CBDT Notifies Revised ITR-V and Acknowledgement Forms for AY 2025-26

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified revised ITR-V and Acknowledgement forms for Assessment Year 2025-26, introducing additional verification requirements and enhanced security features. The new forms mandate taxpayers to provide specific details about their digital signature certificates (DSCs) if filing through this method, including issuing authority and validity period. For paper returns, the updated ITR-V now requires an additional declaration confirming the return's authenticity. These changes aim to reduce fraudulent filings and improve audit trails. The revised acknowledgement form includes a QR code containing key return information for easy verification by tax authorities. Tax professionals note the modifications will add compliance burden but enhance security. The CBDT has also integrated these forms with the new income tax portal's functionality, requiring taxpayers to ensure they use only the latest versions when filing returns to avoid rejection. These procedural updates follow the recent overhaul of ITR forms themselves, completing this year's comprehensive revamp of return filing documentation.