Income Tax Grievance: A Guide to Seeking Redressal
A taxpayer has the opportunity to file a complaint with the tax department if they are having trouble understanding any problems with their income tax return (ITR), TDS certificate, or any other income tax-related concerns. The grievance redressal procedure is used to file this complaint. To handle taxpayer concerns, the Income Tax Department has a Unified Grievance Management system called e-Nivaran. There is an internet channel for filing complaints about tax filing. In this article, we will explain how to file a complaint and, if necessary, seek an escalation if you have any income tax grievances.
Table of Contents
What is Income Tax Grievance?
A grievance is an objection to something, in this context, a complaint raised to the Income Tax Department. The grievance cell was established by the Income Tax Department as a single point of contact for any grievances pertaining to income tax-related issues. You can file a grievance either before or after logging in at https://eportal.incometax.gov.in. Those who do not have an account on the Income Tax e-filing system may file a pre-login grievance.
Steps to Submit an Income Tax Grievance
There are two methods to file a grievance with the income tax department. Whether or not you have registered on the e-filing portal will determine your option.
Registered Users
The following steps should be followed if you have registered on the e-filing portal:
Step 1: Go to the Income Tax Department's e-filing website and sign in to your account.
Step 2: Select the "Submit Grievance" option after navigating to the grievances tab.
Step 3: Enter the information and choose the grievance type. You will notice a transaction ID and a success message after your grievance has been amended. Additionally, an email will be sent to the email address you registered.
Unregistered Users
Step 1: Visit the e-filing website if you haven't registered on the e-filing portal.
Step 2: Find the Grievance option beneath the "Contact Us" section in the webpage's footer.
Step 3: Click "Continue" after selecting "I do not have a PAN/TAN."
Step 4: Provide all of your personal information.
Step 5: Enter the OTP that was issued to your email address and phone number.
Step 6: Enter the grievance details and choose the grievance type.
Step 7: Enter the PAN/TAN application number, assessment year, and financial year.
Step 8: Compose an explanation of your grievance (you can include attachments as evidence).
Step 9: Click "Submit Grievance". Additionally, you can contact the income tax grievance email address, webmanager@incometax.gov.in, to address any concerns.
Departments to Approach for Grievance Redressal
If you want to bring up a grievance with the Income Tax Department, you may need to approach the following authorities:
Assessing Officer (AO): This department deals with matters that directly affect your designated AO, including PAN-related issues, inaccurate outstanding demands, unreceived appeal orders, and application delays.
Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) [DIT(Systems)]: Technical problems with the tax system, including those pertaining to assessments, the national website, PANs, refund bankers (SBI), OLTAS (Online Tax Application System), non-filing of return notices, and other system errors, are handled by the Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) [DIT(Systems)].
Centralised Processing Center-Income Tax Return (CPC-ITR): The CPC-ITR is your go-to resource for questions about ITRs. They handle feedback, verification procedures, rectification requests, refunds, demand disparities, and communication delays.
Centralised Processing Center-TDS (CPC-TDS): This department handles issues such as Form 26AS discrepancies, challan adjustments, defaults, questions about Form 16/16A/27D, KYC concerns, and registration inquiries.
E-filing: Communication gaps, compliance portal questions, late filing requests, cybercrime concerns, DSC-related issues, FO Portal complaints, form submission issues, general questions, instant PAN issues, JSON utility technical difficulties, unfulfilled demands, password resets, profile updates, rectification requests, refund inquiries, representative registrations, general registrations, TAN-related questions, e-proceedings, and verification issues are all addressed by the e-Filing department.
National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL): All PAN-related issues, such as Aadhaar linkage, duplicate PAN allocations, digitisation errors, discrepancy letters, online application issues, delivery issues, rejections, and upload delays, are handled by National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).
Unique Identification Authority of India Infrastructure Technology Services Limited (UTIITSL): Aadhaar linking, duplicate allocations, digitisation errors, discrepancy letters, online application issues, delivery issues, and rejections are among the PAN-related issues that are handled by the Unique Identification Authority of India Infrastructure Technology Services Limited (UTIITSL), in conjunction with NSDL.
Grievances Addressed on e-Nivaran
In an effort to encourage a paperless environment, the Income Tax Administration introduced "e-Nivaran," a unique electronic system designed to expedite taxpayer complaints and guarantee prompt resolution or restitution. The recently introduced new smart electronic platform will now manage the department's routine operations and provide a distinct and dedicated channel for grievance redressal in the Income Tax Business Application (ITBA). The following table describes the department-specific grievances addressed on e-Nivaran.
Department | Category | Sub category |
AO | Miscellaneous Application Pending | Miscellaneous Application Pending |
- | Others | Others |
CPC-ITR | Feedback | Appreciation, bugs, content, performance, suggestions, usability |
- | Social Media | Not able to log grievance on e-filing portal, others |
- | Tax-Related Queries | Miscellaneous |
DIT (Systems) | National Website Related | Issues related to the national website |
- | PAN related technical issues | Allotment-related technical issues |
- | Others | Others |
NSDL | Allotment of same PAN to different persons | Pending for resolution at NSDL |
- | Digitisation errors in PAN application | Pending resolution at NSDL |
- | Discrepancy letters of PAN applications | Documents couriered to NSDL, POD given by applicant |
- | - | Documents hand delivered but not traceable |
- | Online PAN application related issues regarding receipt of documents. | Documents delivered but not traceable |
- | PAN applications not uploaded to NSDL e-Gov Central System | PAN application submitted to TIN-FC not uploaded to TIN Central System |
- | Rejection of PAN application by ITD/Asked for confirmation or photocopy | PAN application rejected by ITD (multiple CR) - Action required at NSDL e-Gov |
- | Others | Others |
UTIITSL | Digitisation errors in PAN applications | Digitisation errors in PAN applications |
- | Discrepancy letters of PAN applications | Discrepancy letters of PAN applications |
- | Others | Others |
e-Filing | Communication | Intimation Related |
- | DSC Related | DSC registration process, Downloading EmSigner Utility, Signing using emSigner, Getting, DSC, Unable to Register DSC, Unable to sign using emSigner |
- | FO Portal Grievance Related | How to raise Grievance, Status of Grievance raised, Unable to raise Grievance, Unable to view raised Grievance |
- | Filing of Return/Forms | Enable Macros, Revising Return, non-filing of returns, MICR Code / IFSC Code, Unable to redirect to TRACES website (View form 26AS), e-Filing process flow |
- | Forms related issues | Other Forms |
- | General Enquiry | Due date, tax queries, non-tax queries, Know Your AO/ TAN/ PAN, PAN card details, local ITO details, news and update related queries, notification received |
- | Instant PAN through Aadhaar | Downloading e-PAN, applying e-PAN, getting physical PAN card, modification and updates in e-PAN, unable to get instant PAN, OTP related issues, Unable to view e-Pan status, e-PAN Status |
- | Profile | Aadhaar related queries, non-banking queries |
- | Registration | CA registration process, external agency, PAN/TAN registration process, general queries, Unable to register CA/PAN/TAN |
- | TAN Related | Cancelation of TAN registration, TAN related queries, TAN approval / rejection, Uploading TDS statement, TDS statement status, TDS statement upload/utility issue, others |
- | TaxGenie / Chatbot Services | Chatbot, banner bot, others |
- | e-Filing Portal Access | Account temporarily locked, Error: something went wrong, slow/inaccessible portal, suspicious activity detection, session expire, unable to Login to the e-filing account |
- | e-Proceedings | e-Proceeding general queries |
- | Others | ITDREIN- Password related |
Income Tax Grievance Resolution Timeline
After the petition is received, income tax issues are typically resolved in 8 weeks. Nonetheless, the majority of complaints are resolved within a month of being received. Furthermore, if the complaint comes from the Finance Minister's Office, the Prime Minister's Office, or the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the income tax grievance settlement period is 21 days.
Steps to Track Income Tax Grievance Status
Use the steps listed below to check the status of an income tax grievance:
Step 1: Under the "Grievances" menu, find the "Grievance Status."
Step 2: Enter the Status, AY, and Acknowledgement Number.
Step 3: Provide all relevant information.
You can now check the status of your income tax grievance.
Escalation of Income Tax Refund Issue
If you feel the need to escalate an income tax refund issue after monitoring your income tax grievance status, you can do so by following these If you feel the need to escalate an income tax refund issue after monitoring your income tax grievance status, you can do so using the following procedures:
Make a call and notify the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) of the Income Tax Department. They can be reached via phone from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 1800 103 4455 or +91-80-46605200.
You can write to the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax to express your concerns if you believe that the processing of your refund requests is taking too long.
You can submit a grievance letter to the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer for an income tax refund if your prior years' income tax returns were completed by hand. Additionally, copies of your income tax returns must be attached.
Additionally, you can go to the Ombudsman's office if you continue to believe that it is taking too long to settle your issue. They will write to the Income Tax Commissioner regarding your problem in order to have it resolved as soon as possible.
In general, the Income Tax Department makes an effort to handle refund requests quickly. But sometimes, it can take months to resolve these issues. You must maintain composure in these situations and keep an eye on the progress of your request.
Conclusion
Income tax laws are complicated, and you may always have doubts and concerns regarding income tax refunds, e-verification, outstanding demand, processing, rectification, and more. You may even have some complaints and grievances at some point. Fortunately, the Income Tax Department has a proper process for raising complaints and seeking resolution. By following these steps and approaching the relevant authorities, you can seek resolution for your issues.
FAQ
Q1. How do you escalate a tax grievance?
A grievance petition may be sent by mail or email to the public relations officer, or it may be emailed directly to the Information and Facilitation Counter by taxpayers.
Q2. Can you file a grievance on the income tax portal even if you are an unregistered person?
Yes, even if you are not registered you can still file grievances on the income tax portal. The grievances section is located under the "Contact Us" title; you may continue from there.
Q3. How to complain about an income tax refund not yet received?
You can make a complaint in the grievance area or call the CPC's hotline numbers.
Q4. Can the refund amount be adjusted for some other tax payment?
Yes, the Assessing Officer has the authority to modify the refund amount in order to settle any outstanding tax payments you may have had.
Q5. How many days does it take to resolve a refund reissue?
It typically takes 20 to 45 days to settle a refund reissue following the e-verification of your income tax return. It can take longer, though, if you are sending your ITR-V to the CPC offline.
Q6. Is there any tax on the refund amount?
No, taxes do not apply to the refund amount. However, the interest earned on this sum is subject to taxes.
Q7. What to do if the e-verify option becomes unresponsive?
In the event that the e-verify option stops working, you should submit a grievance complaint. In the department section, choose "e-filing," and in the category area, choose "verification of returns/forms." You may also include screenshots as additional proof.
Q8. Can you rectify the grievance petition sent?
You have eight weeks after receiving the grievance petition to make the necessary corrections. But the complaints are only addressed after a month.
Q9. What to do if I cannot view my filed ITR on the Income Tax Portal?
You must file a grievance complaint if you are unable to download your filed ITR form. Moreover, screenshots can be included as evidence.
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