ITR
Spotting a fake intimation or refund email
Updated . Every paid answer is checked by a CA. Free AI answers are labelled until a CA verifies them.
Facts
Real intimations come from the CPC and e-Filing systems and you can always see the same intimation by logging in yourself. The department does not ask for card details, PINs or passwords over email or SMS.
Provisions and law
- Sec 143(1), Income-tax Act 1961 (now Sec 270(1))After processing your return, CPC sends an intimation showing tax payable or refund due, after only limited adjustments.
Analysis
Treat any link that asks you to enter bank or card details to receive a refund as a phishing attempt. Refunds go only to your pre-validated bank account, so nobody needs your card number. Open the portal by typing incometax.gov.in yourself and check the filed return and intimation there. If the email is fake, do not click, and report it.
Conclusion
- Do not click links in the message.
- Log in to the e-Filing portal directly and check your return status.
- Compare the message with what the portal shows.
- Report phishing to the department's reporting address listed on the portal and to cybercrime.gov.in.
- Change your password if you already entered it anywhere.
A Savvy can do this for you
Intimation after processing, Sec 143(1) (now 270(1))
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