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The sequence
- Information flagged (AIS, SFT, bank, another assessment)
- Show-cause notice under 148A with that information — reply with documents
- Order under 148A deciding whether to reopen
- Notice under 148 to file a return for that year
- Reassessment, with hearing, ending in an order
What to check first
- Is the notice within 3 years — or within 5 years and is the escaped amount really ₹50 lakh or more?
- Was the information actually shared with you?
- Was approval taken from the specified authority?
- Is the ‘escaped income’ already reported in your return?
Updated return after Budget 2026
Since Budget 2026 an updated return can be filed even after a reassessment notice, with an additional 10% tax. It settles genuine omissions and avoids penalty on that income — but it is an admission. Decide with advice.
Worked example
Example: A 148A notice for AY 2021-22 cites property purchase of ₹62 lakh. The buyer shows the home loan sanction and his salary savings — the order under 148A drops the case.
Common mistakes
- A one-line denial
- Missing the reply window
- Not raising the time-limit objection
Frequently asked questions
The 148 notice asks you to file one. File it within the time given and include all income.
It can be challenged before the High Court by writ in suitable cases; otherwise objections are raised in reassessment and appeal.
Last reviewed on 11 November 2026 by Vinay Jaglan, VJ & Associates. Law and portal screens change — verify before acting, or ask the office.
