New Delhi, March 29 -- I am an NRI and recently discovered that an ex-parte income tax assessment order has been passed against me in India, with additions under Section 69 of the Income-Tax Act in respect of deposits in my NRE and FCNR accounts. I have no taxable income in India and have never logged in to the income tax website. I never received any notice from the department. What are my options?

- Name withheld on request

It appears that the assessing officer (AO) has passed a best judgment assessment under Section 144 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (ITA) on an ex parte basis, meaning the order was passed without your participation. The non-receipt of notices may have been due to your PAN continuing to reflect your earlier Indian addre...