I received a notice under Section 133(6) asking for information, what should I do

Question

I got a notice from the income tax department under Section 133(6) asking me to furnish details of certain transactions, and I am not sure whether this means I am being investigated. I have been reading conflicting things online and I would like to understand what Indian law actually says about this, which Act and Section applies, what the realistic timelines and costs are, and what I should be doing right now to protect my position. If the matter can be resolved without litigation I would prefer that route, but I want to know what my rights are before I agree to anything or sign any document.

MyVakeel Legal Desk · Accepted Answer

I received a notice under Section 133(6) asking for information, what should I do is governed in India primarily by Income-tax Act, 1961, Section 133(6), Income-tax Act, 1961, Section 142(1) and Income-tax Act, 2025. The short answer is set out below, followed by the practical steps most people in this situation need to take. Read it alongside the specific provisions named, because the exact relief available to you turns on the facts you can prove on paper.

Section 133(6) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 empowers an income tax authority to call for information from any person, including banks and third parties, for the purpose of any enquiry or proceeding, and receiving such a notice does not by itself mean an assessment or reassessment has been opened against you; it is often a preliminary information-gathering step.

You are legally obliged to respond to a Section 133(6) notice within the time specified, since non-compliance can attract a penalty under Section 272A and may prompt the department to draw adverse inferences or proceed to reopen your case under Section 148 based on incomplete information.

When responding, provide only the specific information and documents requested, supported by evidence such as bank statements, invoices or agreements, and avoid volunteering unrelated details, since a clear and factual response reduces the chance of the enquiry escalating into a full assessment or reassessment proceeding.

If the notice concerns a transaction of a third party, such as your bank inquiring about a customer, you should still verify the authenticity of the notice through the income tax portal's notice verification facility before responding, since fraudulent notices are sometimes circulated.

What to do next: 1) Verify the authenticity of the notice on the e-filing portal; 2) Identify exactly what information or documents are sought; 3) Prepare and submit a factual response with supporting evidence within the deadline; 4) Keep a copy of the response and acknowledgement for your records.

If the other side has already issued a notice, filed a case or set a deadline, treat the matter as time-sensitive — most remedies under Income-tax Act, 1961, Section 133(6) carry limitation periods, and a delay you cannot explain weakens an otherwise strong case. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in this practice area.