After you have submitted your Income Tax Return (ITR) and filed the return, it is important to download the ITR acknowledgement for your records. The ITR acknowledgement, also known as ITR-V or Verification form, will serve as proof of filing and will also be needed in situations like verification, loans, visas, or future tax inquiries.
This blog explains what the ITR acknowledgement is, why it is important, and how you can easily download it online through the Income Tax e-filing portal.
Introduction
Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) is just the first step toward meeting your tax obligations. After filing, the system generates an ITR Acknowledgement (ITR-V), a form that confirms your return submission. Whether you e-verify your return instantly or send the signed physical copy of the ITR-V to the CPC Bengaluru, this document is critical.
People often need their ITR acknowledgement for various purposes, such as applying for a loan, getting a visa, or responding to tax department notices. Now, the Income Tax Department has made it easy to download your ITR acknowledgement online anytime from their official portal.
What is ITR Acknowledgement (ITR-V)?
The ITR Acknowledgement, or ITR-V (Verification) form, is an auto-generated document you receive after successfully submitting your income tax return.
Key points about ITR-V –
- It is a single-page document summarizing your tax filing details.
- It contains some essential information like your PAN, name, address, filing date, acknowledgement number, and income figures.
- If you do not e-verify your ITR at the time of filing, you must sign this form and send it to CPC, Bengaluru, within 30 days (as per current rules).
- Even after e-verification, it is a vital record for your tax history.
Why is the ITR Acknowledgement Important?
Your ITR acknowledgement serves multiple purposes –
- Proof of Filing – It confirms that your return has been filed for a particular assessment year.
- Loan & Visa Applications – Financial institutions and embassies often require ITR-V as part of document checks.
- For Personal Records – It helps you maintain proper tax documentation for future reference or audits.
- Responding to Tax Queries – The acknowledgement number and filing date may be required when communicating with the tax department.
When Can You Download ITR Acknowledgement?
You can download your ITR acknowledgement –
- Immediately after successfully filing your return
- Anytime later from the e-filing portal (for any year you filed through the portal)
Even if you lose the original email, you can always log in and re-download the document.
Steps to Download ITR Acknowledgement Online
Downloading the ITR-V from the Income Tax portal is simple. Here is how to download this –
Step 1. Visit the Income Tax e-filing Portal
You have to visit https://www.incometax.gov.in
Step 2. Log In to Your Account
- Enter your PAN (user ID), password, and captcha code.
- Click Login.
Step 3. Go to ‘e-File’ Menu
- Once logged in, hover over the ‘e-File’ tab on the top menu.
- Click ‘Income Tax Returns’ → ‘View Filed Returns’.
Step 4. Select Assessment Year
- You will see a list of all filed returns.
- Use filters if needed to select the relevant Assessment Year (AY).
Step 5. Download Acknowledgement
- Against the return you want, click ‘View Details’.
- Click the ‘Download Acknowledgement’ button.
The file will be downloaded in PDF format. This is your official ITR acknowledgement (ITR-V).
Note – If your return is unverified, the downloaded ITR-V will need to be signed and sent to CPC Bengaluru or e-verified through available options (Aadhaar OTP, Net banking, etc.).
How to Check Return Filing Status Along with Acknowledgement?
While viewing your filed returns, you can also check the status of your ITR –
- Successfully e-verified / verified – No further action needed in this case by the taxpayers.
- Pending e-verification – In this case, you still need to e-verify or send ITR-V.
- Processed – This shows that your return has been processed by CPC.
Download your ITR-V at any of these stages for your records.
Common Issues and How to Solve Them
Unable to find the filed return?
- Double-check that you are logging into the correct PAN account.
- Verify the AY you are selecting.
- Ensure the return was filed through the official portal (offline filings not uploaded may not appear).
PDF won’t open?
- The ITR-V PDF is password-protected. The password is your PAN in lowercase followed by your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format (eg., abcde1234f01011990).
ITR-V not showing download option?
- The return may not have been successfully submitted. Check filing status.
Conclusion
Downloading your tax return identification number acknowledges ITR online is one of the quickest, most convenient, and necessary steps after you’ve filed your return. Whether using it for personal records, compliance, or for official purposes like loans or visas, it acts as proof that your ITR has been filed.
By logging into the official Income Tax e-filing portal, you can access and download this document anytime, so there is no reason to worry about losing it. Keeping your ITR-V safe ensures you are always ready for financial, legal, or administrative needs.
Reference
The Income-Tax Act, 1961 (Act No. 43 of 1961)
