Once you have verified your income tax return after submitting it, the income tax department cross checks the income declared and tax paid by you with the information available with them.

If your tax calculations match that made by the assessing officer, then you will receive an intimation from the department accepting your tax return under section 143(1).

However, if it does not match, you will either get a tax refund notice or an outstanding tax demand notice. You will get a refund notice if you have paid more tax than what the assessing officer has calculated. On the other hand, if the assessing officer finds that you have paid less tax than what he has calculated, then you will be served with an outstanding tax demand notice.

If the department has sent you such an intimation of outstanding tax demand, you will have to go to an income tax office on the date and the time specified in the notice.

However, the government is trying to make this procedure taxpayer friendly by providing e-assessment methods. You can respond to the tax notices by logging in to your account on the e-filing website - https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/.

Given below are the steps on how to respond to a tax demand notice using the e-filing website.