Stocks● Neutral
Taxpayers Face 15-Day Deadline to Fix Defective ITR Notices
Missing TDS credit or incomplete business income details can trigger a defective return notice. Taxpayers have 15 days to respond or risk an invalid return.
Continue with
For Assessment Year 2026-27, the Income Tax Department has started issuing defective return notices under Section 139(9) to taxpayers whose filings contain missing, inconsistent, or incorrect information. A notice typically lands on the registered email and the e-filing portal.
A return is considered defective when, for example, a taxpayer claims TDS credit but fails to report the corresponding income. Business income sections left incomplete or mismatched schedules also trigger the notice. The department spells out the exact issue and the correction required.
Taxpayers get 15 days from the date of the notice to fix the defect or submit a response. If the notice specifies a different deadline, that overrides the default. Those who need more time can request an extension through the applicable procedure.