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How To Verify Fake Tax Notices

Last updated on: May 21, 2024 13:09 IST

Income Tax department's online tool empowers you to verify any notice or order you receive.
This free service is available to everyone, regardless of whether you're registered on the e-filing portal.

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Terje Sollie/Pexels.com
 

Ever receive a notice from the Income Tax department and wonder if it's legitimate?

You're not alone. Scammers often try to imitate official communication to steal personal information or money.

But fear not, taxpayers! The Income Tax department offers a user-friendly online tool to help you verify the authenticity of any notice or order you receive in seconds.

The Income Tax department's online tool empowers you to verify any notice or order you receive. This free service is available to everyone, regardless of whether you're registered on the e-filing portal.

 

Here's how to use it:

 

Here's a breakdown of the service and how to use it:

What is the Notice Authentication Tool?

This online tool allows you to verify the authenticity of any communication you receive from the Income Tax authorities, including notices, orders, summons, letters, etc.

This helps ensure the communication is genuine and not a phishing attempt.

 

Who can use the tool?

Anyone can use this tool, regardless of whether they are registered users on the Income Tax e-filing portal. It's a pre-login service, accessible to everyone.

 

How to authenticate a notice:

There are two ways to verify a notice:

 

Using PAN, Document Type, Date of Issue, and Mobile Number:

 

Using Document Identification Number (DIN) and Mobile Number:

 

Benefits of using the tool:

Peace of mind: Knowing a notice is legitimate before taking any action.

Prevents scams: Helps avoid falling victim to phishing attempts that mimic official communication.

Convenience: Easy-to-use online tool accessible to everyone.

 

Remember:

The tool verifies the authenticity of the communication, not its content.

If you have any questions regarding the notice itself, it's advisable to consult a tax professional.

Another way to check the authenticity of notice sent by the tax department is to cross check the email ID from where it is sent.

The tax department sends all its communications from its official ID which ends with incometax.gov.in such as intimations@cpc.incometax.gov.in.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com

Sunainaa Chadha
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