The Income Tax Department has introduced an optional security feature called e-Filing Vault Higher Security, designed to strengthen taxpayer account security through two-factor authentication. According to reports from Mint, this facility requires a second level of authentication in addition to regular user ID and password, helping prevent unauthorized access to e-filing accounts. While enabling the e-filing vault is not mandatory, taxpayers can activate it to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, particularly useful for those who share login credentials with chartered accountants or tax consultants.
Taxpayers can choose from multiple authentication options based on their preference and available resources. As reported by Mint, the available methods include OTP sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar, net banking, Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), Electronic Verification Code (EVC) through pre-validated bank account, and Electronic Verification Code through pre-validated demat account. To activate the feature, taxpayers must be registered users with valid credentials and have at least one of these authentication methods available.
The activation process involves logging into the e-filing portal and navigating to the 'My Profile' section to access e-Filing Vault Higher Security settings. According to Mint, users can enable higher security for login, password reset, or both options based on their preference. For Aadhaar OTP authentication, taxpayers must generate a six-digit OTP and enter it successfully to complete the verification process. Other authentication methods require completing the specific verification process applicable to the selected option.
Taxpayers can disable e-Filing Vault Higher Security through the same portal interface by unchecking the higher security options under login and password reset settings. As reported by Mint, the disabling process requires confirmation and successful verification before the selected higher security option is disabled. A confirmation message along with a Transaction ID is displayed to confirm the successful disabling of the security feature.
