Income Tax Notice Reply Service: Scrutiny, Reassessment and Demand Notices
Get a CA-prepared reply to your income tax notice, filed on the e-proceedings facility before the date stated in the notice.
Get Started Today
An income tax notice reply is a written response, backed by documents, to a communication from the Income Tax Department such as an intimation, a scrutiny notice, a reassessment notice, a demand notice or a penalty notice. It is meant for individuals, professionals, firms and companies who have received a notice and want it answered correctly and on time. Our team of Chartered Accountants reads the notice, works out what the department is really asking, gathers the evidence, drafts the reply and uploads it through the e-proceedings facility on the income tax portal. If an order goes against you, we explain your options, including rectification and appeal, so the next step is a considered one.
Who provides this service: our team of Chartered Accountants.
Who Needs Income Tax Notice Reply Service?
- Salaried individuals whose return shows a difference from Form 26AS or the Annual Information Statement
- Business owners and professionals whose return has been selected for scrutiny
- Taxpayers who have received a notice about income said to have escaped assessment for an earlier year
- Companies, firms and trusts facing a demand notice or penalty proceedings
- Anyone who has missed a notice deadline and wants to understand the position and the way forward
Key Benefits
- A plain-language reading of the notice: which provision it invokes, which year it covers and what the department actually wants from you
- Cross-checks of your return against Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement and bank records before any reply is drafted
- A written reply that answers each query with supporting evidence, so the officer is not forced to ask the same question twice
- Filing on the e-proceedings facility ahead of the due date, with the acknowledgement saved for your records
- Guidance on choosing between agreeing, disputing, rectification, a revised return or an appeal when an order is adverse
- A clear view of interest and penalty exposure, so you can weigh paying a demand against contesting it
How It Works
Read the notice and fix the deadline
We identify the provision cited, the assessment year, the issuing unit and the response date. Many notices also carry a questionnaire or a request for specific documents, which we list separately.
Match the notice against your records
We compare the notice with your filed return, computation, Form 26AS, AIS, books and bank statements to learn whether the mismatch is real, a third-party reporting error or a mistake in the return.
Decide the response route
Depending on what we find, the answer may be an online response accepting or disputing an adjustment, a rectification request, a revised return, payment of tax, or a detailed reply to a scrutiny questionnaire.
Draft the reply with evidence
We answer each point in the order raised, refer to the exhibit that supports it and keep to facts. Reconciliations and working papers are prepared wherever figures need to be explained to the officer.
File on the e-proceedings facility
After your approval, we upload the reply and attachments on the income tax portal, with authorised representative access set up where needed. The acknowledgement is saved and shared with you.
Track hearings and the final order
We watch for follow-up notices, hearing requests and the order. If it is adverse, we explain rectification and appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals), along with the limits within which each must be filed.
Documents Required
- Copy of the notice or intimation, with the document identification number and the response date
- PAN, portal login details and the assessment year concerned
- Return filed for the year, with the computation of income and acknowledgement
- Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement for the same year
- Bank statements, loan statements and investment proofs covering the period
- Books of account, ledgers and audit report, where the business is subject to audit
- Contracts, invoices, sale deeds or agreements relating to the transaction questioned
- Earlier notices, orders and replies for the same year, if any
Timeline and Fees
Indicative timeline: The reply must be filed by the date stated in the notice. Preparation usually takes a few working days once documents are in hand. How long the case runs afterwards depends on the Income Tax Department and the stage of the proceeding.
Professional fee: Our professional fee depends on the type of notice, the number of assessment years involved, the volume of records to reconcile and whether hearings or an appeal follow. Any tax, interest or penalty payable to the department is separate. Contact our team for a written quote.
What Can Go Wrong if This Is Missed or Done Incorrectly
- Missing the response date can lead to an order passed on the department’s information alone, with a higher demand
- A reply that is inconsistent with your return or the records on file can invite wider enquiry into the same year
- Interest continues to run on an unpaid demand until it is paid or set aside
- Penalty proceedings can follow where income is found to be under-reported or misreported
Frequently Asked Questions
I received an income tax notice. What should I do first?
Do not ignore it and do not reply in a hurry. Log in to the income tax portal and confirm that the same notice appears under pending actions, then note the section, the year and the due date. Share the notice with a professional who can compare it against your return and records before any response is filed.
Is every income tax notice a sign that I did something wrong?
No. Many notices come from automated matching, such as a difference between your return and the information reported by banks, employers or other deductors. Others are routine requests for a missing document. Even so, each notice has a deadline and a legal consequence, so it deserves a considered and documented reply.
How much time do I get to reply to a notice?
The notice itself states the due date, and that date is the one that counts. Different notices carry different windows, and in some proceedings an extension can be requested. Do not rely on a general rule you heard elsewhere. Read the date on your notice, check the portal and start collecting documents immediately.
What is the difference between an intimation and a scrutiny notice?
An intimation tells you the result of the computerised processing of your return, including any adjustment or refund. A scrutiny notice means the return has been picked for detailed examination, and the officer will ask questions and seek evidence. A scrutiny notice is a more demanding proceeding and needs a fuller, documented reply.
Do I have to appear in person before the Income Tax Department?
In most assessment and reassessment matters, communication runs electronically through the portal, so no physical visit is normally needed. Hearings, where granted, may be by video. Your reply, exhibits and any written submissions are filed online, which is why the quality of the written reply matters so much.
What happens if I do not respond to the notice?
The department may proceed on the information it already holds and pass an order without your explanation. That can mean additions to income, a larger demand with interest, and penalty proceedings. A late or partial reply is almost always better than none, but it is far safer to respond fully within the stated date.
Official Sources
Rules, forms and fees change. Check the current position on the official portal:
Related Services
Related Guides and Articles
Ready to Get Started?
Speak with a qualified professional about your income tax notice reply service: scrutiny, reassessment and demand notices requirements.
Last reviewed: . Laws, fees and procedures change; check the official portal before you act.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional legal, tax or compliance advice. Requirements vary by situation. Please consult a qualified CA or CS for advice specific to your needs. Government fees and timelines are subject to change; verify with the relevant authority before proceeding.