Over the past few years, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has been making consistent and commendable efforts to introduce and upgrade various digital initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the income tax system.
This initiative is a part of CBDT’s continuous endeavor to simplify compliance and enhance the taxpayer experience through digital empowerment. The department has been steadily integrating user-friendly tools and real-time updates into the e-filing system, ensuring smoother interaction between taxpayers and authorities. By leveraging technology and data-driven automation, CBDT aims to minimize manual intervention, reduce delays, and make proceedings more efficient and transparent. Such measures not only streamline the assessment and communication process but also reinforce trust and confidence among taxpayers in the evolving faceless and tech-driven tax administration framework.
One of the latest and most noteworthy additions is the “Response Viewed by Officer” feature, which allows taxpayers to know exactly when their response to notices or communications has been accessed by the concerned tax authority.
Earlier, taxpayers submitting their replies online had no visibility on whether the Assessing Officer had reviewed their response. This lack of transparency often left taxpayers anxious and uncertain, especially in cases where there was a long wait for further communication or final order.
Now, this new feature provides clear evidence that the reply or document submitted has been opened and viewed by the Income Tax Officer, Assessing Officer, or Commissioner (Appeals). It gives taxpayers the much-needed assurance that their submissions are under review and helps reduce ambiguity in the faceless assessment process.
To check whether a response has been viewed, taxpayers can follow these simple steps:
- Log in at www.incometax.gov.in
- Navigate to Pending Actions → e-Proceedings.
- Select the relevant year, notice, or communication.
- Under the “Response” section, check the Status column — if the officer has viewed your reply, the system will display “Response Viewed by Officer” along with the date and time stamp.
This enhancement brings several benefits. It increases accountability on the part of officers, discourage unnecessary delays, and reduces the need for repeated follow-ups or reminders by taxpayers. Often, notices are issued close to limitation deadlines, leaving taxpayers very little time to respond. With this feature, it becomes easier to identify and address such procedural delays.
Beyond convenience, the update reinforces trust in the faceless and paperless regime introduced by CBDT. It exemplifies the department’s continued commitment to improving communication, ensuring fairness, and making compliance more transparent.
Though a seemingly small step, the “Response Viewed by Officer” feature is a powerful addition in the ongoing digital transformation of India’s tax administration – a step forward in building a system based on accountability, efficiency, and mutual trust between taxpayers and the department. Overall, this update marks another step forward in making India’s tax administration more transparent, accountable, and technology-driven. By ensuring that taxpayers stay informed and involved throughout the process, CBDT continues to strengthen the foundation of trust and efficiency in the country’s digital tax ecosystem.