ITR Filing AY 2025–26: Received message from Income Tax Dept? Here’s govt clarification for assessees
The Income Tax Department has clarified that the recent alerts sent to the taxpayers are intended to encourage voluntary compliance and not notices for scrutiny or penalties
What the Message by the Income Tax Department Means
The ITD has responded to the angst of taxpayers who, over the last few days, have received messages regarding filing ITR for Assessment Year 2025-26. The department thus explained that the information provided in those messages was only of an informative and advisory nature in order to provide assistance to taxpayers with verification of their filings for accuracy. These should not be mistaken for enforcement actions or legal notices.
These messages are generally generated when there is a mismatch observed by the department in the income returned in ITR vis-a-vis the data with the department from the third-party data like banks, mutual funds, and other financial institutions. Taxpayers receiving such notifications are advised to cross-check their details with the Annual Information Statement and related records.
It further clarified that no action is required if the taxpayer is sure that the return filed is correct and complete. However, in case discrepancies are found, the filer can revise his or her return or file a belated return within the given time. For AY 2025–26, the last date for correction of such errors is December 31, 2025.
They added that these letters show how the department increasingly applies data analytics in improving tax compliance through information sharing. Consequences may also consider linking high-value transactions or refund checks in some instances, but they are not to threaten the taxpayer with wrongdoing.
Tax professionals say, “Recipients should go through the tax filings carefully, reconcile the income details with AIS data, and respond, if necessary, through the Income Tax Compliance Portal. This will facilitate timely corrective steps for avoiding complications subsequently and will ensure smooth processing of returns of taxpayers.
