How to remove Failed Account on GOI Portal

[Dinesh G]

I have two bank accounts listed on GOI Tax Portal. One is Valid account where I am listed as Primary holder and second is failed account where I am listed as Joint holder. To file tax return for 2024-25, system asks to remove failed account. If I try to remove this account, system asks to e-verify the account. The options to do this are:

1. Using OTP on phone linked with Aadhar Card - I cannot use this option as I live outside India and do not have Aadhar Card.

2.  Generate EVC using Net Banking - I tried but cannot get it as I am not Primary account holder.

3. DMAT account - I do not have one.

Need help of experts to know how I can remove this failed account from my GOI Portal account at an early date so that I can file taxes for 2024-25 timely.

Thanks for your time and help with this.

Dinesh

[YAGAY andSUN]

You are encountering a procedural limitation on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal wherein removal of a "failed" bank account requires e-verification, which is not feasible in your case due to absence of Aadhaar linkage and your status as a joint (non-primary) account holder.

As per applicable procedure, such verification is mandated to ensure authenticity of banking changes. However, there is no statutory requirement under the Income-tax Act mandating deletion of a failed account for filing a return.

In such circumstances, the following legally compliant options may be considered:

First, if your valid bank account is already pre-validated and designated for refund purposes, you may proceed with filing your return by selecting only that account. In many cases, the system permits continuation despite prompts to remove the failed account.

Second, you may raise a grievance through the portal under the appropriate category relating to pre-validated bank accounts, clearly stating that you are a joint holder, lack access to EVC generation, and are unable to complete Aadhaar-based verification. A request for backend removal or delinking may be made.

Third, you may contact the Income Tax Department helpdesk via email, providing relevant details such as PAN and screenshots of the issue. The department may, upon verification, facilitate manual resolution.

Alternatively, adding and validating another bank account in which you are the primary holder may mitigate the issue and allow seamless filing.

Accordingly, so long as a valid bank account is duly pre-validated and selected for refund credit, you may proceed with filing without legal impediment.

AI Summary

Bank account verification on the tax portal can block deletion of a failed account, but filing may still proceed with a valid pre-validated account. A procedural issue arises on the Income Tax e-Filing Portal where removal of a failed bank account is linked to e-verification. Where Aadhaar OTP verification, net banking EVC generation as a joint holder, and demat-based verification are unavailable, deletion of the failed account may not be straightforward. The stated options are to proceed with a valid pre-validated account for refund credit, raise a grievance for backend removal or delinking, contact the helpdesk for manual resolution, or add and validate another primary bank account.