Using the e-Proceedings Tab: How TaxBuddy Guides You to Reply to Income Tax Notices Online
- PRITI SIRDESHMUKH
- Jan 5
- 8 min read
The e-Proceedings tab on the income tax portal enables taxpayers to respond to notices online without visiting the tax office. It centralises all assessments, scrutiny notices, questionnaires, and communication from the Assessing Officer, allowing timely and organised submissions directly through the portal. The system helps reduce delays, ensures documentation accuracy, and offers a transparent view of pending actions. TaxBuddy enhances this process by guiding users through each step, identifying notice types, and ensuring correct document uploads, creating a secure and stress-free way to comply with the Income Tax Act.
Table of Contents
Understanding the e-Proceedings Tab on the Income Tax Portal
The e-Proceedings tab acts as a central hub for responding to notices issued under various provisions of the Income Tax Act. It consolidates all communication initiated by the Assessing Officer, including scrutiny notices, assessment queries, questionnaires, penalty notices, and requests for clarification. This feature eliminates physical visits and ensures that all interactions remain recorded digitally. The tab appears under Pending Actions on the dashboard, displaying active cases that require attention. Each entry presents the notice reference number, type of proceeding, and deadlines for response. This structured view supports transparency and helps maintain a clear audit trail of submissions made during the assessment process.
How to Reply to Income Tax Notices Online Using e-Proceedings
Replies are submitted entirely through the portal using a simple workflow. Once a notice appears under Pending Actions, selecting the relevant proceeding reveals the instructions provided by the Assessing Officer. The system allows downloading the notice for review, identifying the section invoked, and understanding the information required. The reply mechanism offers two modes: Partial Response for multi-stage replies and Full Response for a complete submission. A remarks section allows clarification for each response category, while the document upload panel enables attaching supporting evidence such as Form 26AS, AIS extracts, bank statements, computation sheets, or invoices. After completing all fields, the response is digitally submitted for verification and review.
Steps to Submit Responses, Upload Documents, and Track Status
Submission follows a sequence designed for accuracy and compliance: • Access Pending Actions and open the e-Proceedings tab to view active notices. • Select the required notice to read instructions and review document requirements. • Choose Partial or Full Response depending on the complexity of the reply. • Add remarks against each query and upload documents in the prescribed format. • Submit the response and note the autogenerated Transaction ID for future reference. • Confirmation arrives through email and SMS once the reply is successfully accepted. • Track the status under View Response, where earlier submissions and attachments remain accessible throughout the assessment cycle. This system ensures every reply remains time-stamped, traceable, and verifiable.
How TaxBuddy Helps Navigate the e-Proceedings Workflow
TaxBuddy brings structure and expert-driven clarity to the e-Proceedings process. Its platform identifies the notice category—whether linked to TDS mismatches, under-reporting, income discrepancies, or bank-related clarifications—and maps the steps required for an appropriate response. TaxBuddy’s guided flow outlines the documents needed, prepares organised response notes, and assists in selecting the correct response type on the portal. For complex notices issued under scrutiny or reassessment, the platform connects users with experienced tax professionals who prepare detailed submissions and ensure that each attachment supports the assessment narrative. Real-time updates, templates, and review checks reduce the likelihood of errors or omissions during filing.
Using TaxBuddy for Bank Account–Related Notice Queries
Bank account–related notices usually arise when the tax department detects gaps or inconsistencies between the information reported in AIS or Form 26AS and the details available in the taxpayer’s records. These notices may request verification of account-opening documents, signatures on KYC forms, confirmation of account type, proof of ownership, updated IFSC or branch details, or statements covering specific financial years. In many cases, the Assessing Officer seeks clarity on deposits, withdrawals, interest credits, or linkage of the bank account with PAN, especially when reported figures do not match the department’s data.
TaxBuddy simplifies this process by analysing the notice and identifying the exact documents required for a complete response. The platform highlights the assessment year, the section under which the query is raised, and the nature of each clarification sought. It then prompts users to gather key records such as account-opening forms, cancelled cheques, passbook copies, KYC verification slips, and detailed statements. Using information already available within the system, TaxBuddy detects mismatches early and alerts users to resolve them before submission. This reduces unnecessary back-and-forth communication and ensures the final response is accurate and complete.
Within the e-Proceedings interface, placement of documents is crucial because the portal often categorises attachments under specific heads. TaxBuddy guides users on selecting the correct fields for each submission, ensuring that account-opening documents, identity proofs, and statements are uploaded in the appropriate sections. This structured approach helps prevent delays and avoids rejection of attachments due to incorrect tagging.
By organising documents, providing clarity on the relevance of each attachment, and ensuring consistency with the information reported in AIS or Form 26AS, TaxBuddy strengthens the quality of the response. Early identification of discrepancies, along with expert suggestions on how to present supporting evidence, creates a smoother communication flow with the Assessing Officer and reduces the chances of repeated notice rounds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Responding via e-Proceedings
Several errors frequently occur while replying to income tax notices online. Missing deadlines remains a leading issue, often resulting in unnecessary penalties or escalation of proceedings. Uploading documents in incorrect formats or placing them under the wrong categories can weaken the response. Incomplete replies, especially when the Partial Response option is not used appropriately, may leave important queries unaddressed. Some taxpayers overlook downloading and reviewing the notice carefully before replying, leading to misinterpretation of requirements. Failing to cross-check TDS data, AIS details, or bank statements before submission can also trigger follow-up notices. Avoiding these issues requires systematic review and attention to timelines.
Ensuring Compliance and Timely Submission Through TaxBuddy
TaxBuddy strengthens compliance by offering structured support throughout the notice-response process. The platform highlights pending notices, sets internal reminders, and ensures documentation readiness before uploading. Expert review helps validate figures, reconcile mismatches, and present responses in formats preferred by the department. Its guidance prevents incomplete submissions and ensures all queries are addressed in a clear and concise manner. By maintaining a digital record of previous responses and organising supporting documents, TaxBuddy reduces the likelihood of repeated queries from tax authorities and promotes seamless communication.
Conclusion
Efficient use of the e-Proceedings tab allows taxpayers to manage notice-related compliance with clarity and discipline. The portal centralises all communication and ensures accountability through structured submissions and traceable acknowledgements. TaxBuddy enhances this capability by simplifying document preparation, organising replies, and providing expert-led guidance for complex notices. For anyone looking for assistance in tax filing, it is highly recommended to download the TaxBuddy mobile app for a simplified, secure, and hassle-free experience.
FAQs
Q1. Does TaxBuddy offer both self-filing and expert-assisted plans for ITR filing, or only expert-assisted options? TaxBuddy provides a dual-approach system to suit different types of taxpayers. Those with straightforward income structures—such as salary income, interest, or standard deductions—can use the self-filing option equipped with automated prompts, data checks, and simple flow-based screens. For individuals with more layered profiles involving capital gains, foreign income, house property adjustments, business income, or scrutiny concerns, expert-assisted plans ensure that Chartered Accountants review documents, prepare accurate computations, and submit compliant returns. This blended model allows TaxBuddy to support both basic and complex filing requirements efficiently.
Q2. Which is the best site to file ITR? The government’s e-filing portal is always the ultimate authority for income tax return submissions in India. However, many taxpayers prefer platforms that combine accuracy tools, easier navigation, and personalised support. TaxBuddy consistently ranks among the most trusted platforms because it integrates AI-driven validation, expert-backed review, automated pre-fill, error detection, and post-filing support. Its ability to guide users from document preparation to notice handling makes it a comprehensive alternative to filing directly on the government portal.
Q3. Where to file an income tax return? Income tax returns can be filed electronically either through the official e-filing portal or through reputable online tax platforms. Filing on the government portal offers a direct interface, while platforms like TaxBuddy simplify the process by offering guided workflows, pre-filled inputs, and expert-reviewed submissions. These platforms also reduce manual errors by matching AIS/TIS data, checking TDS mismatches, and validating deductions before final submission to the income tax system.
Q4. How does TaxBuddy help when an income tax notice appears under e-Proceedings? TaxBuddy identifies the type of notice—such as mismatch, under-reporting, scrutiny, or bank account verification—and explains the required response format. The system prepares a response framework, suggests suitable documentation, organises files, and ensures that each reply aligns with the Assessing Officer’s instructions. Expert review helps craft precise explanations and prevents unnecessary follow-up queries. This structured assistance reduces confusion and ensures seamless compliance through the e-Proceedings tab.
Q5. Are all types of notices visible under the e-Proceedings tab? Most notices issued for assessment, reassessment, verification, and penalties are routed through the e-Proceedings tab. These include queries under Sections 143(1), 139(9), 142(1), 143(2), 147, and others. Notices demanding clarification on financial entries, discrepancies in AIS/TIS, bank account information, or supporting evidence for deductions also appear here. Some notices—such as refund adjustments or certain CPC communications—may appear separately under the ‘View Notices’ section, depending on the nature of the query.
Q6. What documents are typically required when replying through e-Proceedings? The required documents depend on the specific notice but commonly include Form 26AS, AIS reports, bank statements, salary slips, investment proofs, rent agreements, capital gains statements, and account-opening forms for bank-related queries. When the Assessing Officer requests clarifications on specific entries, supporting invoices, ledgers, computation sheets, or confirmations may also be necessary. Uploads must follow the permitted file formats and size limits.
Q7. Can partial responses be submitted if all documents are not ready? Yes. The e-Proceedings module offers a Partial Response option when the reply requires multiple submissions or when details must be furnished in stages. This helps avoid delays and ensures that initial explanations reach the Assessing Officer before the deadline. Once the remaining documents are prepared, the reply can be completed using the Full Response option. This flexibility prevents missed deadlines and reduces the risk of adverse assessments.
Q8. What happens after submitting a response on the portal? After submission, the system generates a Transaction ID as proof of receipt. An email and SMS confirmation is sent to the registered contact details. The status of the response can be checked under the ‘View Response’ section, where all earlier submissions remain available along with timestamps and documents. The Assessing Officer reviews the submission and may either accept the reply or issue further queries, depending on the case.
Q9. How does TaxBuddy ensure accuracy while preparing notice responses? TaxBuddy validates all financial data by comparing AIS, TIS, Form 26AS, and user-provided records. The system highlights mismatches, requests missing documents, and checks compliance rules under the applicable sections. Expert review adds an additional layer of scrutiny, ensuring that computations, explanations, and attachments match the department’s expectations. This reduces the likelihood of discrepancies and improves the chances of closure without escalation.
Q10. Can TaxBuddy help with notices related to bank account verification? Yes. TaxBuddy supports notices requiring verification of bank account details such as account type, IFSC, branch information, and account-opening documentation. Its workflow guides users on attaching the correct forms and helps organise statements to match the periods requested by the department. The system also flags inconsistencies early, allowing corrections before the final submission through the e-Proceedings tab.
Q11. What if a deadline is missed while responding to a notice? Missing a notice response deadline may result in adverse actions, including adjustments, ex-parte orders, penalties, or escalation under scrutiny. In such situations, the portal may still allow late submissions depending on the type of proceeding, but consequences vary. TaxBuddy reviews the case, prepares a clarification, and assists in drafting follow-up submissions or rectification requests to mitigate the impact. Timely reminders within the platform help prevent such delays.
Q12. Is expert support necessary for every notice received? Not every notice requires professional intervention. Simple mismatches, minor clerical issues, or AIS clarifications can often be resolved with well-organised documentation. However, notices involving scrutiny, reassessment, unexplained cash deposits, high-value transactions, capital gains, or multi-year discrepancies benefit significantly from expert guidance. TaxBuddy’s expert-assisted plans ensure that Chartered Accountants prepare structured responses tailored to the specific proceeding, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or incomplete replies.
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