Follow Us :

As we all are aware that, Finance Act, 2017 has come up with an amendment in Section 143(1)(a) i.e an insertion of point (vi) addition of income appearing in Form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return.

After this amendment most of the tax payer has received notices u/s 143(1) regarding Mismatch of Income with Form 16/16A. Therefore this post is dedicated to this matter and discussing in details the reason behind issuing notices to taxpayers and how to respond to the communication (notice) received from CPC regarding this matter.

This amendment is going to hit hard for those Income Tax Assessee’s (Majorly Salaried Employees) who used to make manipulative claims of allowances (LTA, medical, HRA etc) or deductions (Section 80C, 80D) in Return of Income and claims refund of TDS deducted from Salary. Let’s discuss the section and the impact of amendment made. According to this section, on filing Return of Income, Department will process the return of income after making following adjustments:

(i) any arithmetical error in the return;

(ii) an incorrect claim, if such incorrect claim is apparent from any information in the return;

Impact of Section 143(1)(a)(vi) in various ways on taxpayers:

1. If assessee has claimed any allowance or deduction while filing return of income, which was not considered by employer in Form 16, then he/she must compulsorily face the Income Tax Notice enquiring the same. If assessee failed to response that notice within 30 days, then differential amount between Form 16 and Return of Income will be automatically added to his income and return would be processed accordingly. In simpler language, everyone will get notice unless Income shown in Return matches exactly or more than the Form 16/16A. So, before making any such claim now in return of income, ensure that you have valid evidences for same. Sample Notice image is produced below:

Part -A

Adjustments u/s 143(1)(a)

(vi) Additional of Income Appearing in form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return-143(1)(a)(vi)
Sr. No. Form used for Comparision Income as per Return Income as per Form Proposed additional of income
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi)
1. Form 16A/16-Other Income 0 11048 11048
2. Form-16 Gross Total Income 378584 389632 11048
3. Form 16 Taxable Total Income 277980 289024 11048

2. If assessee has not shown Interest Income or other income in ITR as per Form 16A or Form 26AS, then it would also attract Income Tax Notice. This would cause problem for those also who shows Interest Income in their return of Income from Form 26AS only, the statement which gets updated time to time. For an example, It might happen that while filing return of Income it shows Rs.20,000/- amount and at the time of processing ITR it shows Rs.25,000/- as the Form 26AS gets updated by that time.

3. Unlike earlier year, you will not get your Income Tax Refund within one or two week, because of this prolonged process introduced right before processing the Income Tax Return. This would cause serious harassment for those genuine tax payers or assessee who was unable to file their genuine proofs of allowances and deduction to employer timely and now claiming refund. They will also face these notices and have to wait for disposal of their responses against this notices and subsequent action by the department.

Sample instances for which one may receive a notice from department after filing return of Income under section 143(1)(a)(vi):

  • Deductions such as 80C or 80D or other claimed in return but not in Form 16  by employer.
  • Exempt Allowances claimed in return but not in Form 16  such as HRA or LTA or Medical Allowances not claimed through employer but claimed in return.
  • Interest Income accrued on Fixed Deposit not shown.
  • Receipts considered under different head of income in the return as against the section under which it is deducted

How to respond to Notices under Section 143(1)(a)(vi)?

Before responding these notices, carefully analyse the reason asked in notice and then submit the appropriate explanation as per the facts of your case under the tab “e-proceeding” after Login your Income Tax Account.

Follow the following steps to submit the response for Adjustments u/s 143(1)(a)

Steps Description
Step 1 Logon to ‘e-Filing’ Portal www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in
Step 2 Go to the ‘e-Proceeding‘ menu located at upper-middle side of the page and click on ‘e- Proceedings’ then Proceed further if data is available and click on  Proceeding Name link that is ‘Adjustment u/s 143(1)(a)‘ located under ‘Proceeding Name’ column
Step 3 Click Submit provided at ‘Response’ column and then select the type of Response from the following options:

  • Agree (Agree with the variance and file a revised return)
  • Partially Agree (Partially Agree with variance and file a revised return)
  • Disagree (Disagree to adjust the variance)
Step 4 If Assessee choose option 1 i.e. Agree (Agree with the variance and file a revised return)

  • File a Revise Return
  • The acknowledgement number of the latest revised return will be auto-populated.
  • Click on submit and success message will be displayed as ‘Agreed and Revised Return filed’
Step 5 If Assessee choose option 2 i.e. Partially Agree (Partially Agree with variance and file a revised return)

  • If you agree some part of Response Table, File a Revise Return for the agreed part.
  • A response table ‘Table A to F‘ will be displayed. Respond to Disagreed Variances and provide the appropriate reasons and reconcile the variance in the ‘Dynamic Reconciliation Statement’

Note:

    • If you agree with few Variance, file the Revise Return and provide the response in the tables along with the Reconciliation Statement for disagreed part.
    • You will be able to view only those tables for which there is a variance in your return and for which you are expected to provide you response in contention to your disagreement.
  • Click on submit and success message will be displayed as ‘Partially Agreed and revised return filed’
Step 6 If Assessee choose option 3 i.e. Disagree (Disagree to adjust the variance)

  • Select the type of Response as ‘Disagree’ and click on continue
  • A response table ‘Table A to F’ will be displayed. Respond to Disagreed Variances and provide the appropriate reasons and reconcile the variance in the ‘Dynamic Reconciliation Statement’

Note: You will be able to view only those tables for which there is a variance in your return and for which you are expected to provide you response in contention to your disagreement.

Step 7 Click the link available under ‘Reference ID’ to download the communication/intimation in form of PDF file.

One should consult their CA or tax expert before proceeding or submitting any response to these notices. As in some cases I personally observed that Income Tax Website Considered Income twice or thrice of the amount proposed to be added.

So, beware before filing return of income with any such claims unless you don’t have sufficient evidence or proof. Though this kind of action will help government to eliminate few thousands tax evaders, but at the same time it would cost delay in Income Tax refunds for Lakhs of genuine tax payers also.

(Republished with Amendments)

Join Taxguru’s Network for Latest updates on Income Tax, GST, Company Law, Corporate Laws and other related subjects.

21 Comments

  1. CHHELSHANKAR BHAVANISHANKAR JOSHI says:

    THE DEDUCTION UNDER 80C FOR RS 150000 IS CLAIMED BUT IT IS NOT SHOWN IN FORM 16 . I HAVE GET EMAIL FOR INCORECT CLAIM OF REFUND AS THE DEDUCTION OF RS 150000 UNDER CHAPTER 16 IS NOT SHOWN . HOW TO RESPONDE THE SAME AND CAN I UPLPAD THE PROOF OF MY INVESTENET OF RS 150000 WHICH IS INVESTED DIRECTLY AND NOT PRVIDED TO EMPLOYER

  2. sanjaypuri says:

    i have chosen new tax regime and have given written consent to my employer for FY 2020-20. my employer has given me the form 16 without mentioning my CPF contribution . According to him,their is no option to do so.But i think same must be shown in gross deductions though qualifying amount will be zero. What should be done

  3. SOM RAJAN R says:

    In such cases it is mostly due to omission on employer’s part (HR section). Any how, tax payers should be proud of being a tax payer (not evader).

  4. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    The best and easiest persons to be harassed are the salaried / pensioners as they have nothing to hide and so merry with more forms from deductors and harass the assessees; Lert there be no action on deductors as mostly they are Government Banks or Treasuries – Long live the harassment

  5. Dr S P Sachdeva says:

    I recd notice u/s 143(1)(a). Error shown was my 80c deductios claimed in return but not mentioned in F16. Which is not correct as my 80c deductios r mentioned in F16 issued to me by employer. I have uploaded my F16 to ENIVARAN as grieveance.Response efiling problem is coming to answer HEAD OF INCOME/SCHEDULE UNDER WHICH REPORTED IN RETURN.Kindly help what to do. I m being harassed by income tax deptt

  6. Dr S P Sachdeva says:

    I m pensioner. I recd notice under 143(1)(a).Error shown was my 80c deductios not mentioned in F16.but claimed in return. But actually this is not correct.My In my F16 80c deductions are mentioned which are claimed in the return. I have efiled my grieveance to Enivaran but no reply.When I efile response problem came to answer question Head of income/schedule under which reported in the return..because answer seeke numerical figure.I m harrassed a lot Kindly help.

  7. Aleem says:

    What should employees do when deductor made mistake. For example he not considered employee other savings which not included in form 16. .example in form 16 deduction. Show 1 lakh but emplyee have more than 1 lakh. Are 1.50. Lakh.then what kind of action will be taken against deducters.

  8. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    The author may kindly clarify as to wher from the CPC takes “Income as per Return”; is it from Head Salary or Schedule? if income is correctly noted in the ITR under Head Salary and deduction claimed seperately, the “taxable income” noted in Form 16 my vary because 80C and other claims are made separately,
    Example –
    Income in ITR under Head Salary – 5,00,000
    Gross Total in ITR – 5,00,000
    Income under Head “Other Income” – 3,00,000
    Chapter VI deduction -1,50,000
    Taxable Income in ITR – 6,50,000

    The Chapter VI deductions were omitted by Employer-
    Gross Total in Form 16 – 5,00,000
    Other Income not reflected by Employer 0
    Taxable Income in Form 16 – 5,00,000
    Other Income in Form 16A – 2,20,000 (because some exempt interest may not get reflecred in Form 16A or Form 26AS)
    Thus Total income as per Form 16 & 16A – 7,20,000
    Will it attract notice?
    The IT Department may clarify.

  9. vswami says:

    OFFHAND

    The newly inserted clause reads, – “(vi) addition of income appearing in Form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return.”

    Even on the first blush, according to a plain reading of the said clause, it must be obvious that the wording is so clumsy, that it does not speak of or clearly bring out the real intent behind the amendment. To be precise, to one’ s understanding, the addition is to be of the amount of deduction taxpayer will be entitled to be allowed in terms of CHAPTER VIA; which, may have been reported to the payer / tax-deductor in Form 12 BB, at the stage of TDS itself, as provided for by the law. For , in that event, the total income taken for TDS, would have been no different but match with that as per the ITR filed.

    Any eminent or better but different way of smart reading the new clause; if so, welcome to share for the common good.

  10. NATINDER GUPTA says:

    Interest on Saving Bank accounts does not form part of Form 16/ !6A. If CPC keep on issuing notices. Income Tax deptt will not be able to achieve the target of bringing maximum number of persons under the tax net. A salary class person has nothing to conseal. Then why such harassment.

  11. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    I am a pensioner. The Bank through which I receive my pension reports Gross Total paid as 5,02,483 and Taxable Income as 4,99,983.

    I had Interest income from Banks also which are reflected more by me due to Interest on SB A/c.

    I have reflected pension as 5,02,483 in ITR1 and claimed 80C and 80D deductions separately in the ITR1.

    Will this attract notice by the IT Dept?
    .

  12. Anonymous says:

    Hi Animesh,

    I have received an intimation under section-143(1) which says that I’ve not shown FD interest in Form-16/16A.

    When I tried to modify my return in incometax e-filing website (by adding that amount X), the final amount is becoming 3X.

    If I use your above example, the amount which needs to be added in Form-16/16A should be 11048, but incometax e-filing website shows that I should add 33144 to the return (11048*3).

    Is this number correct? Am I missing anything in my calculation?

  13. ricky gupta says:

    Very nicely written in easy understandable way and concerned with future problems that may not happen to clients as well as to tax consultants
    Thanks
    Regards
    Advocate Ricky Gupta
    Taxation company
    Sardulgarh

  14. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    OK. In respect of Salaried class or pensioners, Form 16 may or may not show deductions under 80C 80D etc.. What about persons who have income only from interests from Banks. Form 16A has no coloumn to claim deductions.
    How is the CPC going to tackle it.
    Obviously we will get notices.

  15. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    I am a pensioner. I did not intimate my Senior Citizen Savings Scheme Deposits in Post Office to to the Bank paying me the pension. So the entire pension was taxed by the Bank/
    I have claimed deduction in the ITR.
    Will I get notice?

  16. HPP says:

    There can be case where employer side accountant/HR person has left the job, things were not accounted correctly, then why should genuine employee should suffer? Even banks may make errors, or reports accrued but not due interest at 31/03 every year. Does that mean assessee should change his method of accounting?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search Post by Date
March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031