The helpline phone number and email ID launched by the income tax department will help the taxpayers to get assistance regarding the income tax notices received by them from the National e-Assessment Centre.

To help those taxpayers who have queries regarding the faceless e-assessment scheme, the income tax department has launched a helpline facility. There is now an email address and telephone number exclusively dedicated to resolve the queries of taxpayers who have received notices from the National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC).The email ID and phone number are as follows:

• delhi.ito.hq.pccit.neac@incometax.gov.in

• 18001801961(e-filing; general queries)

The communication issued by the income tax department states that if the taxpayer sends an email query, then it should contain the following:

• PAN
• Soft copy of the notice
• Details of the help required

The order further mentions that the queries should only be sent to the above-mentioned email ID and not to any other email ID/telephone/Whatsapp. Only queries sent to the above-mentioned email ID or asked on the above mentioned phone number will be entertained.

What is National e-Assessment Scheme?
Last year, the finance ministry notified the e-assessment scheme rules on September 12, 2019 which was announced by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in her July 2019 Budget speech. The faceless assessment scheme and National e-Assessment Centre were launched on October 7, 2019.

The scheme was launched with an objective to reduce the interface between the taxpayer and the tax department. It changes the way income tax returns (ITR) will be scrutinised. Earlier, tax returns were scrutinised by the assessing officer of the individual taxpayer through an online process. However, the new scheme will not only make the assessment faceless but it will also save the taxpayer the hassle of visiting the income tax office during the proceeding period.

According to the scheme rules, the scrutiny notice will be issued to the individual under section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act if he/she has over-stated losses or under-reported their income.

The individual is required to reply to the notice within 15 days from the date of receipt of notice. Remember, the notice under the faceless assessment scheme will be sent electronically to the taxpayer’s e-filing website account and on the email address and phone number registered in the income tax department’s records.

According to new scheme rules, all communication between the income tax department and taxpayer will be done electronically.

Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax/income-tax-e-assessment-helpline-phone-number-email-id/articleshow/73761474.cms?from=mdr