Income-Tax Returns: What is authorised representative? Check full list of circumstances, services, eligibility here

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Income-tax returns: The income-tax department has released excel utility of its ITR-1 (Sahaj), ITR-2, ITR-3, and ITR-4 (Sugam) online forms for financial year 2025-26 i.e. assessment year 2026-27 and notified all ITR forms 1-5 for this tax year (FY26 / AY27).

Notably, availability of means that you can prepare your returns offline before uploading them digitally. Taxpayers have till 31 August to file their returns by logging into the e-filing portal with your User ID and password. Notably, this deadline has been extended by a month from 31 July earlier.

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Today we explain the circumstances under which can appoint authorised representative, the requirements, eligibility criteria and other important factors.

What is assisted filing in ITR?

is when a taxpayer has a Chartered Accountant (CA), e-Return intermediaries (ERIs) or authorised representative assist taxpayers with their ITR filing or any other related services.

  • A Chartered Accountant registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has to be added and assigned through the e-filing portal (My CA service).
  • e-Return intermediaries (ERIs) are authorised intermediaries who can file ITR and perform other functions on the behalf of taxpayers. You have to add it using My ERI service on the official .
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  • Authorised representative is a person competent to act on your behalf with specific authorisation if you are not able to attend to your own affairs. You have to add them using the Authorize / Register as Representative service on the official e-filing portal.

Authorised representative: Circumstances, services, eligibility

Status of Assessee Circumstance Who can sign the ITR Form? Types of access to be given to Authorized Signatory / Representative Assessee
Authorized Representative Absent from India Resident Authorized Person with PAN
  • If Authorization is for a period, Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person or Register as Representative Assessee and e-Proceedings functionalities for the period of authorization. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • If Authorization is for a specific function, then full access only for that functionality with only view access to ‘Profile’ information. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Authorized Representative Non-resident Resident Authorized Person with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee and e-Proceedings functionalities for the period of authorization. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • If Authorization is for a specific function, then full access only for that functionality with only view access to ‘Profile’ information. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Authorized Representative Any other reason Resident Authorized Person with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee and e-Proceedings functionalities for the period of authorization. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • If Authorization is for a specific function, then full access only for that functionality with only view access to ‘Profile’ information. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns/service request as performed in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Authorized Representative Non-Resident Company (Foreign Entity) Resident Authorized Person with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee and e-Proceedings functionalities for the period of authorization. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • If Authorization is for a specific function, then full access only for that functionality with only view access to ‘Profile’ information. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify. 
Authorized Representative Non-resident Company Resident agent treated as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or Resident agent treated u/s 163 as Representative Assessee with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities for the period of treatment as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or u/s 163. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Representative Assessee
Authorized Representative Non-resident Firm Resident agent treated as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or Resident agent treated u/s 163 as Representative Assessee with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities for the period of treatment as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or u/s 163. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Representative Assessee
Authorized Representative Non-resident LLP Resident agent treated as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or Resident agent treated u/s 163 with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities for the period treatment as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or u/s 163. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Representative Assessee
Authorized Representative Non-resident AOP Resident agent treated as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or Resident agent treated u/s 163 as Representative Assessee with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities for the period treatment as Representative Assessee u/s 160 or u/s 163. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Representative Assessee
Authorized Representative Any other reason  Any Authorised Person with PAN
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee and e-Proceedings functionalities for the period of authorization. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • If Authorization is for a specific function, then full access only for that functionality with only view access to ‘Profile’ information. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Register to act on behalf of another person Estate of a Deceased Manager / Executor / Trustee
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Once all the assets of the estate of a deceased are distributed, then such estate of a deceased shall stop to exist. However, the executor/manager/trustee who has registered as person competent to verify shall continue to have access to all records filed or complied by in the capacity of executor/manager/trustee. 
  • If under any circumstances, the ITD admin revokes the Executor then the e-filing account of the Estate of Deceased PAN access shall be deactivated until another Manager/Executor/Trustee registers himself or herself as the person competent to act on behalf of the PAN. The newly added Manager/Executor/Trustee shall have full access to previous records and compliance made by the erstwhile Manager/Executor/Trustee.
Register to act on behalf of another person Estate of insolvent Official Assignee
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Once Estate of an insolvent is fully distributed, the option to upload forms/returns of period subsequent to the year in which such distribution occurs is prevented. However, the official assignee can continue to have access to the have access to all records filed or complied by in the capacity of an Authorised signatory. 
  • If under any circumstances, the ITD admin revokes the official Assignee from access to the e-filing account of the Estate of an Insolvent PAN the e-filing account shall be deactivated until another Official Assignee registers themselves as the person competent to act on behalf of the estate PAN.The newly added official assignee shall have full access to previous records and compliance made by the erstwhile official assignee.
Register to act on behalf of another person Company being wound up under NCLT or before Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (order by court /person appointed as a receiver of any asset of the company) Liquidator
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Register to act on behalf of another person Takeover by Central / State Government under any Law
OR
Discontinued Business
 
Designated Principal Officer of the Central/State Government
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Representative Assessee Mentally Incapacitated Guardian or Other competent person
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Representative Assessee Deceased Legal Heir
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted
Representative Assessee Lunatic / Idiot Guardian or Other competent person
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Representative Assessee Persons for whom Court of wards etc. is appointed Court of Ward / Receiver / Manager / Administrator General / Official Trustee
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by the court or the ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Representative Assessee Trust in writing Trustee
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify
Representative Assessee Oral Trust Trustee
  • Full Access except ‘Profile Settings’, Authorize another person to act on behalf of self or Register to act on behalf of another person, Register as Representative Assessee functionalities up to the date of revocation by ITD. However, view of ‘Profile’ information will be permitted. 
  • Thereafter, only view and download option of all forms/returns uploaded in the capacity of Person Competent to Verify

Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. We advise investors to check with certified tax or financial planning experts before making any decisions.

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