The golden rule: never ignore a notice
Ignoring an income tax notice can lead to penalties, withheld refunds, or worse. The good news: responding is now a fully digital, faceless process, so you do not visit any tax office.
First, identify the notice
| Section | What it means |
|---|---|
| 143(1) | Intimation: processing result or math adjustment |
| 139(9) | Defective return: fix and resubmit |
| 143(2) | Scrutiny: detailed review of your return |
| 148 | Income escaping assessment: suspected unreported income |
| 245 | Refund being adjusted against an old demand |
Most notices are time-bound: a 139(9) typically allows 15 days and a 143(1) demand 30 days to respond (Source: Income Tax Act). Always check the deadline printed on the notice.
Reply step by step (portal path)
- Log in at incometax.gov.in.
- Go to Pending Actions > e-Proceedings.
- Click the notice you want to answer.
- Agree or disagree as asked, and upload clean, clearly named PDFs (rent receipts, bank statements, TDS certificates).
- Submit and save the acknowledgement.
What you should do
Read the section first, note the deadline, and keep responses short, factual, and backed by documents.
Common mistake
Treating every notice as a scrutiny. A 143(1) about a small math difference is routine; a 143(2) or 148 is serious and usually deserves a Chartered Accountant.
How LastMinute ITR helps
LastMinute ITR helps you file correctly the first time by reconciling your documents, the surest way to avoid notices. Start at /file, import at /file/import/documents, and reconcile at /file/import/mismatch.
LastMinute ITR is a companion tool, not affiliated with the Income Tax Department. You file and e-verify your return yourself on incometax.gov.in.