Income Tax Alerts Arriving Late at Night: Act Before December 31 or Risk Losing Your Refund

Taxpayers waiting for their income tax refunds should remain extremely alert right now. The Income Tax Department has started sending alerts and notices—sometimes even late at night—informing taxpayers about discrepancies in their Income Tax Returns (ITR) or possible withholding of refunds. Ignoring these messages could prove costly, as December 31, 2025, is the final deadline to file a revised return for Assessment Year 2025–26. Missing this date may result in permanent loss of refunds worth lakhs of rupees.

If you have received an SMS or email from the Income Tax Department regarding errors, mismatches, or refund issues, it is a clear signal to take immediate action. Once the deadline passes, correcting mistakes becomes significantly more difficult and financially unfavorable.

Why Are These Income Tax Messages Being Sent?

The Income Tax Department is currently scrutinizing ITRs under its risk management and verification process. During this review, if officials detect any discrepancy—such as a mismatch in income details, TDS credits, deductions claimed, or refund amounts—the processing of the return may be paused.

To prevent taxpayers from facing losses, the department is proactively sending alerts and notices, urging them to verify and correct errors in their returns. These messages are not random or routine reminders; they directly impact the status of your refund and overall tax compliance.

December 31: A Crucial Deadline for Taxpayers

December 31, 2025, is the last date to file a revised or belated Income Tax Return for Assessment Year 2025–26. This deadline is extremely important because, after this date, taxpayers lose the flexibility to correct errors in their original returns.

If the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) processes your return after December 31 and flags an issue, you will no longer be able to file a revised ITR—even if the mistake is minor or unintentional. This can lead to blocked refunds, additional tax liability, or prolonged disputes.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If discrepancies are found in your ITR and you fail to revise it before December 31, the only option left is filing an Updated Return (ITR-U). However, this option comes with serious limitations:

• You cannot claim any refund through ITR-U

• You may be required to pay additional tax and penalties

• You cannot freely correct all types of mistakes

In simple terms, even if you were genuinely eligible for a refund, it could be forfeited permanently. This is why tax experts strongly advise correcting all errors before the year-end deadline.

Rectification Requests Are Not a Complete Solution

Many taxpayers believe that filing a rectification request later will resolve any issues. However, this is a common misconception. Rectification applications are limited in scope and can only fix obvious mistakes such as calculation errors or visible TDS mismatches.

You cannot use rectification to add new income details, claim additional deductions, or modify refund claims. Therefore, relying solely on rectification after December 31 can leave taxpayers with no effective remedy.

Experts Issue a Strong Warning

Chartered accountants and tax professionals have warned that a large number of ITRs are still pending processing. There is a strong possibility that many returns will be reviewed only after December 31, 2025. If discrepancies are discovered at that stage, taxpayers will bear the financial loss—even if the delay was due to system processing timelines.

Experts emphasize that proactive verification is the only way to safeguard refunds and avoid unnecessary tax complications.

What Should Taxpayers Do Now?

Taxpayers are advised to immediately check their registered email IDs and mobile numbers for any communication from the Income Tax Department. If you receive an alert or notice:

• Log in to the income tax portal without delay

• Carefully review your filed ITR details

• Identify mismatches, missing information, or incorrect claims

• File a revised ITR well before December 31, 2025

Timely action can help ensure that your legitimate refund is released smoothly and that you stay compliant with tax laws.

Ignoring these alerts could not only delay your refund but also expose you to financial and legal complications. With the deadline fast approaching, reviewing your tax return now could save you from significant losses later.