Assessee faces various error when he fills / Uploads the ITR i.e.

a) ‘Validate’, ‘Calculate Tax’, ‘Generate’ buttons in ITR not work

b) While making data entry in some fields in the utility provided by the Department, the error message appears: ‘Password protected’.

c) While uploading the Income Tax Return, the error ‘The XML Schema is invalid. Please upload the XML in the correct schema’

d) NULL error, while uploading the XML file e)  While uploading system gives the error ‘Cannot read the xml file’

e) Not able to generate an XML and gets an error message as ‘Check on Tax Status option’. 

f) House Property loss is not populated in the Part B-TI schedule of Income Tax Return

g) Income chargeable under the head Salary is not populated in Part B-TI schedule of Income Tax Return.

h) Section 80G claim is not populated in the schedule VIA of Income Tax Return

i) While trying to e-File Income Tax Return using Digital Signature Certificate, the ‘Select your .pfx file’ or ‘Select with your USB Token’ buttons are not displayed or are not clickable.

We have given below the answer to above frequently faced problems by the Assessee and on general Questions Related to e-Filing Process of ITR

I don’t understand the process of e-Filing. What should I do?

Answer: To understand the procedure to e-File Income Tax Returns, GO TO ‘e-File’ on the home page of the ITD e-filing web site OR GO TO ‘Help’ → ‘How to e-File’ on the homepage.

What is the Return Preparation Software?

Answer: The ITD e-filing website has provided User Friendly utilities in Excel format for free download. These may be used by the individuals or organizations to file their returns electronically. These utilities are called the ‘Return Preparation Software’. The input to the “Return Preparation Software” will be the actual data that taxpayer need to fill while preparing return of income.

Is it mandatory to register on e-Filing application to e-File my Income Tax Return?

Answer: Yes.

Is it necessary that I use the Excel Utility created by Income tax Department? Can I use some other utility?

Answer: Yes. The e-Return Preparation Software provided at the ITD e-filing website are free for anyone to use in order to create the e-return XML file. End users are also free to use any other utility created by other software providers, as long as the XML output conforms to the XML Schema which has been posted at the e-Filing website.

What are the system requirements to download and use the Excel Utility?

Answer: The minimum system requirements needed to download and use the Return Preparation Software are: PC with 128 MB RAM, P-III processor, MS Excel, Internet connection, Internet Browser, at least 25 MB free hard disk space,, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Windows Operating system (Win 2000 or higher version), Java Run-time Environment Version 1.6 (Beta) or above for using DSC.

What is XML?

Answer: XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. It is a general purpose markup language designed especially for Web documents. XML is a way of describing data and it allows designers to create their own customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations. Any Excel Utility which creates an e-return XML will be a file with an extension .xml. This is the file that must be uploaded to the ITD e-filing website.

What is a Schema?

Answer: A schema refers to the collection of database objects associated with a particular database. Any user who files e-return will have to create an XML file based on the schema. A simple analogy would be that the schema represents a letter template where the user enters the addressee details, name, salutation, body text etc which then completes the document which is the equivalent of an XML file. The template ensures uniformity and standardization of the format of the letter in the same way that the schema provides a structure to the XML file.

On uploading the file on to the system, a unique database object is created in the Income tax Department system. If you are using the services of the Utilities available at the e- Filing website, or any other Utility capable of generating an e-return XML for these forms, you need not download the schema or be worried about it. The Schema is made available to those individuals, software companies and organizations who wish to use this code to help create their own software utility for filling up these forms.

‘Validate’, ‘Calculate Tax’, ‘Generate’ buttons are not working in Return Preparation software provided by the Department.

Answer: Macros should be enabled in the Return Preparation Software. Below are the steps to enable Macros: 1. For Excel 2003 users: Click on TOOLS menu and select → OPTIONS → SECURITY → Macro Security must be set to Medium or Low. 2. For Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 users: Click on the OFFICE button on the top left corner of the application and click EXCEL OPTIONS → TRUST CENTER → Trust Center Settings button → Select Macro Settings and click on radio button “Enable All Macros”.

While making data entry in some fields in the utility provided by the Department, the error message appears: “Password protected”.

Answer: The field gives the error message ‘Password Protected’ in case when the person using the utility tries to enter the value in the field which is auto-calculated or the field which is auto populated from the other schedules.

While uploading the Income Tax Return, I am getting an error “The XML Schema is invalid. Please upload the XML in the correct schema”. What does this error mean?

Answer: This error occurs when you might have tampered with the XML generated from the Return Preparation Software (Excel utility). Ensure that you upload the XML as it is generated from the Return Preparation Software. Also, ensure that you have downloaded and generated the XML from the ‘Return Preparation Software’ of the relevant Assessment Year and relevant Form type. The same Assessment Year and Form type must be selected while uploading the Income Tax Return Form.

What to do when there is an Error in uploading the XML?

Answer: The nature of problem will be highlighted. Rectify the error and try uploading the XML again.

What is to be done if taxpayer gets NULL error, while uploading the XML file?

Answer: This particular problem happens when — special characters like & < > # are entered in Income Tax Return — there is slow internet connection or network congestion, as the XML file is not read completely and henceforth it throws exception stating to upload proper XML. Trying after sometime may resolve this problem. Kindly follow the following steps: Set the Internet Explorer settings to Low. Go to Control Panel → Java → General → Settings and uncheck the ‘Keep Temporary Files on my computer’. Click the ‘Delete Files’ button and click OK. Close your existing browser and open a new browser and upload your xml file again. If the problem persists, kindly contact the call center at 080-22546500.

I have saved the XML file in my computer but while uploading system is giving the error “Cannot read the xml file” What should I do?

Answer: Kindly set the Internet Explorer Security Settings to Low as per following steps : a) In case of windows professional/vista, then Go to Control Panel → Java → General → Settings Kindly uncheck the ‘Keep Temporary Files on my computer’ and click the ‘Delete Files’ button and press OK. Close your existing browser and open a new browser. b) In case of Windows XP, then Go to Control Panel → Other Control Panel Options → Java → General → Settings Kindly uncheck the ‘Keep Temporary Files on my computer ” and click the ‘Delete Files’ button and press OK Close your existing browser and open a new browser.

I am not able to generate an XML. I am getting an error message as “Check on Tax Status option”. What should I do?

Answer: You need to select the ‘Tax Status’ under ‘Filing Status’ in the excel utility. If assessee has refund, then in Tax Status option he/she has to select “Tax Refundable”. If assessee has nil demand and nil refund then in Tax Status option he/she has to select “Nil Tax balance”. If assessee has demand then in Tax Status option he/she has to select “Tax Payment”.

Why the House Property loss is not populated in the Part B-TI schedule of Income Tax Return?

Answer: This situation occurs if only the Amount is filled in the HP schedule in Income Tax Return. You need to fill up the complete Address detail of the house property in the ‘House Property’ schedule along with the other details. While filling the detail please ensure that no special characters are entered in the respective fields.

Why the Income chargeable under the head Salary is not populated in Part B-TI schedule of Income Tax Return?

Answer: This situation occurs if only the Amount is filled in the Salary schedule in Income Tax Return. You need to fill up the complete Name and Address detail of the employer in the ‘Salary’ schedule along with the other details. While filling the detail please ensure that no special characters are entered in the respective fields.

Why my 80G claim is not populated in the schedule VIA of Income Tax Return?

Answer: This situation occurs if only the Amount donation field is filled in the Schedule 80G in Income Tax Return. You need to fill the complete Name, Address and PAN of the Donee in the ’80G’ schedule. While filling the detail please ensure that no special characters are entered in the respective fields.

Where do I save the downloaded Excel utility? Can I delete them later?

Answer: You can download the Excel utility on to your local computer/system. Once you fill the Excel utility and upload the XML file on the web-site, an Acknowledgment of the submission is generated. After receiving this intimation, the file can be saved. It is recommended that the XML file be retained for your records. The e-Filed XML file is also available post LOGIN in ‘My Account’ → ‘My Returns/Forms’.

While trying to e-File Income Tax Return using Digital Signature Certificate, the ‘Select your .pfx file’ or ‘Select with your USB Token’ buttons are not displayed or are not clickable.

Answer: This occurs due to the following reasons:
1. Check if Java Runtime Environment 1.6 or above is installed in your PC. If it is not installed, click here to download.
2. If Java Runtime Environment 1.6 or above is installed in your PC and still you are unable to register DSC to e-Filing application, this is because the Java is disabled. GO TO Internet Options → Advanced → Settings. Enable the check-box for ‘Java’.

I am an authorized signatory (principal contact) and while uploading the Income Tax Return I get an error saying “PAN mentioned on Personal Information is invalid”. I am entering the PAN of my Company/Firm/AOP/BOI/Artificial Juridical Person, HUF/ Co-operative Society/ Legal Authority/Trust. Why am I still getting the error?

Answer: Everyone other than Individual must enter the PAN of the principal contact (authorized signatory) in the Verification section of the Income Tax Return. If the Income Tax Return is being digitally signed, the PAN encrypted in the DSC must match with the PAN mentioned in the verification section.

I am assigned as a Legal Heir for a deceased person. While uploading the Income Tax Return of the deceased, I am getting an error “PAN mentioned on Personal Information is invalid”. What do I do?

Answer: Please ensure that the PAN entered in the Verification section of the Income Tax Return is your (Legal heir) PAN and not of the deceased person. Also, if the Income Tax Return is being digitally signed, the PAN encrypted in the DSC must match with the PAN mentioned in the verification section.

(Updated on 09.04.2013)