New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS): The income tax department has received 2.06 crore returns, which is an increase of 26.12 percent over last year on its e-filing portal, an official statement said on Thursday.

"In the financial year 2015-16, the department has received 2.06 crore returns on the e-filing portal as on September 7, 2015 which is an increase of 26.12 percent over the corresponding period of 2014-15, when 1.63 crore returns were e-filed," the finance ministry said in a statement here.

The ministry last week had extended the last date for filing income tax returns till September 7, extending the earlier deadline of August 31.

"Central Processing Centre had processed 45.18 lakh returns relating to the assessment year 2015-16 and issued refunds to 22.14 lakh tax payers who had claimed refunds for the assessment year 2015-16," it said.

The peak filing rate touched 3,475 returns per minute as compared to 2,901 returns per minute last year, it added.

The department through its portal has electronically verified over 32.95 lakh e-returns.

The process of electronic filing has also been made simpler over the years.

The ministry had earlier announced that income tax returns for assessment year 2015-16 can now be verified electronically.

"A taxpayer may verify his return through internet banking or through the Aadhar-based authentication process," it said in a statement.

"Persons using this facility will not be required to submit a signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V) to CPC Bengaluru," it added.

For the convenience of small taxpayers having total income of Rs.500,000 or below without any claim of refund, the facility of generating the electronic verification code (EVC) has also been provided on the e-filing website of the department.

It also provides for sending the EVC to the registered email ID and the mobile number to enable the filer to thereafter use it to verify the return.

In case a taxpayer is unable to electronically verify the ITR using the EVC for any reason, then, the signed copy of ITR-V may be sent within the specified time of 120 days to CPC Bengaluru by ordinary or speed post, the statement said.