If a tax or MCA notice arrives and the original filer is unavailable, do not send a casual reply and do not wait until the response date. Within 24 hours, authenticate the notice, identify the authority, section/form, year/period and exact deadline, download the filed return/form and prior submissions, preserve supporting records and appoint a competent replacement. GST, Income Tax and MCA notices use different procedures, so the response must follow the correct portal and law.
What this means for you
Your first-day job is triage: prove the notice is genuine, protect the deadline and gather the minimum complete record.
Who this applies to
Businesses and individuals with an active government notice and unavailable former adviser.
Why this problem happens
Notices may arrive months after filing, providers may change, or the person who handled the return may no longer hold the records.
What should be checked immediately
Use an indexed checklist rather than scattered messages. The exact documents vary by issue, but the records below should be under business control before any filing, correction or response.
| Authority | First portal | Immediate file |
|---|---|---|
| GST | GST Portal | Notice/order + return period + ledgers |
| Income Tax | Income Tax e-Filing/e-Proceedings | Notice/DIN + ITR + AIS/26AS |
| MCA/ROC | MCA portal | Notice/SRN/CIN + filed forms |
| TDS | Income Tax/TRACES | TAN + challans + statements |
What to do now
For GST use the GST Portal workflow; for Income Tax use e-Proceedings and notice authentication; for MCA use MCA filing/adjudication history and the specific notice route. Index every document before drafting.
Practical hypothetical example
A founder receives an Income Tax 143(2) notice but searches GST Portal because the old consultant handled both taxes. The right first step is to authenticate it in Income Tax e-Proceedings, then retrieve the ITR and evidence for that assessment year.
What happens if this is ignored
Silence can lead to adverse or ex-parte consequences depending on the notice. A rushed inaccurate reply can also create problems.
What TargoLegal checks before filing or responding
TargoLegal first classifies authority, deadline and proceeding, then maps the original filing/evidence before drafting anything for client approval.
What the customer should approve and receive
Before filing or response
Receive the issue summary, pending-document list, proposed figures/treatment, deadline and payment impact. Material assumptions should be visible.
After submission
Receive the filed return/form or response, government acknowledgement, payment proof and a short open-items list.
Do not make the handover or correction harder
Statutory deadlines continue.
Keep portal access under business control.
Rebuild from source records and prior filings.
Every completed filing should leave an official trail.
What to send for a first review
Send the notice PDF; do not wait for the original filer if the response date is approaching.
Related questions
How do I know the filing or response is actually complete?
Look for the official acknowledgement/status on the relevant government portal and retain the filed copy. A payment receipt or provider message is not enough.
Should I share my portal password with a new provider?
Prefer official authorisation, secure reset and business-controlled access. Do not send passwords or OTPs through uncontrolled chats.
Can I blame the previous adviser in the government response?
A statutory response should focus on facts, law and evidence. Private responsibility with a provider is a separate issue unless legally relevant.
What should I approve before filing?
You should receive a concise summary of figures, differences, payment/correction proposed and unresolved risks before submission.
What should I keep afterwards?
Keep the filed form/return, acknowledgement, payment proof, reconciliation and any response/order in a business-controlled archive.
Official sources used
Legal and portal claims were anchored to the official references below. Forums and customer complaints were used only to understand real-world confusion, never as legal authority.
TargoLegal Research and Editorial Desk · Last legally reviewed: 18 August 2026. Recheck live forms, notifications, portal workflows and response dates immediately before acting.
