- An eligible entity shall register online with Protean at https://tin.tin.nsdl.com/eri by filling up the Registration Form as per the guidelines provided. Physical applications shall not be entertained.
- On confirmation of the application an acknowledgment screen containing a unique 15-digit acknowledgment number shall be displayed.
- The applicant shall save and print this acknowledgment. The duly signed acknowledgment along-with self-attested proofs for fulfilment of eligibility criteria, due diligence certificate (applicable for Type 1 and Type 2) and requisite payment (application fee) should be sent to Protean.
- Payment can be made either by Cheque or Demand Draft in favour of 'Protean - ERI' for ₹ 4,720/- [non-refundable application fee (inclusive of GST 18%)]. Demand Draft shall be payable at MUMBAI. Applicants making payment by cheque shall deposit a local cheque (drawn on any bank) with any HDFC Bank branch across the country (except Dahej). The cheque should be deposited in the account number '05422320001766'. Name of the applicant and acknowledgment number should be mentioned on the reverse of the Cheque / Demand Draft. List of HDFC Bank Branches.
- The above-mentioned documents should be sent to Protean at 'e-Return Intermediary Cell, Protean e-Governance Infrastructure Limited, 1st floor, Times Tower, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400013. Tel: 020 - 2721 8080. Fax: 020 - 2721 8081.
- Superscribe the envelope with 'APPLICATION FOR e-RETURN INTERMEDIARY - ACKNOWLEDGMENT NUMBER' (e.g. 'APPLICATION FOR e-RETURN INTERMEDIARY - 880010100000011').
- Acknowledgment along with requisite self-attested documents and payment should reach Protean within 15 days from the date of online application.
- On receipt of requisite self-attested documents and realization of payment, Protean will verify the document and details provided in the application form.
- On successful validation of documents, Protean will send an intimation to the applicant on the email Id provided in the application form to complete registration on e-Filing Portal.
- If the documents or application form are not in order, Protean will send an intimation over email to seek corrected documents within a specified time duration.
- On receipt of email by Protean for registration completion, applicant must go to income tax portal https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/pre-login/register and register as an e-Return Intermediary.
- Upon submission of the registration request, the request shall be sent for review and approval by the Income-tax department. The applicant can check status of their application through “Check registration status”, available under ERI registration on ITD website
- On approval of the application by the Income-tax department, the applicant will receive an email with an ERI User Id, Intermediary order with terms and conditions, and further steps to be taken basis the type of ERI selected by the applicant in registration application
- Type 1- ERI can login to e-filing portal using ERI User Id and password set at the time of registration. ERI can add client and access services on behalf of their active client(s) on e-filing portal.
- Type 2- ERI will have to perform testing in sandbox environment. ERI will receive test environment details through erihelp@incometax.gov.in.Once API testing is completed, ERI will have to submit test status report to the department. On approval of the test report, ERI’s production IP will be whitelisted to access the API and other details will be shared through erihelp.
- ERI can access API specification documents on e-filing portal. API Specifications https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/api-specifications
- ERI will have to share public key certificate (.cer file) in compliance with given ‘SHA-2 Hash Algorithm and 2048 bit RSA key’
- Type 3- ERI will have to perform testing in sandbox environment. ERI will receive test environment details through erihelp@incometax.gov.in.ERI will have to submit test status report to the department. On approval of the test report, ERI will receive production details through erihelp
- If the registration application is rejected by the department, the applicant will receive an email communication with reason of rejection. Applicant may make necessary corrections and apply again for registration. For any assistance applicant can drop an email to erihelp@incometax.gov.in.
- For any future correspondence with Protean, the applicant should quote 15-digit acknowledgment number.