Filing your income tax return isn't always the end of the process. The Income Tax Department may issue a defective return notice to some taxpayers if the details provided in their ITR do not match the records it has. Could be a TDS mismatch.
An income-tax return is generally considered defective if the information provided therein is incomplete, contradictory, or does not satisfy the requirements of the tax return form.
TDS, or Tax Deducted at Source, is the tax taken from certain payments before you receive the money. If the TDS shown in your records does not match the TDS shown in your return, the department can issue a notice under Section 139(9). The taxpayer generally receives the notice via registered e-mail or can view it after logging in to the e-filing portal.
The notice will explain the problem and tell you what needs to be fixed. Taxpayers are generally given 15 days to respond unless a different time limit is specified in the notice. The correction can be made through the income tax e-filing portal.
Tax notices create a sense of urgency, and the scammers know that. A fake message may ask you to click on a link, give your bank details, or share personal information.
It is better if you open the official Income Tax e-filing website yourself. Ignore a defective ITR notice at your peril. If you fail to respond within the allotted time, your return may be considered invalid. This may also impact deductions, exemptions, or loss claims.
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So, it is best to check your TDS details, match them with your ITR, and then correct any mismatches on the official portal.