The income tax department is set to introduce a free-of-cost and easy-to-operate electronic signature facility to file income tax returns electronically

> The income tax department is set to introduce a free-of-cost and easy-to-operate electronic signature facility to file income tax returns electronically.

> The facility will help taxpayers who do not have a digital signature.

> It will save them from the mandatory requirement of sending a hard copy of the return filed electronically through speed post to the department’s central processing centre in Bangalore.

> Acquiring an electronic signature will not involve any cost for the taxpayer, as it will be provided by the department.

> Currently, only those having digital signatures acquired through specified vendors by paying the required charges need not send the hard copy of the return to the department after filing electronically.