New Feature! Delete ITR With 'Discard' Option, What IT Dept Has Launched For Taxpayers?

The Income Tax Department has recently launched a new feature allowing taxpayers to ‘Discard ITR’. With this, taxpayers can discard their original, belated, or revised income tax returns (ITRs) which were filed but not verified.

The discard option can be used repeatedly, provided the ITR status remains unverified or pending verification.

Also Read: ITR Filing Update: Nearly 8 Crore ITRs Filed Till Dec 2

What Is a Discard Return?

A discard IT return is an income tax return that has been permanently deleted by the taxpayer. This can be done if the return contains errors or inconsistencies, or if the taxpayer simply wants to start over. Discarding a return is different from filing a revised return, which is a way to correct errors in a previously filed return. When you discard a return, it is treated as if it was never filed at all.

Once you have discarded a return, you will be able to file a new return for the same assessment year.

Discard IT Return: FAQs

Where can you find the ‘Discard’ option?

Discard option can be found through the below path :

www.incometax.gov.in → Login → e-File → Income Tax Return → e-Verify ITR → “Discard”

When can you avail ‘Discard’ option and can you avail this option multiple times?

A person can avail this option only if the ITR status is ‘unverified’/‘Pending for verification’.

There is no restriction on availing this option multiple times. However, the precondition is ITR status is ‘unverified’/‘pending for verification’.

Is it mandatory to file subsequent ITR if you have ‘Discarded’ previous unverified ITR ?

A person, who has uploaded the return data earlier, but has made use of the facility to discard such unverified return is expected to file subsequent an ITR later on, as it is expected that they are liable to file the return of income by way of their earlier action.

ITR filed for AY 2022-23 is pending for verification. Can you avail Discard option?

Individuals can avail this option only from AY 2023-24 onwards for the respective ITR. This option will be available only till the time limit specified for filing ITR u/s 139(1)/139(4) /139(5) (i.e., December 31 of respective AY as of now).

Discarded ITR by-mistake. Is it possible to reverse it?

No, if ITR is discarded once, it can’t be reversed. The IT department has advised to be vigilant while availing this option. If an ITR is discarded, it means that such ITR is not filed at all.