MISCELLANEOUS - IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE (DSC) UNDER ITBA/HRMS APPLICATION

ITBA - DIGITAL SIGNATURE INSTRUCTION 1 [F.NO.SYSTEM/ITBA/DIGITAL IGNATURE/16-17/181], DATED 15-3-2017,DATED 15-3-2017

As a part of the day to day functioning of the Department, Officers and other employees are/will be required to issue letters, notices, orders to Income Tax assessees or other addressees within the Department or outside or upload documents, reports, forms or to perform several ITBA/Human Resource Management System related activities on the ITBA system. In order to enable digital authentication of such communications within and outside the Department, it is envisaged that the officers and other select employees shall use the Digital Signature Certificate issued to them by the Department to digitally sign such letters, notices, orders to Income Tax assesses or other addressees within the Department or outside or upload documents, reports, forms or to perform several ITBA/Human Resource Management System related activities on the ITBA system.

2.In view of the above, Department has introduced DSC integration with the ITBA/HRMS application. Digital Signature Certificate would enable officers/officials to make the signature process electronic so that all notices/letters/orders can be digitally signed at the time of finalization of the document. This will enable the digitally signed PDF copy to be stored in the database as well as sent to the tax payer by e-mail or to be placed on the tax payer's My Account in the e-filing portal. It would also be possible to print the digitally signed copy of the notices/letters/orders, in which case, an image of the Digital Signature can be printed in place of the actual physical signature in the same manner it is done for Intimation issued by CPC-ITR. Use of Digital Signature Certificate for Signing is also supported by the Information Technology Act and has also been enabled under the Income Tax Act.

3.In this regard, Department has empanelled M/s Sify Technologies Ltd. as a Licensed Certifying Authority (CA) for providing DSCto all officers up to the level of Income Tax Officer or equivalent in the Income Tax Department and also for selected officials such DDOs, AOs or Inspectors based on need.DSC would be valid for 2 years from date of issue. Department would provide two types of DSC as below:

i. / Organisation - Class-2 - Signing only + USB Token
ii. / Organisation - Class-2 - Signing + Encryption + USB Token ( For Investigation wing only)

4.For uniformity, Department has developed DSC Request form under the HRMS application where officer's details would be auto populated. All Officers have to upload their own PAN, AADHAR & Department ID copy as a proof of Identification, Address & Employee of the Department as per guidelines of Controller of Certifying Authority (CCA) for issuing DSC. Individual officer/official has to take a printout of the filled DSC application, duly sign it along with name and office seal and send to respective RCC admin along with the required hard copy of the proofs.

5.After verification, the RCC Admin would send the application form to the Nodal Officer for further collection by M/s Sify. The DSC token would be delivered at main RCC office (Nodal Officer) of the respective CCA region and the officer can get the same collectedThe list ofNodal Officer & RCC admin is enclosed as anAnnexure-A.Detailed instructionis also enclosed.

6.After receipt of the DSC, individual officer should register the DSC into the HRMS and sign the Test letter for training purpose. Successful signing of Test letter will ensure the successful process of DSC integration with ITBA/HRMS system.

7.In case of any error in post, location or if any eligible officers name is missed in the attached list, the RCC Admin may be contacted immediately to make necessary corrections in HRMS.

8.This may be given wide publicity to ensure time-bound completion of the DSC distribution. In case of any difficulty, Officers may contact Local RCC or Sh Ajay Bhende AD(S) at 9968626373 or . Details of contact persons of M/s Sify will be sent to RCC separately.

9.This issues with the approval of Pr DGIT(S).