It is false statement. Income tax department has given two options to Assesses to file their return. Assesses can file their income tax return with a digital signature or without digital signature. If the Assessee files a return with digital signature, then the income tax return filling will be completed at the time he uploads the return file to income tax website. In case of without filing a digital signature, the assessee after uploading the file has to print a copy of acknowledgement Form V, sign the same and send it to the income tax office, CPC, Bangalore.
Companies filing under ITR 6 were required to file electronically with digital signature. Therefore it is compulsory for companies to use digital signature for filing return electronically. For others, they can file it with or without digital signature.
The CBDT vide Notification No. 37/2011 dated 01-07-2011 has made it mandatory to file return electronically using digital signature only in following cases if audit u/s. 44AB is applicable:
(1) Any Firm filing return in form ITR 5.
(2) Individual / HUF filing return in form ITR 4.
E-filing with digital signature is mandatory for those with business income of Rs 1 crore or more and professionals with income of Rs 25 lakh or more. Till last year, e-filing was mandatory if the figures exceeded Rs 60 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, respectively. E-filing is now mandatory for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families whose accounts have to be audited under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act. For companies, e-filing with digital signature is mandatory.