HARDOI (UP), Jan 19 - Govind Kumar, a daily-wage laborer residing in Rudamau village in Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh, has received a notice from the Income Tax Department demanding over ₹7 crore in unpaid taxes. The notice, delivered on January 13, has left Kumar and his family puzzled and distressed.

Kumar, a man of meager means, lives with his wife Soni Devi and elderly parents in a small thatched hut, earning a living through manual labor. The family is struggling to understand how the Income Tax Department determined that Kumar owes ₹7,15,92,786.

This is not an isolated incident. In April 2025, Sabra, an elderly daily wage worker from Jasrana town, also in Uttar Pradesh, received a notice from the Income Tax Department demanding she file a return on an alleged income of ₹4.88 crore for the assessment year 2021-22. The notice further asked Sabra to explain why action should not be taken against her for "escaping" assessment during the corresponding financial year. Sabra, who lives in a slum with her husband Shamsuddin, also a daily wage worker, received the notice on March 30. She stated that she is illiterate and did not understand the notice, which was written in English.

Similarly, in March 2023, Ankur Kumar, a laborer from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, received an Income Tax Department notice for ₹8 crore. Ankur Kumar had provided his documents to a friend's brother-in-law five years prior while seeking job opportunities in Delhi. The district administration ordered the police to file a First Information Report (FIR) in the matter after further investigation. Also in April 2025, Karan Kumar Valmiki, a sanitation worker in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, received a notice of ₹33.88 crore from the I-T department despite earning a monthly salary of just ₹15,000.

Income tax advocate Sanjay Jain noted that such notices are often issued by mistake or due to clerical errors. He also suggested the possibility of Aadhaar number forgery, which requires investigation. Jain added that the individual will need to follow legal procedures to resolve the matter and file a reply with their objections within the given time.

The recent notice to Govind Kumar has sparked concerns and highlights potential issues with the Income Tax Department's assessment and verification processes, especially concerning individuals from economically weaker sections.