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Income Tax

Received an Income Tax Intimation Under Section 143 1 What to Check

How to read a 143(1) intimation without confusing it with a scrutiny notice.

By Taxplan Advisor·September 16, 2026·6 min read
Visual summary for Received an Income Tax Intimation Under Section 143 1 What to Check

Quick answer

A section 143(1) intimation is the result of initial processing. It may show no demand and no refund, a refund, or a demand after permitted adjustments. Compare it line by line with the filed return before taking action.

This guide explains the issue from the beginning, shows the checks to perform and gives a practical action plan. You do not need tax knowledge before reading it. Important terms are explained below.


Who should read this guide

This guide is useful for individuals, freelancers, professionals, shopkeepers and small businesses dealing with this issue for the first time. It also gives finance teams a simple checklist before they share the case with a tax professional.


Important terms in simple language

TermSimple meaning
Assessment YearThe year used to file and process the return for income earned in the related financial year.
AISThe Annual Information Statement. It shows information reported by banks, employers, brokers and other reporting entities.
Form 26ASA tax-credit statement that shows TDS, TCS and certain tax payments linked to the PAN.
RectificationA request to correct an apparent mistake in processing. It is different from filing a revised return.

What you will learn

  • Start with the result

  • Compare filed and processed columns

  • Understand common adjustments

  • Choose the right remedy

  • Preserve the record

  • Step by step action plan

  • Practical example and common mistakes

  • Documents to keep ready and frequently asked questions


Start with the result

Check whether the document records a refund, demand or no change. Note the assessment year, PAN, date and response period.

Check the filed return, the portal status and the supporting statement together. For start with the result, one document may show the symptom while another shows the reason. Trace the difference to the exact row, year and amount before submitting a new request.


Compare filed and processed columns

The intimation usually shows figures as provided by the taxpayer and as computed. Focus on rows where the numbers differ.

Check the filed return, the portal status and the supporting statement together. For compare filed and processed columns, one document may show the symptom while another shows the reason. Trace the difference to the exact row, year and amount before submitting a new request.


Understand common adjustments

Arithmetic errors, inconsistent claims, late-return loss restrictions, tax-credit mismatch or apparent incorrect claims may affect the result. The exact reason matters more than the final number alone.

Check the filed return, the portal status and the supporting statement together. For understand common adjustments, one document may show the symptom while another shows the reason. Trace the difference to the exact row, year and amount before submitting a new request.


Choose the right remedy

A taxpayer may need to pay a correct demand, seek rectification for a processing mistake, revise the return within time or respond with evidence. These routes are not interchangeable.

Check the filed return, the portal status and the supporting statement together. For choose the right remedy, one document may show the symptom while another shows the reason. Trace the difference to the exact row, year and amount before submitting a new request.


Preserve the record

Keep the filed ITR, computation, intimation, challans, AIS, 26AS and supporting documents in one case folder.

Check the filed return, the portal status and the supporting statement together. For preserve the record, one document may show the symptom while another shows the reason. Trace the difference to the exact row, year and amount before submitting a new request.


How to check the issue correctly

Open the e-filing portal and download the filed ITR, latest intimation or notice, AIS and Form 26AS for the same assessment year. Put the related figures side by side. Mark each difference in income, deduction, tax credit, interest, refund or demand.

Then decide where the error started. If the ITR is wrong, check whether revision is available. If processing is wrong, review rectification. If the source statement is wrong, the employer, bank or other reporting person may need to correct it. Do not choose the remedy only from the final refund or demand amount.


Step by step action plan

1. Download the complete intimation.

2. Compare every changed line with the ITR.

3. Recheck TDS, advance tax and self-assessment tax.

4. Identify whether the return or processing is wrong.

5. Act within the displayed time and save acknowledgement.


Practical example

A deduction of Rs 50,000 is reduced to zero in processing. Before filing rectification, check whether the schedule was completed correctly and whether the claim was eligible. A wrong entry may require a revised return; a processing mismatch may call for rectification.

The lesson is to trace the issue before correcting it. Start with the source record, calculate the exact effect and keep proof of the action taken. If the correction changes tax, credit, refund or statutory status, recheck the portal after processing rather than assuming submission completed the matter.


Documents to keep ready

  • Filed ITR and acknowledgement

  • Tax computation and challans

  • AIS, TIS and Form 26AS

  • Intimation, notice or refund communication

  • Bank, salary, investment and income records

Use clear filenames that include the year, form or statement and date. Keep the final filed version separately from drafts so the wrong document is not used later.


Common mistakes and why they matter

  • Paying a demand without checking the calculation

  • Calling every intimation a tax notice

  • Using rectification to introduce a completely new claim without checking legal limits

  • Ignoring a small demand that may affect a future refund

These mistakes usually happen when the final amount is checked without tracing the supporting record. Confirm the year, form, source data and portal status before filing a correction or response.


When to get professional help

Seek help when the portal shows a demand, the deadline is close, more than one assessment year is involved, or the return and third-party statements do not agree.

Professional review is especially useful when the case affects more than one return, another person must correct data, or the response period is short. Share the full communication and supporting records rather than only a screenshot of the final amount.


Final thoughts

The safest approach is simple. Identify the correct year, compare the official portal record with your documents, calculate the exact difference and use the remedy designed for that difference. Save every acknowledgement and check the status again after processing.

Upload the intimation to Taxplan for a line-by-line review before paying or filing a correction.

Talk to Taxplan Advisor → https://www.taxplanadvisor.in/

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Upload the intimation to Taxplan for a line-by-line review before paying or filing a correction.


Official sources and references

Editorial note Recheck deadline-sensitive details against the latest notification and portal guidance before publication. This article provides general information and does not replace advice based on a taxpayer’s documents and facts.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is 143(1) the same as scrutiny under 143(2)?

No. Initial processing and scrutiny are different proceedings.

What if the refund is lower?

Compare the adjustment reasons and tax credits before deciding the remedy.

Should I reply when there is no demand?

Keep the record; a separate response may not be required if the intimation needs no action.

Will the portal fix the issue automatically?

Do not depend on an automatic correction. Check the processed status, relevant statement and acknowledgement after the expected processing time.

Should I keep records after the matter is resolved?

Yes. Keep the return, working, communication, evidence and final acknowledgement for the applicable record-retention period.