Tax law covers income tax assessments and notices, GST registration and disputes, tax planning, search and seizure matters, TDS disputes, and appeals against tax department orders. Direct taxes are governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961, with an appellate path running from the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), to the High Court, and finally the Supreme Court. Indirect tax (GST) is governed by the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and corresponding state legislation, with disputes going through the GST Appellate Authority and, once fully operational nationwide, the GST Appellate Tribunal.
Common triggers for needing legal help include a scrutiny notice or assessment order you disagree with, a demand for tax you believe is incorrect, mismatches flagged during GST return filing, or a search and seizure action. Each stage of the appellate process has strict filing deadlines — typically 30 to 60 days from the order being appealed — so delay can forfeit your right to challenge an assessment even if it's wrong.
It's worth consulting a lawyer as soon as you receive a notice or assessment order you intend to contest, since the response you file at the earliest stage often shapes the outcome of the entire appellate process.