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Who can file your ITR? CAs, ERIs, and authorized reps explained
The IT e-filing portal lets taxpayers appoint CAs, ERIs, or authorized representatives. Each category has distinct roles, from filing returns to managing estates.
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Filing an Income Tax Return does not have to be a solo exercise. Taxpayers who are unsure about tax laws, have complex financial transactions, or simply cannot complete the process themselves can appoint a professional or authorized individual through the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal.
The portal lets taxpayers choose from three categories of representatives. Chartered Accountants (CAs), e-Return Intermediaries (ERIs), and Authorized Representatives each have distinct roles and responsibilities.
A CA is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). To get help from one, a taxpayer must first add and assign the CA through the "My CA" service on the e-filing portal. The CA must accept the assignment before acting on the taxpayer's behalf.
Once authorized, a CA can file statutory forms, e-verify assigned forms, upload Form 15CB in bulk, view submitted forms, register a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), manage grievances, and handle certain account security settings.
ERIs are entities authorized by the Income Tax Department to provide tax filing services. Depending on their authorization level, ERIs may use the department's utilities, their own software integrated with the portal through APIs, or proprietary offline utilities.
Taxpayers can add an ERI using the "My ERI" service. Alternatively, an ERI can invite a taxpayer to become a client after obtaining consent. If the taxpayer is not already registered on the portal, the ERI can complete the registration process before adding the individual as a client.