How to Pre-validate your Bank Account to Claim Income Tax Refund?

Why is it required to prevalidate my bank account?

For electronic credit service i.e. receiving your refund through ECS directly in your bank account pre-validation is a must.

What are the benefits of bank account pre-validation?

Validating your bank account has the following benefits

• Credit of Income Tax Refund directly into your bank account through ECS facility
• Online e-verification of your income tax return through EVC (Electronic Verification Code)
• Provides greater security to your income tax account

Which bank account can be prevalidated?

Any of your savings, current, NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary), cash credit and overdraft accounts can be pre-validated.

What are the prerequisites for successful pre-validation?

For your bank account pre-validation to be successful, your PAN details should be updated in the bank database. Also, your name as mentioned on the PAN card and in the bank account should be the same.

What is the process to pre-validate my bank account on the Income Tax portal?

• Login to the income tax efiling portal. To login enter the login ID (your PAN number), password and captcha (people with visual disabilities can also opt for OTP instead of captcha code).
• After making a successful login. Go to the profile setting tab on the right-hand corner and select 6th option from the drop-down menu of “Prevalidate your Bank Account”.

  

• The details of all bank accounts integrated with the efiling portal will display their status.

  

• If you wish to receive an income tax refund in a new account click on the add button.
• Enter your new bank account details like account number, IFSC, choose an account type, email id, and mobile number. After entering all the details click on the pre-validate button.

  

• After clicking on the Prevalidate button a confirmation message will appear on the screen. "Your request for pre-validating bank account is submitted. Status of your request will be sent to your registered email id and mobile number".

Pre-validation can also be done using the net banking facility of your account.

If a bank account is pre-validated will it also be EVC enabled?

No, Only the pre-validated bank account having same contact details i.e. mobile number in

• Bank account and
• Income Tax Account

can be EVC enabled.

Can I enable more than one pre-validated bank account for EVC?

No, only one bank account can be EVC (electronic verification code) enabled. If any one of your accounts is already EVC enabled you won’t be able to enable any other account for EVC at the same time.