PAN in Digital Signature needed for ITR filing purpose effective from Aug 1 2010

For the purpose of Income Tax Return filing, "Controllermentioned in verification part of ITR-5/6.
of Certifying Authorities" has amended the procedureMajor limitation here was for first-time digitally signing
to include "Permanent Account Number" in Digitalassessee, where he should have earlier return. Further
Signatures."Matching of name" was practical problem reported by
1. This change is with effect from August 01, 2010.several assessees.
2. PAN is a NEW additional field in digital signature.New procedure:
3. The old DSC may not contain this value, evenThe above limitations have increased due to
though if you had given PAN while availing DSCmandatory Digitally signing of ITR-6. To overcome this
before 01/08/2010.issue, CCA, through the request from ITD, has
4. PAN is optional, and DSC can be issued evenintroduced a new filed in DSC issuing. In this, DSC can
without PAN. If the subscriber (user) intends to havehave PAN encoded in itself, so that it can help ITR
PAN in it, he/she has to specifically intimate the issuer.filing.
ITR filing with DSC:While registration, it asks the user to enter the PAN.
In ITR e-filing website, filing with Digital signatureThis PAN should match with the DSC encrypted PAN.
remains almost similar. That is,(No other matching is done here). While uploading,
1. Register the DSC for particular loginselected-DSC should have the encrypted PAN
2. Re-Select the same DSC while uploading the XMLmatching with the PAN mentioned in ITR verification
Earlier procedure:part.
DSC was not containing the encrypted PAN value ofWith effect from:
the assessee. So, in case of firms/companies, whileThe technical guidelines were issued by CCA, as early
registering the DSC at the website, it should have gotas at Dec-2009. With effect from August 2010, all
at least one earlier ITR XML uploaded/accepted andCertifying authorities may issue DSC with encrypted
"name of DSC holder" should match with any of thePAN.
director/key-person list in earlier accepted-XML return.1. Assessees can also use earlier DSC, which has no
[In case of individuals, name should match with "PANencrypted PAN. In such case, "name matching" system
Name in ITD database" and email ID in DSC shouldcontinues as earlier.
match with email ID in website profile]2. Assessees, at their interest, can contact their current
Further while uploading the XML, the selected DSCcertifying authorities for upgradation / re-issue of DSC
number (unique number of DSC stored in websitewith the encrypted PAN. The certifying authorities can
while registering) should match with the one used forfollow their own procedures for this purpose.
registering. Secondly, "name of DSC holder" should3. New assessees taking DSC are recommended to
match with the "Name in ITD database" for the PANtake with encrypted PAN.