What is E-Tax payment?

E-Tax payment is a facility provided to the taxpayers to make income tax payments through the internet, using Net-banking/Debit card of the selected Bank. In other words, E-Tax payments are the direct taxes payable online by the taxpayers. To avail this there is mostly an option of net banking and debit card payment.

To pay e-Tax, select the relevant challan i.e. ITNS 280, ITNS 281, ITNS 282, ITNS 283, ITNS 284, ITNS 285, ITNS 286, ITNS 287, Form 26QC, Form 26QB, Form 26QD, Demand Payment for Form 26QB/ 26QC/26QD as applicable.

There are many facilities which the bank provides with the net-banking and if your bank providing on NSDL-TIN website.

There will be an online check on the validity of the PAN / TAN entered. If PAN/ TAN is valid, you will be allowed to fill up other challan details like the accounting head under which payment is made, the name and address of TAN and also select the bank through which payment is to be made, etc.

On submission for the data entered, a confirmation screen is always displayed. It asks for your confirmation to go ahead, it will be directed to the Banks Payment Gateway, that is Net-Banking/Debit Card Web page.

On successful payment, a challan counterfoil will be displayed containing CIN, payment details and bank name through which e-payment has been made. This counterfoil is proof of payment being made. In a scenario where you have misplaced your counterfoil, you can check the website of your bank to apply for a duplicate one, or contact them to issue a duplicate challan counterfoil. 

If, during or after completing the transaction, an error has occurred on the bank site, then instead of commencing with the transaction again, you must first check your account if the amount has been debited, or else your account may get debited twice for the same amount of tax.

Now, as a tax-payer, you don't need to be in the bank. Payments can be made properly with proper authentication and a CIN, that is the Challan Identification Number, which adds to the files of return, which is a benefit to the people and saves them time.