An Income Tax Department message has been sent to several users, which states that there are discrepancies and a mismatch in ITR filing, due to which the refund has been put on hold. This message seems to have been sent en masse, as several users took to social media platforms in panic. Users reportedly received the message, but there was no email sent along with the proof of the discrepancies. The Income Tax Department message on mismatch of ITR filings reads as follows:
“It was noticed that a claim of refund has been made in the Income-Tax Return for PAN filed by you. Processing of the said return was held as it was identified under the risk management process on account of certain discrepancies in the claim of refund. An email with details has also been sent to your registered email address. As the time-limit for filing of revised return of income for A.Y. 2025-26 will expire on 31/12/2025, you are requested to avail the opportunity to file revised return within the due date. An updated return may be alternatively filed from 01.01.2026, however with additional tax liabilities. In case a revised return has already been filed on the referred issue, kindly ignore this message. Warm regards, Income Tax Department”
Also read: Income Tax ITR Filing Due Date Extended, Users Say Unable to Access Portal
This message asked users to file a revised filing before 31 December 2025, which is in less than a week. “Got an SMS from the Income Tax Dept saying my refund claim is under “risk management”, but the portal still shows Under Processing and no notice/email yet. Anyone faced this before? What’s the right thing to do — wait or revise?” asked a user on X.
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The message also enraged a few taxpayers. ” Income Tax is literally harassing the genuine taxpayer. Now they started sending notices to the genuine taxpayer who has claimed a deduction in ITR which is not reflected in Form 16. This year they have demanded additional disclosure for claiming a deduction like loan ac no, policy no, receipt no etc. Why are they not cross-verifying the claim with the data given by the taxpayer? Why are they asking the taxpayer to verify the deductions? You have strong AI, put all data in AI and cross-verify and then send notices to the taxpayer who has claimed the wrong deduction with an exact description and amount. This type of general intimation creates panic in the genuine taxpayer. Hope they learn and stop this kind of harassment,” said a post by CA Ruchita Vangani.
Truth Behind Income Tax Department Message on Mismatch
The Income Tax Department has now clarified that the message was sent as part of a nudge campaign. “Launch of a data-driven NUDGE campaign for AY 2025–26 encouraging taxpayers to voluntarily review deduction/exemption claims identified as potentially ineligible through risk analytics. The outreach is advisory and reflects a trust-first approach, enabling voluntary correction, wherever required,” said the Department. The department claims the following in a detailed press release:
- Using a risk management system and advanced data analytics, the Income Tax Department has identified certain cases for Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26 where errors may exist in Income Tax Returns (ITRs).
- These include possible claims of bogus donations to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs), other ineligible deductions or exemptions, use of incorrect or invalid PANs of donees, and wrong calculation of deduction or exemption amounts.
- Affected taxpayers are being informed through SMS and email under the NUDGE (Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable) campaign. They are being asked to review and correct their returns, if needed, before the deadline of 31 December 2025 for filing revised ITRs.
- This initiative follows a trust-first approach, giving taxpayers a chance to voluntarily review and correct mistakes without intrusive action. It aims to promote transparent, technology-driven, and taxpayer-friendly compliance.
- So far in FY 2025–26, over 21 lakh taxpayers have updated their ITRs for AYs 2021–22 to 2024–25, paying more than ₹72,500 crore in taxes. Additionally, more than 15 lakh ITRs have already been revised for AY 2025–26.
- Taxpayers who receive such communication should review their ITRs, check their deductions and exemptions carefully, and revise their returns if required by 31 December 2025 to avoid further scrutiny.
- No action is needed if the deductions or exemptions claimed are correct and as per law.
- Taxpayers who miss this opportunity can still file an updated return from 1 January 2026, but this will involve additional tax payment, as per the law.
