Many online fraud cases are being reported in recent times. If you are one of those who use e-filing option, it is important for you to protect your e-filing account against such online frauds and malicious attacks. The income tax department has come up with a solution called ‘e-Filing Vault’.
What is an ‘e-Filing Vault’?
An e-Filing Vault is a dual-factor login authentication feature. The usual procedure to log in is through the e-filing portal by entering the User ID (PAN) and password. However, any third-party who knows your User ID (PAN) and password can log into your account, access your information. The e-filing vault is a layer of protection provided to your account which makes it necessary for an additional check over the normal login process.
Steps involved in setting up the e-Filing Vault
Step 1: Log in to the e-filing portal using your User ID and password.
Step 2: Click on the ‘e-Filing Vault Higher Security’ in your Profile section.
Step 3: A screen with two options—’Set Higher Security for Login’ and ‘Set Higher Security for Password Reset’ will be displayed as shown in the image below.
Step 4: Select one of the security methods for login and/or password and click on ‘Continue’ upon selecting.
Step 5: Every time you log in, you will be required to perform the additional check as per your selection.
A. If you choose to select ‘Using OTP on Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar’. Select the appropriate option-‘I already have an OTP in mobile number registered with Aadhaar.
Click on the check box ‘I agree to validate my Aadhaar details’ and select the button ‘ Generate Aadhaar OTP’.
Validate your Aadhaar by entering the 6-digit OTP received on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar.
B. If you select option- Through Bank Account EVC / Demat Account EVC / DSC / Through Net Banking. The chosen option will be applied to your e-filing account.
What are the pre-requisites to activate the e-Filing Vault?
There are some pre-requisites to activate the e-Filing Vault based on the option you choose to secure your account with. Consider that you have chosen ‘ the first security method ‘Login through Net Banking’.
- When you log in for the first time after selecting the e-filing vault security method, you will be redirected to the ‘e-Filing Login through Net Banking’ page.
- You must select the bank name and log in to your net banking account.
- Click on the link that states ‘Login to the IT e-Filing Account’.
- Now, you will be redirected to the e-Filing Dashboard. The same procedure applies to any security method you choose.
How to disable the dual-factor authentication feature?
If you don’t want to have the dual-factor authentication feature anymore, you can disable it at any time. Here is the procedure for the same:
Step 1: Log in to your account on the e-filing portal.
Step 2: Click on the ‘e-Filing Vault – Higher Security’ option under the ‘Profile Settings’ tab.
Step 3: Deselect the security method you had chosen previously.
Step 4: Click on the ‘Proceed’ button and click on ‘Disable’. For example, if your security method was ‘Login using Aadhaar OTP’, the below prompt will appear for confirmation.
How to reset the password?
If you have forgotten the password to log in to your e-filing account, you can follow the below steps and reset the password.
Step 1: Click on the ‘Forgot Password’ option on the login page.
Step 2: Enter the User ID and captcha code. Select an option from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: If you have not activated the ‘reset password’ functionality, you must choose the option ‘Answer Secret Question’ or ‘Using OTP (PINs)’ option. There are other password reset options such as ‘Upload DSC’ and ‘Using Aadhaar OTP’. You can activate these options by logging in to your account, clicking on ‘E-Filing Vault – Higher Security’ under ‘Profile Settings’. The ‘Password Reset Options’ is now visible as shown in the image below.
Choose the option you wish to activate and click on ‘Proceed’. When you activate this, the default options such as answering a secret question and OTP will be disabled providing additional security to your account.
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As an expert in cybersecurity and online privacy, I've extensively researched and implemented various security measures to safeguard sensitive information in digital realms. Protecting e-filing accounts against online fraud and malicious attacks is a crucial aspect of modern-day digital security. One such measure introduced by the income tax department is the 'e-Filing Vault'—a dual-factor login authentication feature designed to add an extra layer of protection to users' accounts.
The e-Filing Vault essentially functions by necessitating an additional authentication step beyond the usual login process. This is crucial because relying solely on a User ID (PAN) and password can leave accounts vulnerable to unauthorized access by third parties who might gain access to these credentials.
To set up the e-Filing Vault, users need to follow a series of steps:
- Log in to the e-filing portal using the User ID and password.
- Access the 'e-Filing Vault Higher Security' in the Profile section.
- Choose between two options: 'Set Higher Security for Login' and 'Set Higher Security for Password Reset.'
- Select a security method for login or password reset (such as using OTP on the registered mobile number with Aadhaar, or through Bank Account EVC/Demat Account EVC/DSC/Net Banking).
- Depending on the chosen method, follow the specific steps outlined for authentication, which may include generating and validating an Aadhaar OTP or logging in through net banking.
Activating the e-Filing Vault has prerequisites based on the chosen security method. For instance, if opting for 'Login through Net Banking,' users must log in to their net banking account and link it to the e-Filing Dashboard.
To disable the dual-factor authentication feature, users can follow these steps:
- Log in to the e-filing portal.
- Access 'e-Filing Vault – Higher Security' under 'Profile Settings.'
- Deselect the previously chosen security method and proceed to disable it.
For password reset, if forgotten, users can:
- Click on 'Forgot Password' on the login page.
- Enter User ID and captcha code, selecting an option from the dropdown menu based on activated functionalities (like answering secret questions, using OTP, or other options configured in the 'E-Filing Vault – Higher Security' under 'Profile Settings').
This comprehensive e-Filing Vault system aims to enhance security and mitigate online fraud risks for individuals filing taxes electronically.
