Did you receive Intimation under section 245 of the Income Tax Act?

The mere mention of ‘Intimation’ from IT Department may sound stressful at the first instance – worry not we will tell you all about this intimation u/s 245 of the Income Tax and how to deal with it from the comfort of your home!
Why did I receive Intimation under Section 245? This intimation is received when you have a tax demand pending from the IT Department and when you have claimed a refund from them in some other Assessment Year. Section 245 of the Income Tax Act empowers the Assessing Officer to adjust refund (or a part of refund) against any tax demand which is outstanding from the tax payer.
In simple words the IT Department wants to adjust your refund due to you against a demand which is due from you. This demand may pertain to an earlier assessment year.
Where can I see the details of the Outstanding Tax Demand? The details of your outstanding demand can be viewed on www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in by logging in with your login and password for this site. Go to the tab named e-File and click on Response to Outstanding Tax Demand. Here you can view the details of your demand and also submit a response if you believe ‘demand is correct’, ‘demand is partially incorrect’ or if you ‘disagree with the demand’. In case no submit response option is shown, the demand has already been finalized by your Assessing Officer.
I do not understand this Tax Demand and I need help to file a Response? In case you are not sure how this demand has been calculated and whether you should pay it or get it adjusted as per the intimation – do not worry! It is possible there has been a genuine error or it may be that your demand has been incorrectly calculated. Our Experts can review the return for the year for which demand has been raised and help you respond to it.
How do I respond to the Assessing Officer regarding this intimation under section 245?The intimation usually states that you need to respond to the Assessing Officer as to why such adjustment shall not be made. Our experts can review your tax return and the demand that has been raised and prepare a suitable response on your behalf for the Assessing Officer. The AO shall review the response and communicate to CPC for processing of refund or adjustment of demand as the case may be.