ITR Too Complex? Hire a Rep in 3 Legal Steps

Did you know you can legally appoint someone else — a CA, lawyer, or family member — to file your income tax return on your behalf? Here's who qualifies, when it's allowed, and how to do it correctly.

Here's what happened: Indian tax law allows any taxpayer to appoint an 'authorised representative' to appear before tax authorities or file returns on their behalf under Section 288 of the Income Tax Act.. Eligible representatives include chartered accountants, advocates, company secretaries, registered tax return preparers, and even close family members like spouses or parents in specific cases.. The taxpayer must submit a signed authorisation (Form 2848 equivalent under Indian rules) — the representative cannot act without documented, written consent from the taxpayer..

What you should do: Check if your ITR situation qualifies — business income, foreign assets, capital gains, or notices from IT department are the most common reasons to appoint a representative.. Verify your CA or tax professional is registered with ICAI or the Income Tax Department as an authorised practitioner before handing over any documents or login credentials.. Never share your IT portal password directly — use the official 'Add CA' feature on the income tax e-filing portal (incometax.gov.in) to grant authorised access safely..

If you receive an income tax notice and miss the response deadline, your authorised representative can file a condonation request — most salaried taxpayers don't know this option exists.