Why did I get an income tax notice?

The most common reasons are a mismatch between your return and your AIS/26AS, a defective return (missing details), or a routine intimation under Section 143(1) after processing. Most notices are simple to resolve if you respond on time.

What is a Section 143(1) intimation?

It is an automated intimation sent after your return is processed. It compares your figures with the department's computation and shows whether there's a refund, a demand, or no change. If you agree, no action is needed; if not, you can respond online.

How do I respond to an income tax notice?

Log in to the income tax e-filing portal, open Pending Actions or e-Proceedings, read the notice, and submit your response with supporting documents before the deadline. For anything beyond a simple mismatch, get a CA to draft the response.

Blog · Guides · 12 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

Got an Income Tax Notice? Common Reasons & What to Do

Don't panic. Most notices are routine mismatches — here's what each one means and how to respond.

The common notices

Notice	What it means
143(1) intimation	Routine, after processing — shows refund, demand, or no change. Agree? No action needed.
139(9) defective return	Something's missing/inconsistent; you must correct and re-submit within the given time.
AIS / 26AS mismatch	Income the department sees isn't in your return — the most common trigger.
142(1)	Request for information or to file a return.
143(2) / 148	Scrutiny or reassessment — more serious; get professional help.

What to do — step by step

Read it carefully — note the section, the issue, and the response deadline.
Log in to the e-filing portal → Pending Actions / e-Proceedings.
Compare the flagged figures with your AIS, 26AS and your own records.
Respond online with an explanation and supporting documents before the deadline.
For a defective return, file the correction; for a mismatch, agree and pay, or explain with evidence.

Prevention is easier than cure

Most notices come from AIS/26AS mismatches that a proper reconciliation at filing time would have caught. See how to reconcile AIS & 26AS.

Got a notice? Forward it to us

A CA reviews your notice and drafts the response — and files your future returns so it doesn't happen again.

Get help with a CA →

General information, not individual tax advice. Serious notices (scrutiny/reassessment) need professional representation. Reviewed by a Chartered Accountant.