To ease tax filing, the Income- Tax department has started the process of online verification of Income Tax Returns (ITRs), thereby ending the practice of sending paper acknowledgement to its office in Bengaluru.

"To facilitate the taxpayers and to provide end-to-end e-enabled services, the Income Tax Return for A.Y. 2015-16 can now be verified electronically," the Finance Ministry said while announcing commencement of the new system.

A taxpayer can verify return through Internet banking or through Aadhar-based authentication process.

"Persons using this facility will not be required to submit a signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V) to CPC Bengaluru," the Ministry said.

Further, any taxpayer, whose income is Rs 5 lakh or below per annum and has no refund claims, he or she can straightaway generate the 'Electronic Verification Code' (EVC) for e-filing and validating their ITR through their registered mobile number and e-mail ID with the Department.

"In case a taxpayer is unable to electronically verify the ITR using the EVC for any reason, then, the signed copy of ITR-V may be sent within the specified time of 120 days to CPC Bengaluru by Ordinary post or Speed post," it added.

The Ministry advised the taxpayers to use electronic verification facility in view of the convenience and flexibility offered.

"Taxpayers are also requested to e-file their returns early to avoid the rush closer to the last date," it said.

These new measures would completely eliminate the need of sending the paper acknowledgement, called ITR-V, through post to the I-T Central Processing Centre (CPC) based in Bengaluru.

Also, those taxpayers who have Internet banking activated can do the e-verification of their ITR.

The department initiated these new technology measures in order to fully automate the e-filing system and also to end taxpayers' grievances with regard to their ITR-V not reaching by post, which led to their ITR getting rejected.