Income Tax Digital Signature Certificate Registration: DSC alert for taxpayers! What it is? How to do it? Know all here

The Income Tax Department has asked the tax payers to re-register their digital signature certificate (DSC) once again on the newly launched Income Tax website https://www.incometax.gov.in.

Taxpayers have been asked to re-register their DSC as the earlier digital signature on the old portal cannot be migrated due to security and technical reasons.

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Those who are not aware of the Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) here is all you need to know:

What is a Digital Signature Certificate?

Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) are the digital equivalent (that is electronic format) of physical or paper certificates. Few Examples of physical certificates are drivers' licenses, passports or membership cards.

Certificates serve as proof of identity of an individual for a certain purpose; for example, a driver's license identifies someone who can legally drive in a particular country.

Likewise, a digital certificate can be presented electronically to prove one’s identity, to access information or services on the Internet or to sign certain documents digitally.

Why is Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) required?

Physical documents are signed manually, similarly, electronic documents, for example e-forms are required to be signed digitally using a Digital Signature Certificate.

Digital signature is issued by a licensed Certifying Authority (CA) that is a person who has been granted a license to issue a digital signature certificate under Section 24 of the Indian IT-Act 2000.

What is the process of obtaining DSC from Certifying Authority?

Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) Applicants can directly approach Certifying Authorities (CAs) with original supporting documents, and self-attested copies will be sufficient in this case.

DSCs can also be obtained, wherever offered by CA, using Aadhar eKYC based authentication, and supporting documents are not required in this case.

A letter/certificate issued by a Bank containing the DSC applicant’s information as retained in the Bank database can be accepted. Such letter/certificate should be certified by the Bank Manager.

What is the cost of obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate?

The cost of obtaining a digital signature certificate may vary as there are many entities issuing DSCs and their charges may differ. Hence you are advised to check with Certifying Authority directly for charges.