new delhi ahead of the opening of srinagar muzaffarabad road for commerce traders in the state found tax men knocking at their door with notices asking them to explain their business transactions the income tax department said the notices were issued to traders to pay their regular taxes under the specific guidelines of the central board of direct taxes and not as a measure of retribution against anyone under the amended income tax act these notices are now required to be issued within six months of the last date of financial year ie september 30 as such now all notices have been issued close to the last date as against during the entire 12 months after filing the income tax returns commissioner of income tax jammu virendra singh said attributing motives to these routine notices are highly regretted he said adding that it was a mere government procedure previously notices were issued within a period of 12 months from the end of the month in which returns were filed by a taxpayer such notices have been issued every year under the it act singh said he also refuted the reports which said that the tax department is planning to send it notices to separatist leaders of the state no particular area or group has been picked up for these notices the commissioner said