Income Tax Login: How to Access the E-Filing Portal (2026 Guide)

Logging in to the income tax e-filing portal takes under two minutes once you know the steps. Go to incometax.gov.in, click Login, enter your PAN (or Aadhaar) as the User ID, confirm your secure access message, and enter your password. If you have forgotten the password, you can reset it with an Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or a digital signature. You do not need to call anyone.

This guide covers the login steps, first-time registration, password resets, the most common errors, and what to do once you are inside.

Where is the official income tax login page?

The only official portal is https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/. It replaced the old incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in site in June 2021.

Search results and SMS messages often show look-alike websites that ask for your password or bank details. The Income Tax Department never asks for your PIN, card number or OTP over phone, email or SMS. Type the address yourself or use a bookmark.

How do I log in to the income tax portal step by step?

You log in with your PAN, your secure access message, and your password.

1. Open incometax.gov.in and click Login at the top right.
2. Enter your User ID. For individuals this is your PAN. You can also type your 12-digit Aadhaar if it is linked to your PAN. Click Continue.
3. Check the secure access message shown on screen. This is the phrase you chose when you registered. If it does not match, stop, because you may be on a fake site.
4. Tick the confirmation box and enter your password.
5. Click Continue. Your dashboard opens.

Companies, firms and trusts also use their PAN as the User ID. Tax deductors log in with their TAN, and chartered accountants with their ARCA ID.

What are the other ways to log in?

The portal offers four login routes besides the password.

Login method	What you need	Best for
PAN + password	Registered password	Everyday use
Aadhaar OTP	Mobile number linked to Aadhaar	Forgotten password, quick access
Net banking	Net banking account with a listed bank, PAN linked to the account	People who rarely remember portal passwords
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)	Registered Class 3 DSC and emSigner utility	Companies, audited businesses, CAs
Bank or demat account EVC	Pre-validated account with EVC enabled	Users who have set up e-verification

If you have turned on enhanced security in your profile settings, the portal asks for a second factor (Aadhaar OTP, EVC or DSC) even after the correct password. This is worth switching on. Refund redirection fraud is common, and a second factor makes it much harder.

How do I register on the e-filing portal for the first time?

Registration needs your PAN, a working mobile number and an email address.

1. On the home page, click Register.
2. Choose Taxpayer and enter your PAN. Click Validate.
3. Fill in your name, date of birth, gender and residential status exactly as they appear on your PAN card.
4. Enter your primary mobile number, email and address.
5. Verify the two OTPs sent to your mobile and email. They stay valid for 15 minutes.
6. Set a password and a secure access message.

Your password must be 8 to 14 characters long and include an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a number and a special character.

If the portal says "PAN is already registered", someone has already created your account. This could be you years ago, your employer's tax consultant, or a CA. Use Forgot Password rather than creating a new account.

How do I reset a forgotten income tax password?

Click Forgot Password on the login page, enter your PAN, and choose a verification method.

• Aadhaar OTP: the quickest option if your Aadhaar is linked to PAN and your mobile is linked to Aadhaar.
• Registered mobile and email OTP: sent to the contact details on your e-filing profile.
• Net banking: log in through your bank and use the e-filing link. You can reset the password from inside the portal.
• DSC: upload your registered digital signature.
• Bank or demat EVC: only if you have already enabled it.

Once verified, set a new password. It works straight away.

A practical tip: if your registered mobile number belonged to a former employer or an old consultant, the OTP will not reach you. In that case use Aadhaar OTP or net banking, then update your contact details under My Profile.

Why is the income tax login not working?

Most login failures come from one of six causes.

Error or symptom	Likely cause	Fix
"Invalid Password"	Wrong password or Caps Lock on	Reset through Forgot Password
"Your account is locked"	Too many wrong attempts	Wait for the lock to clear or unlock with Aadhaar OTP or net banking
"PAN does not exist"	Typo, or PAN not registered yet	Recheck PAN, then register
"PAN is inoperative"	PAN not linked to Aadhaar	Link PAN and Aadhaar after paying the fee
OTP not received	Old mobile number on record or network delay	Use Aadhaar OTP or net banking instead
Page keeps loading	Heavy traffic near deadlines, or browser cache	Clear cache, try another browser, or log in early morning

An inoperative PAN deserves extra attention. You can still log in, but refunds are held and TDS may be deducted at higher rates until the PAN is linked. Our guide on linking Aadhaar with PAN walks through it.

Traffic also spikes in the last week of July and around 31 December, when belated and revised returns are due. Logging in a few weeks early saves a lot of frustration.

What can I do after logging in?

Once you are on the dashboard, you can handle most of your tax work yourself.

• File your return: go to e-File, Income Tax Returns, File Income Tax Return. See our step-by-step guide to e-filing your ITR.
• Download Form 26AS and AIS: check TDS, interest and high-value transactions before you file.
• E-verify a return: complete verification within 30 days of filing. Here is how e-verification works.
• Track refunds: under Services, Refund status.
• Respond to notices: open Pending Actions, then e-Proceedings, to read and reply to notices from the department.
• Pay tax: e-File, e-Pay Tax, for advance tax, self-assessment tax and demand payments.
• Update your profile: bank accounts for refunds, contact details, and security settings.

Make sure your refund bank account shows as pre-validated. Refunds are credited only to pre-validated accounts, and a missing validation is one of the most common reasons refunds seem stuck.

Can someone else log in for me?

Yes, but do it properly.

Rather than sharing your password with an accountant, you can authorise a CA through Authorised Partners, Add CA in your profile. The CA then files forms such as tax audit reports from their own login. For a person who is abroad, ill, or has passed away, a representative assessee or legal heir can be registered under Authorised Partners.

Sharing your password means anyone with it can change your bank account and redirect refunds. If you have shared it in the past, change it now and switch on enhanced security.

How SP & SC helps

We regularly help people who are locked out, whose account was created by someone they can no longer reach, or who have found notices sitting unanswered in the portal. We can recover access through the proper channels, review your AIS and 26AS, and file or correct your return. See our income tax filing service or talk to us for a fixed quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is the user ID for the income tax login?

For individuals and businesses it is your PAN. Individuals can also use their Aadhaar number if it is linked to PAN. Tax deductors use their TAN.

Can I log in to the income tax portal without a password?

Yes. You can log in using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, a registered DSC, or bank or demat EVC, without entering your portal password.

How long does an income tax account stay locked?

The portal locks the account for a short period after repeated wrong attempts. You do not need to wait, though. You can unlock it straight away with Aadhaar OTP or net banking through the Forgot Password flow.

Is the old incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in site still working?

No. It was replaced by incometax.gov.in in June 2021. Your old login details carried over to the new portal.

I registered years ago and do not remember my email or mobile. What now?

Reset your password using Aadhaar OTP or net banking. Once inside, update your mobile and email under My Profile. Each change is confirmed with an OTP.

Is it safe to log in through net banking?

Yes. Net banking login goes through your bank's own secure page and then redirects you to the portal. It is often safer than remembering a separate password.