To give relief to taxpayers during the coronavirus lockdown, the income tax department is issuing all pending income tax refunds up to 5 lakh now. In just one week, the taxman has already released 4,250 crore refunds to 10.2 lakh assesses.
In some cases the income tax department chooses to get a confirmation from the taxpayer by sending emails before processing the refund claim. Around 1.74 lakh such income tax assesses are yet to respond to the emails leading to a delay in processing of such claims.
Income tax department's email seeking confirmation for refund
Dear Taxpayer,
It is seen that a claim of refund has been made in the Income Tax Return for filed by you on .
Your Income Tax Return has been selected under risk management process wherein your confirmation is required on the claim of refund. You are requested to submit your response in the e-Filing Portal post login by selecting either of the following options:
The claim of refund is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief
Return of Income is being revised wherein, correct claim of refund shall be made
To submit the above mentioned response, please login to e-Filing portal, Go to Worklist->For Your Action-> Response for Refund Confirmation.
Please verify the claims made in your Return of Income filed and submit your response accordingly. In case of any incorrect claims, please revise your Income Tax Return (ITR).
Please submit your response within 30 days of receipt of this e-mail.
Please ignore this mail, if you have already submitted your response.
Income tax department's clarification on refund mails
The income tax department said these reminder emails are for the benefit of taxpayers as it seeks them to confirm their outstanding demand, their bank accounts and reconciliation of defect/mismatch prior to issue of refund.
The taxman has appealed to all those receiving such emails to login to their e-filing account and respond for refund confirmation immediately.
"It is clarified that these are the necessary routine process related communications to the taxpayers to seek response on defective ITRs, prima facie adjustments and where confirmation is sought about certain claims made by them. In all such cases, a quick response from the taxpayer would enable the I-T Department to process their refunds expeditiously," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.
