Received an Income Tax Notice?
Income tax notices carry fixed deadlines: 15 days to fix a defective return (Section 139(9)), typically 30 days to respond to a scrutiny notice (143(2)) or a demand notice (156), with 148 reassessment notices specifying their own window. Khata World reads your notice, confirms the deadline, and prepares a documented response before it closes.
Get Help With My NoticeMost Notices Aren't as Alarming as They Sound — but the Deadline Is Real
An income tax notice can range from a routine automated intimation to a formal scrutiny or reassessment. What matters most in the first few days isn't panic — it's reading the notice correctly, understanding exactly what's being asked, and responding within the window it gives you.
We can't promise a particular outcome — that depends on your own facts and the department's own review — but we can make sure your response is timely, complete, and backed by the right documentation.
Time matters most. Most notices carry a fixed response window — talk to us as soon as you receive one, not after the deadline has started to feel urgent.
- Notice reviewed and explained in plain language
- Documented response drafted against your records
- Filed through the correct channel, before your deadline
- Case status tracked through to resolution
Charges depend on the notice type and complexity — ask us for an exact quote.
Common Notice Types
What the Section Number Actually Means
A quick guide — the notice itself will tell you which section it's issued under.
Section 143(1)
Intimation
An automated comparison of your return against the department's own records. Often just informational, but can show a tax demand or a reduced refund that needs a response.
Section 139(9)
Defective Return
The return you filed has a specific defect — a mismatch, a missing schedule, an inconsistency — that must be corrected within the given window, or the return is treated as if it was never filed.
Section 142(1)
Inquiry Before Assessment
A request for additional information, documents, or even a fresh return, issued before your assessment is completed.
Section 143(2)
Scrutiny Notice
Your return has been picked up for detailed scrutiny. This requires a documented, substantiated response — not just an explanation.
Section 148
Income Escaping Assessment
The department believes some income wasn't disclosed in an earlier year and is reopening that assessment. These carry strict timelines and need a careful, evidence-backed response.
Section 156
Demand Notice
A specific tax amount is stated as payable, with a deadline to pay or respond — ignoring it can lead to recovery proceedings.
This is a general guide to common notice types, not a substitute for reading your actual notice — the specific facts, deadline and required response are unique to what you received.
What Happens Next
Four Steps From Notice to Resolution
Send Us the Notice
Share the notice as soon as you receive it — the response window starts from the date of issue, not the date you read it.
We Read & Explain It
In plain language: what the department is actually asking, what evidence is needed, and your deadline.
We Prepare the Response
Drafted and documented against your actual records, filed through the correct channel — usually the e-filing portal itself.
We Track It Through
We keep an eye on the case status until it's formally closed or resolved, and tell you if anything further is needed.
Notice Types & Response Deadlines at a Glance
Key figures every taxpayer should know — sourced from incometax.gov.in and the Income Tax Act, current as of 25 August 2026. The deadline that actually governs your case is the one printed on your notice; verify against incometax.gov.in before relying on these for a specific response.
- Section 143(1) — Intimation
- Issued within 9 months from the end of the financial year in which the return is filed. Often just informational, but can show a tax demand or reduced refund needing a response.
- Section 139(9) — Defective Return
- Must be corrected within 15 days of the notice, or the period it specifies, or the return is treated as if it was never filed. An extension can be requested from the department.
- Section 143(2) — Scrutiny Notice
- Can be issued within 3 months from the end of the financial year in which the return was filed. Response is typically due within 30 days of the notice, as specified in it.
- Section 148 — Reassessment
- The notice specifies your response window, typically 7 to 30 days, to file a return or reply — the exact deadline is always the one printed on your specific notice.
- Section 156 — Demand Notice
- Payment or response is due within 30 days of service, unless the Assessing Officer specifies a shorter period in writing. Unpaid demands accrue 1% monthly interest and can attract a penalty under Section 221.
- Section 245 — Refund Adjustment
- Respond within the window stated in the intimation before an outstanding demand from an earlier year is set off against your current refund. No response within that window, and the adjustment proceeds automatically.
Last updated: 25 August 2026
Income Tax Notices — Common Questions
Don't Let the Deadline Pass While You Figure It Out
Forward us the notice and we'll tell you, plainly, what it means and what we recommend.
Get Help NowWe prepare and file your response — we cannot guarantee the department's decision. See our Disclaimer.