Do You Need to Re-register DSC on Income Tax Portal?

You have registered yourself on the Income Tax Portal.
You have successfully logged in.
You have even registered your Digital Signature Certificate (DSC for Income Tax).

So, you're all set for the tax filing season—right?

Not always.

Many taxpayers are surprised to find that despite having a registered DSC, the Income Tax Portal does not accept it while filing the return. This leads to confusion, delays, and last-minute stress—especially when the tax season is at its peak.

It is one of the most common problems faced by users on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. The reason is simple: in certain situations, your DSC needs to be re-registered, even if it was registered earlier.

So where did things go wrong? Do you need to re-register your DSC on Income Tax Portal?
And if yes, how can you do it? Read the complete details here.

Buy Digital Signature today and register easily on the Income Tax Portal.

Is Your Already Registered DSC Not Working?

Many taxpayers face a situation where their Income Tax DSC is already registered on the Income Tax Portal, yet it is not accepted during ITR filing or form submission. You may encounter errors such as the DSC not being detected, invalid certificate messages, or the portal asking you to verify using other methods.

This usually creates confusion because everything seems to be in place—the DSC is available, the USB token is connected, and the login is correct. However, the Income Tax Portal follows strict validation rules, and even a small change in the certificate or system setup can cause the DSC to stop working.

This is where the question arises whether simply having a registered DSC is enough, or if re-registering the DSC is required.

Do You Need to Re register DSC on Income Tax Portal Online?

Yes, re-registering your DSC on the Income Tax Portal is required in certain situations, even if it was registered earlier. When the portal fails to recognize your existing DSC, re-registration becomes the only way to re-authenticate the certificate and continue with income tax filing.

Why Do You Need to Re-register DSC?

1. DSC expired – An expired certificate cannot be used for filing, so you need a new one.

2. You registered DSC on the old portal – If your DSC was registered on the old Income Tax Portal, it needs to be registered again on the new portal.

3. The portal shows errors – Messages like “DSC not found” or “certificate already exists” mean you may need to re-register.

4. Changes in authorized signatory – For companies or firms, a new authorized person's DSC needs registration.

5. Portal updates – Sometimes, the Income Tax Portal updates its system, and old DSC for Income Tax registrations may stop working.

How to ‘Re register DSC on Income Tax Portal?

Here is a simple step-by-step procedure on how to re-register your DSC on Income Tax Portal carefully:

1. Check Your DSC

- Make sure your DSC is valid and connected to your computer (USB token plugged in).

If your DSC is expired, you can buy or renew DSC from Capricorn CA, India's trusted name in DSC related services.

2. Income Tax Login

- Reach Income Tax Portal. Log in by using your user ID and password.

3. Visit My Profile

- Click on My Profile.

4. Click on Register DSC

- On the left side of the Profile page, click Register DSC.

5. Handle DSC Pop-ups

If your DSC expired:
You will see a message: “Registered DSC is expired. Please re-register new one.”

In this case, follow the same steps below to register your new DSC.

If your DSC is not expired but you want to register a new one:
You will see a message: “Already registered DSC. View details of the already registered DSC or register a valid DSC.”

Click View to see the existing DSC details or Register New DSC to add a different certificate.

6. Confirm DSC Utility

- Check the box: “I have downloaded and installed the Income Tax utility” and click Continue.

- If you haven't downloaded the DSC for Income Tax utility yet, download it first from the portal.

7. Select DSC Certificate

- Select your Certificate Provider and the Certificate.

- Enter the Provider Password and click Sign.

8. Successful Registration

- Once the portal validates your DSC, a confirmation popup will appear.

- Your DSC is now re-registered and ready for use in ITR filing or other forms.

Always remember: a valid and correctly registered DSC is key to hassle-free e-Filing on the Income Tax Portal. Buy Capricorn DSC now!

Final Words

Re-registering your DSC on Income Tax Portal is essential for smooth income tax filing. Even if your DSC was registered earlier, technical updates, portal changes, or certificate issues may require you to re-register it.

1. Do we need to renew DSC every year?

No, not necessarily. A DSC is valid for 1 to 3 years depending on your purchase. You only need to renew or buy a new DSC once it expires.

2. How to re-register DSC on Income Tax Portal?

To re-register your DSC:

1. Log in to the Income Tax Portal.

2. Go to My Profile -> Register DSC.

3. Handle any pop-ups regarding expired or existing DSC.

4. Confirm you have the DSC utility installed.

5. Select your certificate, enter the provider password, and click Sign.

6. Your DSC will be successfully re-registered.

Read the full process in detail mentioned above in the guide.

3. How long is a DSC valid for?

A DSC is usually valid for 1 to 3 years from the date of issue. You must check the validity period when you purchase it.

4. Is DSC mandatory for ITR?

DSC is mandatory for certain taxpayers such as:

- Companies and LLPs

- Tax audit reports

And more…

5. How do I renew my DSC?

To renew a DSC, you need to contact the Certifying Authority (CA) from whom you bought it. They will issue a renewed certificate, which then needs to be re-registered on the Income Tax Portal if required.

Capricorn CA provides 100% online and quick DSC renewal services.

6. Register DSC in Income Tax Portal not showing – what to do?

If your registered DSC is not showing on the portal, it may be due to expiry, portal updates, or an old DSC still linked to your PAN. In such cases, re-registering the DSC usually resolves the issue.

Still not resolved? Read other Income Tax DSC errors and solutions here.

7. How to register DSC in the new Income Tax Portal?

"How to register DSC in new Income Tax portal for company”,
“How to register DSC in Income Tax portal for private limited company”,
“How to add DSC in Income tax portal for partnership firm”.

These type of queries are very common on the internet. To know how to register DSC in Income Tax Portal, CLICK HERE!