional information, which will be utilized during ITR filing.
• Benefits of this revamped income tax portal include free ITR software for ITR 1 and 4 (available both online and offline) and ITR 2 forms (offline).
• The dashboard in the updated portal assists taxpayers in managing diverse interactions and tracking pending requests.
• The updated portal merges ITR processing, ensuring swift refunds for taxpayers. User-friendly and intuitive, this software simplifies the process. 
• The newly established call centre resolves queries regarding online tax filing and simplifies tax payments through the portal.

What is the Method to Enroll in the I-T Portal?

To access the income tax portal, registration is mandatory for those without an existing account. Follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Visit the income tax portal homepage and click on ‘REGISTER’.

Step 2: Insert your Permanent Account Number(PAN) under the ‘register as a Taxpayer’ option and then click on ‘Validate’.  

Step 3: Insert the required details such as name, date of birth, gender, and your residential status.

Step 4: Enter the contact details, including mobile number, email ID, and address, and tap on ‘Continue’.

Step 5: Then, you will receive two separate OTPs in your mobile number and email address. Enter both of them and click on ‘Continue’. 

Step 6: Amend the details and tap on ‘Confirm’. 

Step 7: Insert your desired password in the ‘Set password and Confirm password’ textboxes under the ‘Set password’ page. Write your personalized message and click on ‘Register’. 

Post-registration to the income tax portal you can login to the website via the following login.

What is the Process to Log into the Income Tax Portal?

Certain methods are there through which you can log in to the income tax portal. The same method consists of- 

• E-filing password
• Aadhaar OTP
• Net banking 

Let's explore the methods for logging in:

Using E-filing Password

1. Go to the e-filing portal homepage and tap 'Login'.
2. Input your PAN in the 'Enter your user ID' field and proceed by clicking 'Continue'.
3. Verify your 'Secure Access Message', enter the password, and click 'Continue'.

 Upon successful validation, the e-filing dashboard will appear.

Login with Aadhaar OTP

Step 1: Go to the homepage of the e-filing portal and click on the 'Login' button.

Step 2: Enter your PAN in the provided textbox.

Step 3: Confirm the 'Secure Access Message' and enter your password. Proceed to click on 'Continue'.

Step 4: If you have an OTP, select 'I already have OTP on mobile number registered with Aadhaar'. If you don't have a valid OTP, generate one by clicking on 'Generate OTP' and proceed.

Step 5: On the 'Verify it's you' page, agree by clicking on ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar Details and generate an Aadhaar OTP.

Step 6: Input the 6-digit OTP that you have received on the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, and then proceed by clicking on the 'Login' button.

Once the validation is successful, the e-filing dashboard will be shown.

Login Via Net Banking Option

Step 1: Go to the homepage of the e-filing portal and click on the 'Login' button. If you prefer to use net banking as a higher security option, provide your user ID and password, and select the 'Through Net Banking' option on the 'Higher Security Options' page.

Step 2: If you haven't chosen the e-filing vault Higher Security option, click on the 'Net Banking' option located at the bottom of the page. 

Step 3: Select your preferred bank from the options provided and click on 'Continue'.

Step 4: Read and understand the disclaimer, then click on 'Continue'.

Step 5: Log in to your personal net banking account using your user ID and password.

Step 6: Once you have successfully logged in, click on the link to the e-filing portal, and you will be directed to the dashboard.

Conclusion

The introduction of this new income tax portal has revolutionized the process of tax payment in India. With this comprehensive solution and the right guidance, every eligible Indian now has the convenience of filing and paying income tax from the comfort of their own home, making a valuable contribution to the country's economic growth.

Additionally, a free version of SAG Infotech Gen I-T Software that utilizes all of the required features of the income tax portal and is connected to it is available for download. The software has all the compulsory features including import and export data, e-payment challan, income tax deduction, auto return form generation etc.

Top FAQs Related to the Income Tax Portal

Is it mandatory to file income tax returns online in India?

For individuals meeting specific income levels and types of income, online filing of income tax returns is mandatory. The criteria for e-filing may change periodically, so it is important to stay updated on the current rules before proceeding with e-filing. 

How can I reset my password if I forget it? 

In case you forget your password, you can simply click on the 'Forget Password' option available on the login page of the portal. Follow the provided guidelines to reset your password securely.