Recent Income Tax Department Alerts for Taxpayers and ITR Filing Reminders

Income Tax Department Tightens Scrutiny on Political Donation Claims: What Taxpayers Should Know

Over the past few weeks, several taxpayers have reported receiving emails and SMS alerts from the Income Tax Department, particularly concerning deductions claimed under Section 80GGC, which deals with donations to political parties. These communications often carry a cautionary note—“Match claim with facts”—signaling a broader compliance campaign.

If You’ve Claimed 80GGC, Here's What You Should Do

If you’ve claimed a deduction under Section 80GGC while filing your return, here are three possible routes you can take depending on your situation:

Scenario	What You Should Do
Your claim is genuine	No need to worry—just ensure you’ve got proper documentation. This means having an official donation receipt from a registered political party or an electoral trust, and proof of payment via a traceable method like NEFT, UPI, or cheque. Cash donations don’t qualify.
Your claim is incorrect or can’t be substantiated	Act quickly. You can file an updated return under Section 139(8A) using the ITR-U facility. Withdraw the deduction, pay any additional tax, and inform the department of the correction. Ideally, do this within 7 days of receiving the alert.
You're unsure or feel the alert is mistaken	It’s best to consult a tax professional. If you have proof and still believe the claim is valid, you can respond with an explanation and attach the required documents through the compliance portal.

Key Conditions for Valid 80GGC Claims

Donation must be made to a political party registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Only non-cash donations are eligible.
Retain both the official donation receipt and proof of payment from your bank (NEFT, UPI, cheque, etc.).

Why You Might Get an Email or SMS: Discrepancy Alerts

The Income Tax Department is increasingly relying on data-driven checks. You might receive a message if there’s a mismatch between your return and:

Details in your Annual Information Statement (AIS).
Third-party reports from banks, employers, mutual funds, or TDS returns.

What You Should Do

If you get such a message:

Don’t ignore it. Log in to the income tax portal.
Navigate to the AIS or compliance section, and check which entries are flagged.
Correct errors via a revised or updated return, or submit clarification with supporting documents.

ITR Processing Has Begun for AY 2025–26

If you filed your return early this year, you might have already received:

Email or SMS stating your return has been processed.
An Intimation under Section 143(1)—this tells you whether the return resulted in a refund, demand, or nil change.

If there’s a discrepancy in tax calculations or refund status, respond swiftly via the e-filing portal. There’s an option to file objections, submit explanations, or upload additional proof.

Filing Deadline Extended to September 15, 2025

For most non-audit cases (individual taxpayers without business audit requirements), the due date for AY 2024–25 has been extended from July 31 to September 15, 2025.

That said, filing early is still wise. It avoids last-minute tech glitches, ensures faster refunds, and gives you time to fix errors or address notices.

Best Practices to Stay Compliant

Double-check your Section 80GGC claims—keep receipts and payment records handy.
Review all communication from the Income Tax Department, including emails that may land in your spam folder.
Compare your return with Form 26AS and the AIS before filing.
Use pre-filled data but don’t blindly rely on it—cross-verify with your documents.
Act promptly on any discrepancy notices.
Consult a professional if there’s any confusion or if your case involves significant tax amounts.