ITR: Most taxpayers are getting their returns filed by non-professionals. These people are trapping taxpayers by luring them with the promise of a higher refund. In such cases, the chances of the taxpayer getting into legal trouble increases.
Income Tax Department: If you have got your ITR filed by people who are not professionals in the greed of getting a big refund, then you are going to get into trouble. In the last few years, cases of employees getting refunds by showing fake donation receipts, expenses etc. in their returns have been caught in many states. After this, strictness has started in the matter of refund across the country. According to tax experts, most taxpayers are getting their returns filed by non-professionals. These people are trapping taxpayers by luring them with a big refund. In such cases, the possibility of the taxpayer getting into legal trouble increases.
Close scrutiny of taxpayers begins
The Income Tax Department has decided to conduct a strict investigation of large refund claims made fraudulently. Under this, monitoring of such employed people who are filing ITR collectively from a single agency will increase. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued new guidelines (SOP) in this regard. According to these instructions, suspicious returns and refunds will be marked using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The department has started a close scrutiny of those taxpayers whose returns came under scrutiny in the last 9 years. This also includes employed people who have filed returns collectively from a non-professional agency. The refund of many of these taxpayers is stuck for months.
Department can recover refund
It is being said that this step is likely to cause refund to get stuck this year. Experts say that the Income Tax Department has the right to recover the refund of the last four years if the refund claim made by a taxpayer is found to be wrong.
Check refund status like this
Go to the Income Tax Department portal (www.incometax.gov.in). Log in by entering user ID (PAN number) and password
Click on My Account and open Refund/Demand Status. Select Income Tax Returns here.
Now click on the receipt number. After this a new page will open, where all the information related to ITR will be visible.
What to do in case of delay
First of all check your e-mail. Income Tax Department sends refund or any kind of additional information or notice through e-mail.
If the ITR status shows that the refund claim has been rejected, taxpayers can request for re-issue of refund.
If the status shows that the claim is pending, they can contact the e-filing portal/assessing officer and request for early settlement.
If there is still a delay….
Contact Income Tax Department: You can contact the Income Tax Department by calling their helpline 1800-103-4455 or email them at ask@incometax.gov.in. They can assist you with the status of your refund.