You can pay advance tax, self-assessment tax and other direct taxes on the Income Tax e-filing portal and finish the payment through UPI. The money moves from your linked bank account via Paytm, PhonePe or Google Pay, and the challan is generated instantly on the portal. No branch visit, no net-banking setup.
Step 1: Log in and open e-Pay Tax
Go to incometax.gov.in and sign in with your PAN (as user ID) and password. On your dashboard, click e-Pay Tax. If you aren’t logged in, you can also use the e-Pay Tax (without login) option on the homepage, but logging in makes it easier to track the receipt later.
Step 2: Create your challan correctly
Choose New payment and pick the right tax type — most individuals will select Advance tax or Self-assessment tax. Select the correct assessment year. Enter the amount you need to pay. Check your name and PAN once more before you proceed. When you confirm, the portal creates a challan and shows you the amount due and available payment modes.
Step 3: Choose UPI and pay in your app
Select UPI as the payment mode. The portal will show a QR code (and often a UPI ID). Open Paytm, PhonePe or Google Pay on your phone, tap Scan & Pay, scan the QR, confirm the exact amount and authorise the payment with your UPI PIN. Keep the app open until you see “payment successful”.
Step 4: Confirm credit and download the receipt
Come back to the e-filing tab. The status usually flips to Paid within a minute or two. Download the challan receipt from Payment history. It carries the CIN (Challan Identification Number) and UTR — these are your proof of payment. Save the PDF to your records and email it to yourself.
If the payment fails or is pending
Sometimes UPI shows success but the portal still says “pending”. Don’t pay again immediately. Wait 30-60 minutes and refresh Payment history. If it remains pending, check your bank statement for a debit. If money is debited and the challan isn’t created, raise a ticket on the portal or contact your bank/UPI app support with the UTR. Most failed UPI tax payments auto-reverse to your account in a short time.
Good habits to avoid mistakes
Match the assessment year and tax type before you pay. Ensure your UPI-linked bank account has enough balance and is KYC-compliant. Keep the browser tab open until you see the success message and the receipt is available. Store the challan PDF, UPI transaction ID and bank SMS together — you will need them at return filing time or if the department asks for proof.
The bottom line
Paying income tax through Paytm, PhonePe or Google Pay is simple once you know the flow: create the challan on the portal, choose UPI, pay in your app, then download the receipt. Do the basics right, keep your proofs, and you’re done in a few minutes.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
