Income tax notice alerts sent via SMS or email have increased in recent weeks, prompting confusion and concern among taxpayers across India. Many individuals report receiving messages claiming that an income tax notice has been issued against their PAN, urging immediate action or warning of penalties.
Tax officials, however, caution that not all such messages are genuine and urge taxpayers to verify notices carefully before responding.
Why Taxpayers Are Receiving Income Tax Notice Messages
The Income Tax Department communicates with taxpayers electronically for several purposes, including filing reminders, compliance checks and notices related to discrepancies. As digital communication expands, official messages may be sent via registered email addresses or SMS linked to PAN records.
At the same time, cybercriminals are exploiting this system by circulating fake income tax notice messages designed to create panic and extract personal information.
How to Identify a Genuine Income Tax Notice
Experts say a genuine income tax notice SMS or email will:
- Never ask for bank details, OTPs or passwords
- Direct taxpayers to log in only via the official income tax portal
- Contain standard language without spelling or grammatical errors
- Reference PAN details in a masked format
Any message demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest should be treated with suspicion.
Common Signs of Fake Income Tax Notice Emails
A fake income tax notice often includes:
- Unofficial email domains or suspicious links
- Urgent language demanding quick action
- Attachments claiming to be notices or challans
- Requests to “verify” or “update” personal details
Cybersecurity experts advise against clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
How to Check Income Tax Notice Status Officially
Taxpayers can verify whether a notice has actually been issued by logging into the official income tax e-filing portal using their PAN credentials. All valid notices are listed in the account dashboard.
Officials stress that if a notice does not appear on the portal, it should be treated as unauthorised.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message
If you receive a doubtful income tax notice email or SMS:
- Do not click on any links
- Avoid replying or sharing information
- Log in to the official portal to check notice status
- Report suspicious messages through official channels
Prompt reporting helps authorities track and block scam campaigns.
Income Tax Scam Alert: Why Caution Is Essential
With the tax filing season and compliance drives underway, scammers often target individuals who may be unfamiliar with official procedures. Authorities say awareness is the best defence against financial fraud.
Tax professionals recommend educating family members, especially senior citizens, about common scam tactics.
Official Advisory From Authorities
Income tax officials have repeatedly clarified that all notices are accessible only through authorised government portals. Any communication requesting confidential details should be considered fraudulent.
The department continues to issue advisories warning taxpayers against impersonation scams.
Where to Verify Official Income Tax Notices
For genuine notices, verification and responses should be done only through the official income tax website.
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