Electronic furnishing of Forms, Returns, Statements, Reports, orders etc.—  (1) The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) or the Director General of Income-tax (Systems), as the case may be, may with the approval of the Board specify that any of the Forms, returns, statements, reports, orders, by whatever name called, prescribed in Appendix II, shall be furnished electronically— (i) under digital signature, if the return of income is required to be furnished under digital signature; or

(ii) through electronic verification code in a case not covered under clause (i).

(2) The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) or the Director General of Income-tax (Systems), as the case may be, shall- (i) with the approval of the Board specify the Forms, returns, statements, reports, orders, referred to in sub-rule (1), which are to be furnished electronically;

(ii) lay down the data structure, standards and procedure of furnishing and erification of such Forms, returns, statements, reports, orders, including modification in format, if required, to make it compatible for furnishing electronically; and

(iii) be responsible for formulating and implementing appropriate security, archival and retrieval policies in relation to the said Forms, returns, statements, reports, orders.]