Check if an income tax notice is genuine
Check free on the income tax website, without login, that a notice, order or letter with your name was really sent by the Income Tax Department.
Free on the official page. Your own numbers only. We have no automated link to any government portal, use no private data services, and never store the result.
What you need
- The notice, order or letter you got. Find the DIN (Document Identification Number) on it. Every income tax letter sent from 1 October 2019 has this unique computer-made number.
- If you cannot find the DIN: your own PAN (Permanent Account Number, the 10-character tax number), the type of letter, the year written on it and the date it was issued.
- A mobile phone you have with you. An OTP (a one-time code sent by SMS) comes to it. Type it yourself and never tell it to anyone.
What to do on the official page
- Open the official income tax e-filing website: incometax.gov.in. It is free and you do not need to log in. Do not open links or call numbers written in the letter or an SMS to check it.
- On the home page, find 'Quick Links' and click 'Authenticate Notice / Order issued by ITD'. ITD means the Income Tax Department.
- If the letter has a DIN: choose 'Document Identification Number and Mobile Number'. Type the DIN and your mobile number, and click 'Continue'.
- If you have no DIN: choose 'PAN, Document type, Year Type, Date of Issue and Mobile Number'. Type your PAN, pick the document type, pick 'Tax Year' or 'Assessment Year' and the year, enter the date of issue and your mobile number, and click 'Continue'.
- Type the 6-digit OTP from the SMS and click 'Continue'. The OTP works for 15 minutes and you get 3 tries. If it does not come, click 'Resend OTP'. Then match what you see with the results below.
What the result means
The portal shows: 'Yes Notice/order/letter is issued by Income Tax Authority for the details entered.'
It means: The letter with this DIN is genuine. The Income Tax Department really sent it.
What to do next: Do not ignore it. Note the last date to reply. Log in with your own PAN and password and read it under 'Pending Actions' > 'e-Proceedings', then reply there before the date. Replying is free. If you need help, ask a tax adviser you trust.
The portal shows: The notice's document number and its date of issue (after the PAN option).
It means: The department issued a letter on your PAN for that type, year and date.
What to do next: Check that the document number shown is the same as the DIN on your letter. If it is the same, read and reply under 'Pending Actions' > 'e-Proceedings' after your own login. If it is different, treat your letter as doubtful and check again with the DIN option.
The portal shows: 'No record found for the given Document Number.' or 'No record found for the given criteria.'
It means: The department has no letter with these details. First check you typed the DIN, PAN and date exactly. If they are right, the letter may be fake.
What to do next: Do not pay anyone, do not click links in the letter and do not share any OTP. Call the free e-filing helpline 1800 103 0025 or 1800 419 0025 and ask if this letter is real.
The portal shows: The letter has no DIN at all.
It means: The department's own FAQ says a letter without a DIN is treated as invalid, and you need not reply to it.
What to do next: Do not pay or share anything. To be sure, try the PAN option above, or call the free helpline 1800 103 0025.
The portal shows: The OTP did not come, or it says the OTP is wrong or expired.
It means: The code was typed wrong, or more than 15 minutes passed.
What to do next: Click 'Resend OTP' and type the new code. If 3 tries are used up, start again from 'Quick Links'.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to check a notice?
Yes. The check on incometax.gov.in is free and needs no login. The department never asks you to pay a person on a call or by a link to close a notice.
What is a DIN?
DIN means Document Identification Number. It is a unique computer-made number on every notice, order or letter the department has sent since 1 October 2019.
Must I use the mobile number linked to my PAN?
No. The official FAQ says any mobile number you can use is fine. The OTP is only to check that a real person is asking.
Someone called and said I must pay now or face a case. What do I do?
Do not pay and do not share any OTP or password. Check the letter here. Real tax is paid only on the official website, after your own login, never to a person.
Can I check a notice sent to someone else?
Check only your own letter, or help a family member who is with you and has the letter. FormSathi never looks up another person's PAN or notice.
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Sources (date read)
- Authenticate Notice / Order issued by ITD user manual: 'Quick links', DIN or PAN option, 6-digit OTP valid 15 minutes with 3 tries, 'Continue', result and 'No record found' messages · 2026-11-05
- Authenticate notice FAQs: DIN on letters from 1 October 2019, no DIN means invalid, no login needed, any mobile number; e-filing helpline 1800 103 0025 · 2026-11-05
- e-Proceedings user manual: registered users log in, then 'Pending Actions' > 'e-Proceedings' > 'Self', 'View Notice' and 'Submit Response' · 2026-11-05
Updated: 2026-11-05