1. The very word" Income Tax Notice" is enough to make our heart skip a beat. Most of us get anxious the moment we see it in our inbox, and in that panic, we often click without thinking. That's exactly what fraudsters are counting on when they send fake IT (Income Tax Notice). These emails are cleverly designed to look authentic with official logos and formal language. Their goal is to trick taxpayers into clicking links and sharing sensitive details.
2. The article is intended to spread awareness and guide taxpayers on how to verify the authenticity of such IT notices. The following quick & smart checks can save taxpayers from becoming victims of fraud:
3. Payment Link: The first sign of a fake notice is the presence of a payment link. The income tax department will never send any payment link inside the notice email or the notice document. The contents of the notice will explain why the taxpayer was sent such a notice. To pay any outstanding income tax amount, the income tax department will always urge taxpayers to use the e-filing ITR portal's e-pay tax option. It is only fraudsters who will put a payment link inside a notice, email or document. If the payment link appears on the notice, be cautious and proceed with the following actions::-
3.1. Verify the Sender's Domain: The first step on receipt of an Income Tax Notice is to verify the domain name of the email sender. The legitimate notices from the Income Tax Department originate only from official domains ending with "incometax.gov.in". Even a slight change in the domain name or an unusual sender address should trigger immediate suspicion.
3.2 Authenticate the Notice: The service for Authentication of Notice/order issued by the Income Tax Department is available to both registered and unregistered users of the e-Filing Portal. It is a pre-login service to verify the authenticity of a Notice/ Order/Summons, Letter or any correspondence issued by Income Tax Authorities. The step-by-step Guide to authenticating the Notice on the e-Filing Portal is as follows:
(a) Go to the e-Filing portal homepage.
(b) Navigate to the Quick Links > Authenticate notice/ order issued by ITD.
(c) Select the option (i) PAN, Document type, date of issue & Mobile Number or (ii) Document Identification Number (DIN) and Mobile Number.
(d) Enter the details such as PAN Document type etc. or Document Identification Number.
(e) Enter the 6 digit OTP received on your mobile and click on continue.
(f) Once the OTP is validated, the document number of the notice issued along with the date of issue of the notice will be displayed.(g) In case no notice was issued by ITD, it will display the message" no record found for the criteria."
Document Identification Number: Document Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated unique number that needs to be duly quoted on every communication issued by any Income Tax Authority to any of the taxpayers. The Ministry of Finance, Government of India, in its Press Release dated 7th November 2019, has reiterated that 'Any notice or communication issued without a DIN "shall be treated as invalid'.
3.3 Report to the Authorities: On receipt of such doubtful notices, the taxpayer shall immediately report and forward the notice to phishing@incometax.gov.in
3.4 Do not respond to urgent requests mentioned in the notice: Never respond to any urgent requests mentioned. Always reach out to the Income Tax Department only through its official channels. Keep in mind that the department does not seek personal or financial details through emails, phone calls, or pop-up messages. By all means, one should never disclose any personal or financial information.
3.5 Change Password: In case personal information has been shared, change the password immediately.
4. Conclusion: Any Income Tax Notice may sound intimidating, but falling for a fake one can be far worse. Stay calm, verify through the official portal and remember - It is always safer to pause before you click.
Disclaimer: The article is for educational purposes only.
The author, CA Anita Bhadra is a dedicated professional whose ture passion in continous learning and sharing the knowledge. She believes in spreading Tax Gyan with simplicity. She can be approached at caanitabhadra@gmail.com
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