What does DSC mean and why is it necessary?

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which is an electronic format of a paper or printed certificate, is called a Digital Signature Certificate. DSC can be used online to verify the identity of an individual/organization. DSC authenticates electronic documents just like a handwritten signature authenticates handwritten or printed documents. DSC is mandatory in certain cases and can be used by taxpayers to e-Verify tax returns.

 What is DSC?

If you have selected this option, you will need a digital signature certificate to sign Income Tax Forms/ Statutory Returns. You also need DSC for verification of responses to notices from the Income Tax Department or refund reissue requests. The user must have registered their DSC first with the eFiling program in order to sign or verify any document.

What is a designer?

Designers are required for DSC registration. You can choose from different versions, which are suitable for different websites. On the eFiling portal, you can find a link to download and install the designer tool.

When is it necessary to reregister my DSC

When your DSC expires or you want to make any changes to the DSC, you'll need to re-register it.

Where can I find a DSC for sale?

A valid DSC must be obtained from a certifying authority. The DSC must then be registered on the eFiling portal.

Is the DSC ever registered against the PAN number of a user?

DSC will register against the PAN for the Individual user, except in the instance of the Non-Resident Director of Foreign Company. DSC will be registered against an email ID in the case of a Foreign Company Non-Resident Director.

 Does DSC have to be mandatory for certain services/users

DSC is mandatory in certain services/user categories, such as the e-Verification return filings by companies and political parties, as well any other persons whose accounts need to be audited according to Section 44AB (the Income Tax Act). In other cases, DSC is optional.

When you register a DSC, the message "The Digital Signature Certificate Is Already Registered" appears. What should my next step be?

Multiple users cannot register the same DSC. An error message may indicate that the DSC was already registered against another taxpayer. Verify that you own the DSC and that your email ID and PAN are encrypted. The exception to this rule is that the Principal Contact may use the same DSC when registering DSC for individuals or organizations. You should also check the PAN for errors such as expiry or mismatch of DSC. A valid DSC should then be registered.

Whose DSC should be used for electronic filing ITRs of Firm/Company/HUF?

All categories (except Individuals) require the DSC from the Principal Contact (Karta if HUF).

What if I already own a DSC? Do I need one new for e-Filing if I do not have one?

You can use an HTML2 or 3 Specified Class 2 or 3-DSC for any other application for e-Filing, provided that the DSC hasn't expired or been revoked.

What is a DSC PIN (Digital Subscriber Number)? How do I obtain it?

DSC PIN is a password that the subscriber of a digital signature will need in order to upload a digital signature. Every DSC token includes a default pin. After you insert the DSC token in the USB port of the computer, you have the option to modify the PIN via the DSC driver program.

 Do I need to re-register my DSC in the new eFiling portal?

Yes. Even if your DSC registration is still active, you will need to register DSC again through the new eFiling portal. DSC data cannot transfer from the old portal because of technical and security concerns.