ITR Filing 2025: Received Notice From Income Tax Department? How To Identify If It Is Real Or Fake?

ITR Filing 2025: Taxpayers should be vigilant about notices from the Income Tax Department to avoid falling for scams. The last date for filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) for the current year is September 15, 2025. As the deadline nears, citizens receive frequent notifications and communication from the IT department raising awareness or reminding the taxpayer to file their ITR. Some may even receive and Income Tax notice. However, one must carefully read any communication or notice from the department before believing it. The key to identifying a real notice is to check for a valid Document Identification Number (DIN).

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How to Check if an Income Tax Notice is Authentic?

A legitimate notice from the Income Tax Department will always include a Document Identification Number (DIN). Even so, fraudsters might try to send fake DINs. To verify the authenticity of a notice, you can follow these steps on the official Income Tax Department website:

Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax website: Go to the Income Tax Department's official portal.

Step 2: Navigate to Quick Links: On the homepage, find and click the "Quick Links" section.

Step 3: Find the Authentication section: Within Quick Links, look for the "Authenticate Notice/Order Issued by ITD" option and select it.

Step 4: Enter details: Enter the DIN from the notice or your PAN number.

Step 5: Provide more information: Fill in details such as the Assessment Year, your mobile number, and the document type.

Step 6: Verify with OTP: An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP to confirm whether the notice is genuine.

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Why It's Crucial to File Your ITR on Time

Filing your ITR by the deadline of September 15, 2025, is essential to avoid several negative consequences:

1. Avoid Penalties: Failing to file by the due date will result in a penalty.

2. Prevent Hasty Errors: Filing on time allows you to thoroughly check all documents and information, reducing the risk of making mistakes that could lead to issues with your return or refund.

3. Ensure Timely Refunds: Delays in filing can also delay any tax refund you might be due, and a penalty may even be applied to the refund amount itself if filed after the due date.

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To avoid a defective ITR filing and potential penalties, taxpayers must be careful to include all required disclosures, such as those related to property assets, foreign income, cryptocurrency, or even unlisted shares.