ITR filing: Here’s how Income Tax Department’s co-browsing service will make your job much easier

The deadline to file Income Tax Return for FY 2022-23 is just four days away and if you are planning to file the return on your own here is a facility that can make your job easier.  The co-browsing feature of Income Tax Department can help you to file ITR without any hassle.  

Designed to offer real-time and personalised support, this new tool allows Helpdesk agents to collaborate with taxpayers directly on the same browser tab while filing the ITR trough e-filing portal.

Read on to find out how this co-browsing service is streamlining the ITR filing process for taxpayers.

What is co-browsing feature?

The co-browsing feature enables agents to navigate, scroll, type text, and highlight relevant areas on the browser along with the taxpayer. In conjunction with live chat or phone calls, this tool resolves any issue faced by taxpayers while filing ITR through the e-filing portal. Agents can now better assist taxpayers in tasks like filling up different fields on ITR forms, changing settings, and finding reference materials, all while ensuring quicker resolution.

The co-browsing feature also makes remote assistance easier, allowing agents to help taxpayers complete transactions, locate help materials, and upload documents directly to the e-filing site. This enhanced support results in a more convenient and satisfactory experience for taxpayers.

Privacy and security

In terms of privacy and security, co-browsing only allows agents to see the active browser tab. They cannot access any other data on the taxpayer's desktop or computer. Furthermore, taxpayers must approve the co-browsing session before it can start and can end the session at any time as they wish.

Co-browsing provides a more private and secure user experience compared to screen sharing. While screen sharing requires third-party applications and exposes the user's entire desktop, co-browsing only shows the active browser tab, ensuring a more secure experience.

How co-browsing feature works

Initiating a co-browsing session is quite straightforward. The taxpayer generates a PIN and shares it with the agent, who then enters it into the co-browsing URL. Once the session begins, the agent can guide the taxpayer throughout the process. When the taxpayer's queries are resolved, they can stop the session and the agent will no longer have access to the taxpayer's browser.

As per the Income Tax portal, the new co-browsing feature brings several benefits. No installations or plugins are needed, navigation is seamless, and it decreases the average handling time while increasing resolution rates. Additionally, it makes highlighting and annotating important points easier.