If you’ve filed your Income Tax Return (ITR) and received an Intimation under Section 143(1), don’t worry! It’s not always a bad thing—it might even mean you’re getting a tax refund!
Let’s break down what this notice means and what steps you need to take.
What is an Intimation Under Section 143(1)?
When you file your Income Tax Return (ITR), the Income Tax Department reviews it. After this review, they send you an Intimation under Section 143(1), which is essentially a summary of how your return was processed. This includes:
- Your personal details (name, address, PAN)
- The Acknowledgment Number and filing date
- Any tax refund you might receive
- The department’s calculation of your tax payable or refund
The Intimation under Section 143(1) helps ensure that your return has been processed correctly, and it highlights any discrepancies or issues with your filing.
Why Do You Receive an Intimation Under Section 143(1)?
The Income Tax Department issues this notice after reviewing your Income Tax Return for errors or issues such as:
- Incorrect Claims: For example, if you claimed more deductions than allowed (e.g., exceeding ₹1,50,000 under Section 80C), the excess will be removed.
- Unreported Income: If you missed reporting income that is reflected in Form 26AS, the department will add it to your assessment.
- Tax Calculation Errors: If there were mistakes in your tax calculations (e.g., wrong TDS or Advance Tax figures), the department will correct them.
When Do You Receive an Intimation?
You will typically receive the Intimation under Section 143(1) after the Income Tax Department processes your return. Here are the three main reasons you might receive this intimation:
- Tax Refund: If you’ve paid more tax than required, the intimation will specify the refund amount.
- Tax Demand: If you owe more tax, the intimation will show how much you need to pay.
- No Action Required: If everything is correct and there are no discrepancies, you don’t need to take any further action. You can treat your ITR-V acknowledgment as confirmation.
What Should You Do After Receiving an Intimation?
After you receive the Section 143(1) Intimation, follow these steps:
- Review the Details: Ensure that the details in the intimation match your filed Income Tax Return (ITR). Verify your PAN, name, Assessment Year, and e-filing acknowledgment number.
- Correct Mistakes: If the intimation highlights errors in your filing, you can file a revised return.
- Disagree with Adjustments? If you don’t agree with the adjustments made by the department (such as disallowed deductions or incorrect income), you can file an online rectification request under Section 154.
- Respond to Tax Demand: If the intimation shows that you owe additional taxes, make the payment through the provided challan on the Income Tax e-filing portal.
If everything looks good and there are no discrepancies, you can wait for your refund or consider the intimation as confirmation that the process is complete.
What Happens If You Don’t Receive the Intimation?
If you don’t receive the Intimation under Section 143(1) within one year after filing your return, it means that your ITR-V acknowledgment will serve as your official intimation. In this case, it confirms that no further action is required from your side.
However, it’s a good idea to log into the Income Tax e-filing portal to confirm that your return has been processed.
How Do You Open the Intimation?
The Intimation under Section 143(1) is typically a password-protected PDF file. To open it, you need to use your PAN (in lowercase) followed by your date of birth in the format DDMMYYYY.
For example: If your PAN is AAAAA0000A and your birthdate is January 1, 1980, the password would be: aaaaa0000a01011980
How to Retrieve Your Intimation Again
If you can’t find the Section 143(1) Intimation in your email, you can easily download it again from the Income Tax e-filing portal:
- Log in to your Income Tax e-filing portal.
- Go to “View Filed Returns” under your dashboard.
- Click on “Download Intimation Order” to retrieve it.
Key Points to Check in the Intimation
When you receive the Intimation under Section 143(1), make sure to check these key details:
- Your personal details (name, PAN, etc.)
- Document Identification Number (DIN)
- Your income details, ensuring no duplication or incorrect categorization
- TDS, TCS, Advance Tax, and Self-Assessment Tax amounts
- Any deductions under Section 80C and other eligible sections
- Any reliefs or rebates under Sections 89, 90/90A/91, etc.
Do You Need to Respond?
In most cases, if there are no discrepancies in the Intimation under Section 143(1), you don’t need to take any action. Here’s what you should do:
- No Adjustment: If everything is correct, no further action is needed.
- Refund: If there’s a tax refund due, wait for it to be processed.
- Demand: If there’s an additional tax demand, make the payment promptly.
If the intimation shows discrepancies or a tax demand, you’ll need to respond within the time frame mentioned in the notice.
How to Respond to Intimation?
Follow these steps to respond to a Section 143(1) Intimation:
- Log in to your Income Tax e-filing portal.
- Go to the “Pending Actions” tab, select “E-Proceedings”, and then click on “E-Assessment”.
- Choose “Adjustment under Section 143(1)(a)”.
- Review the mismatches or discrepancies listed, and use the drop-down menu next to each to provide your response.
- Justify your response, upload any necessary documents, and then submit it for acknowledgment.
By following these instructions and reviewing the intimation carefully, you’ll ensure that your tax filing process goes smoothly.
Whether you’re expecting a refund, facing a tax demand, or simply confirming everything is in order, handling the Section 143(1) Intimation correctly is crucial.
Stay proactive, and make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Section 143(1)?
Section 143(1) refers to the notice issued by the Income Tax Department after processing your Income Tax Return. It summarizes the results of the department’s review, including any tax payable or refund due.
How will I receive the notice under Section 143(1)?
You will receive an email from the Income Tax Department with the subject line “Your ITR Intimation”. Additionally, you’ll get a text message notifying you that the intimation has been sent to your registered email address.
Is the Intimation under Section 143(1) the same as an Assessment Order?
No, the Intimation under Section 143(1) is not an assessment order. It’s a notification that your return has been processed, not a final assessment of your tax liability.
How can I open the Intimation under Section 143(1)?
To open the intimation, use your PAN (in lowercase) followed by your date of birth in the DDMMYYYY format. For example, if your PAN is ABCDE1234F and your birthdate is January 1, 1980, the password will be abcde1234f01011980.
What should I do if I want to file a rectification for the intimation under Section 143(1)?
To file a rectification, log into the Income Tax portal, go to the “Service” tab, select “Rectification”, choose the appropriate assessment year, and submit your request.
What happens if I don’t receive the intimation within the specified time?
If you don’t receive your Section 143(1) Intimation within one year from the date of filing your return, don’t panic! Your ITR-V acknowledgment will serve as confirmation that the return has been processed successfully.
