Correct Income Tax Challan Mistake Online on E-filing Portal
Paying income tax is a crucial responsibility, and ensuring the accuracy of information on your income tax challan is equally important. Mistakes on your challan can lead to complications in your tax filings. Thankfully, the Income Tax Department has introduced a new feature on the income tax return (ITR) portal that allows taxpayers to correct these errors online. In this article, we will guide you through correcting income tax challan mistakes online, providing a hassle-free solution for rectifying errors.
When Can You Correct Income Tax Challan Mistakes Online?
It’s important to note that this online correction feature can only be used within seven days of making the income tax payment. You must use the traditional offline method if the mistake needs correction after this timeframe.
According to Milin Bakhai, Associate Partner at N.A. Shah Associates, a Mumbai-based chartered accountancy firm, this online challan correction feature is applicable for challans related to Assessment Year (AY) 2020-21 (Financial Year 2019-20) and onwards. If you’ve made a tax payment for AY 2020-21 or any subsequent year and have discovered a mistake, you can correct it online within a specified period instead of visiting the income tax office.
What Information Can You Correct Online?
The new online feature allows taxpayers to correct three specific details in the income tax challan. These details are:
- Assessment Year.
- Major Heads (Code 0021 for income tax for entities other than companies).
- Minor Heads (e.g., advance tax).
As per the income tax e-filing website, “Challan correction requests can be submitted only for minor heads: 100 (Advance tax), 300 (self-assessment tax), and 400 (demand payment as regular assessment tax) and for their corresponding major heads through the e-filing portal.”
Can You Make Multiple Corrections in a Single Challan?
Yes, submitting multiple correction requests in a single challan is possible. You can do this by selecting all three options available on the correction webpage: Assessment Year, tax applicable (Major head), and payment type (Minor head).
How to Use the Challan Correction Feature on the ITR Filing Portal?
Before you begin the correction process, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:
- You should be registered on the e-filing ITR portal.
- The challan requiring correction should not have been used while filing your ITR.
- There should be no pending challan correction requests with any other authority, such as banks.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to initiate a challan correction request online:
Step 1: Visit the ITR filing website (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/) and log in to your account. Under the ‘Services’ column, select the ‘Challan Correction’ option.
Step 2: A new webpage will open. Choose ‘Create Challan Correction Request.’
Step 3: On the next page, select the specific correction you need: a) Change in Assessment Year, b) Change in tax applicable (Major head), or c) Change in type of payment (Minor head).
After making your selection, click on ‘Continue.’
Step 4: Provide the income tax challan details that need correction. You can enter the Assessment Year or the Challan Identification Number (CIN). Click ‘Continue’ after this step.
Step 5: A new webpage will open depending on your previous selection. If you provide a CIN number, the respective challan details will appear. If you chose an Assessment Year (AY), a list of all challans related to that AY will be displayed. Select the specific challan that requires correction, then click ‘Continue’ once your selection is made.
Step 6: You must now enter the correct details based on your previous selection. Afterwards, click ‘Continue.’ In the example shown, we corrected the Assessment Year.
Step 7: After entering the correct details, you must verify the correction in the tax challan. Verification can be done using Aadhaar OTP, a digital signature certificate (DSC), or an electronic verification code (EVC) through net banking, Demat, or a bank account. Select your preferred verification method and click ‘Continue.’
Step 8: Once the correction is successfully e-verified, the income tax e-filing website will display a success message along with the transaction ID. Keep this transaction ID for reference to track the status of your correction request.
How to Track the Status of the Challan Correction?
To check the status of your tax challan correction, log in to the ITR portal using your credentials and select the ‘Challan Correction’ button under the ‘Services’ tab. This webpage will provide you with the current status of your challan correction request.
What Is the Time Limit for Challan Correction?
The income tax department has not specified a fixed time for the assessing officer to correct the challan. However, based on experience, corrections are typically processed within 15 days. If a significant amount of time has passed since the correction request was submitted, taxpayers can lodge a grievance complaint or contact the CPC helpline for assistance.
What Cannot Be Corrected Online?
It’s important to note that PAN details in the challan cannot be changed online. This information should be carefully verified before making any tax payments.
Conclusion
Correcting income tax challan mistakes online has become more accessible and convenient for taxpayers. Following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can rectify errors in your income tax challan without needing offline procedures. Always correct any mistakes within the seven-day window to enjoy the benefits of this online feature and prevent any tax-related complications.