How does the Process work?
The Income Tax Department has streamlined the process of ITR filing and intimation through automation. Here's a breakdown of how it typically works and what you, as a taxpayer, can expect:
Submission: Once you have filled in all your income details and claimed deductions, you file your Income Tax Return (ITR) and complete the e-verification process. This marks the beginning of your return being formally acknowledged by the tax authorities.
Automated Processing: After submission, your ITR is entered into the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) system. This process ensures that there is no mismatch between your reported income and tax credit details available with the department. Here, the system automatically cross-verifies the details you provided with official records. These include:
- Form 26AS (summary of tax paid and TDS deducted).
- TDS statements.
- Advance tax or self-assessment tax, if applicable.
Notice Generation: If the system finds everything in order, it generates a summary intimation under Section 143(1) of the Act. This notice will:
- Confirm whether your return is accepted as is.
- Notify you of a tax refund, or
- Flag a discrepancy if something doesn’t match/ For example, missing income, wrong deductions, or misreported figures.
Delivery of Intimation: You receive the intimation via the email address registered with the Income Tax Department. It is also available on the income tax e-filing portal for easy access. Always check your email (including spam/junk folders) for any updates.
Action on Your Part: If the intimation confirms everything is correct, no action is required. However, if it highlights a mismatch or correction, you may need to respond within a specified time. You can either accept the computation or file a revised return or rectification request, depending on the nature of the issue.