Income Tax Notice: If you filed your ITR for AY 2026-27 and got an income tax notice, do not rush to act, it could be fake. The Income Tax Department gives taxpayers an online way to check if a notice, order, letter, or other message was really sent by them. This tool is called “Authenticate Notice/Order issued by ITD” and it is available on the e-filing portal. The best part is that you do not need to log in first.
This check matters because income tax communications issued from 1 October 2019 onward are supposed to have a Document Identification Number, or DIN. The DIN is a computer-made unique number that helps identify official messages from the tax department. If you see a notice that looks strange, checking the DIN first can protect you from fake demands, bad links, and unsafe requests for your personal details.
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What DIN means?
A notice or order without a DIN is usually treated as invalid and “non est” in law. That means it is taken as if it was never issued. The official FAQ also says you do not need to take action on such a communication if it has no DIN. Still, some messages may be exempt from the DIN rule, so taxpayers should verify the document online instead of guessing.
The portal gives two easy ways to verify a notice. One way is to use PAN along with the document type, assessment year, date of issue, and a mobile number. The other way is to use the DIN and a mobile number. In both cases, a six-digit OTP is sent to the mobile number you enter. The portal says the number does not have to be the one already linked to your e-filing account. Any mobile number that you can access will work for OTP verification.
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How the Online Check works
- Open the e-filing portal and select “Authenticate Notice/Order issued by ITD.” Enter your PAN, document type, assessment year, issue date, and mobile number.
- You will receive a six-digit OTP on the mobile number. Enter the OTP to complete the verification.
- If the details match, the portal will show the communication details, including the document number and issue date.
- Using DIN: Select the DIN option and enter the DIN and mobile number. Enter the OTP received on your phone.
- If the DIN matches the Income Tax Department’s records, the portal will confirm the notice.
- If the details do not match, the portal will show “No record found.”
