The Income Tax department has made it clear that the recent emails and SMS messages given to taxpayers about specific transactions are not intended to be seen as punitive letters, but rather are intended to assist them in voluntarily reviewing and correcting their income tax files.
According to the government, the notifications are meant to inform taxpayers of the transaction-related data that the tax authorities already have access to.
Following a crackdown on intermediaries involved in filing fraudulent claims linked to donations to unrecognized political parties or charitable organizations with the intention of reducing their tax obligation, the department started sending alerts a few days ago urging taxpayers to update their income tax returns and withdraw any incorrect claims.
Some references have come to the notice of the Income Tax Department regarding recent communication sent to taxpayers pertaining to transaction(s) made by them.
— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) December 18, 2025
Taxpayers may please note that such communication is to facilitate the taxpayers & make them aware of the information…
In a thorough X (previously X) post, the I-T Department stated, “The communication is just an advisory sent in those cases where there is an apparent significant gap between disclosures in the ITR & information as received from the Reporting Entities.”
Possibility of filing corrections
The communication’s goal is to allow taxpayers the chance to voluntarily amend their files by looking at their Annual Information Statement (AIS) and making it easier for them to provide their comments online via the Income Tax Department’s Compliance Portal.
According to the department, taxpayers may submit a delayed return if they haven’t submitted one yet or amend the returns they have previously filed if needed.
What is the deadline for filing a belated ITR?
A taxpayer may still file their overdue income tax return (ITR) until December 31, 2025, even though the deadline for filing an income tax return was September 16.
For taxpayers, the ability to file a belated return is crucial because it keeps them from being penalized or fined for failing to pay their taxes.
The income tax department stated in the article, “Taxpayers are requested to respond promptly via Compliance Portal if discrepancies exist or ignore if your filing is correct.”
