Resolving Income Tax Notices for Individuals & Salaried Employees

#1Reassessment - Section 147 read with Section 144B / Penalty Immunity

FD Non-Filer, Hyderabad - Section 148 Closed, 270AA Immunity Granted

A resident individual in Hyderabad was flagged by CBDT's Insight Portal for holding significant fixed deposit investments without filing an ITR for AY 2020-21, triggering a Section 148 reassessment notice. We were engaged to respond to the department, establish the source of funds, and secure both a clean assessment closure and immunity from the penalty initiated during proceedings.

Outcome:Assessment closed with nil additions. Declared interest income accepted as filed. Section 270A penalty immunity granted under Section 270AA.
Section 148Section 147Section 144BSection 270ASection 270AAForm 68non-filerfixed depositsFD interestgift from spouseAY 2020-21Hyderabadindividual taxpayerpenalty immunity
Read Full Case →
#2High Value Transaction - Section 142(1)

High Value Cash Deposit Notice - IT Professional, KPHB

Salaried IT employee received notice for ₹14L cash deposits across two accounts. The source was a personal loan repayment received from a family member. We drafted response with loan agreement and bank transfer trail.

Outcome:Notice closed. No addition to income.
cash deposithigh value142(1)salariedpersonal loanKPHB
Read Full Case →
#3Scrutiny Assessment – Section 143(2)

Property Investment Scrutiny to an Individual - ₹1.97 Cr, Addition Dropped by AO

An individual received a Section 143(2) scrutiny notice (issued when the Income Tax Department selects a return for detailed examination) after purchasing a high-value residential property. During the assessment, the department proposed treating ₹1.97 crore as unexplained investment under Section 69 (applicable when the source of an investment is not satisfactorily explained) before ultimately accepting the supporting evidence.

Outcome:Proposed addition of ₹1.97 crore under Section 69 was dropped. The Income Tax Department accepted the returned income without any addition.
Section 143(2)Section 142(1)Section 69Property Purchase NoticeScrutiny AssessmentUnexplained InvestmentReal Estate TransactionSource of FundsIncome Tax NoticeCapital GainsIndividual TaxpayerAY 2024-25
Read Full Case →
#4Scrutiny Assessment – Section 143(2)

Received an Income Tax Notice for Property Purchase? ₹37.58 Lakh Addition Deleted

An individual received a Section 143(2) scrutiny notice (issued when the Income Tax Department selects a return for detailed examination) after purchasing a residential property worth about ₹1.10 crore. During the assessment, the department proposed adding ₹37.58 lakh as unexplained investment under Section 69 (applies when the source of an investment cannot be satisfactorily explained).

Outcome:Proposed addition of ₹37.58 lakh under Section 69 deleted after the source of investment was substantiated with documentary evidence.
Section 143(2)Section 142(1)Section 69Property Purchase NoticeIncome Tax ScrutinyUnexplained InvestmentSource of FundsHousing LoanReal Estate TransactionFaceless AssessmentIndividual TaxpayerAY 2023-24
Read Full Case →
#5Reassessment — Section 148 / Section 147 read with Section 144B

Section 148 Reassessment Closed — Nil Demand for Salaried Non-Filer

A resident salaried individual in Hyderabad earned ₹26.11 lakh in salary and ₹9.33 lakh in gratuity from the same employer — both visible to the tax department through TDS records. No Income Tax Return was filed for Assessment Year 2020-21. A Section 148 reassessment notice was issued in March 2024, reopening the year for assessment proceedings. SMACAS was engaged to file a return, gather documentation, and close the notice without additional tax demand.

Outcome:Reassessment closed with nil additional tax demand. Income of ₹22,19,150 accepted as declared. TDS already deducted covered full liability. Section 270A penalty proceedings initiated separately for non-filing.
Section 148Section 147Section 144BHigh Risk Non-Filersalary incomegratuityreassessment noticenon-filing ITRAY 2020-21Form 16faceless assessmentSection 270Asalaried professionalHyderabad
Read Full Case →
#6Revision Application - Section 264 / Rectification — Section 154

Section 264 Revision - ₹10,740 Refund Ordered by PCIT Hyderabad

An individual taxpayer in Hyderabad paid a tax demand of ₹28,300 for AY 2020-21 in full, but when CPC passed a subsequent Section 154 rectification order reducing the demand to ₹17,560, it failed to credit the payment already made. A Section 264 revision application was filed before PCIT Hyderabad-1 to recover the resulting refund of ₹10,740.

Outcome:PCIT Hyderabad-1 directed AO to pass a fresh Section 154 order crediting ₹28,300 already paid. Refund of ₹10,740 ordered in taxpayer's favour.
Section 264Section 154Section 143(1)CPCrectificationtax credit missedrefundindividual taxpayerAY 2020-21PCIT Hyderabaddemand noticerevision applicationchallan credit
Read Full Case →
#7Appeal Order – Section 250 (Against Scrutiny Assessment under Section 143(3) read with Section 144B)

₹4.95 Crore Online Rummy Addition Deleted by CIT(A) Under Section 115BB

An individual taxpayer received a scrutiny assessment under Section 143(3) (scrutiny assessment conducted for detailed examination of an income tax return) read with Section 144B (faceless assessment procedure) after the Income Tax Department treated gross online Rummy winnings of ₹4.95 crore as taxable under Section 115BB (special tax provision for taxation of specified winnings). The assessment order was challenged before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), who examined the complete gaming records and written submissions.

Outcome:Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) deleted the entire addition of ₹4,95,65,300. Appeal allowed in full.
Section 250Section 143(3)Section 144BSection 115BBOnline RummyGameskraftIncome Tax AppealGross WinningsReal Income PrincipleOnline Gaming TaxCASS ScrutinyHyderabad
Read Full Case →

Resolving Income Tax Notices for Individuals & Salaried Employees

Salaried employees, freelancers, and investors receive tax notices more often than is widely understood - triggered by AIS mismatches, high-value transactions, or undeclared income. SMACAS resolves these notices efficiently, from simple 143(1) rectifications to full scrutiny assessments, protecting clients from unwarranted additions.

Frequently Asked Questions

I got a notice for cash deposits in my bank account - what should I do?

Cash deposits above ₹10 lakh in a savings account are reported to the Income Tax Department under SFT (Statement of Financial Transactions). If the source is not reflected in your ITR, a notice under Section 142(1) or 148A will follow. You must provide a source explanation with supporting documents - salary slips, sale deed, loan repayment evidence, or gift deed as applicable.

What is a Section 143(1) demand notice and how is it different from scrutiny?

A Section 143(1) demand is a system-generated notice issued when the ITR processing throws up a mismatch - between TDS credit claimed and Form 26AS, or deductions that do not match records. It is not a human scrutiny. Most 143(1) demands can be resolved by filing a rectification request under Section 154 or a revised response through the compliance portal.

I received a notice for a high-value stock market transaction. What do I need to show?

Equity transactions above ₹10 lakh per year are reported by brokers under SFT. If STT-paid capital gains are not declared in your ITR or are under-reported, a notice follows. You need to produce the broker statement, contract notes, and capital gains computation. Long-term gains above ₹1L attract 10% tax; short-term gains attract 15%.

Can a salaried employee with only Form 16 income receive an income tax notice?

Yes. Common triggers for salaried employees include: mismatch between Form 16 and AIS (Annual Information Statement), home loan interest deduction claimed without property ownership proof, HRA exemption claimed in a city not reflected in rent receipts, and LTA claims without supporting travel bills. Reconciling AIS before filing ITR prevents most such notices.

Need help with a tax notice?

Our CAs are available for immediate consultation. Response within 24 hours.

Contact Us →