Your email and social media account can be accessed by income tax officers starting financial year 2026-27 in these cases
Starting from the financial year 2026-27, income tax officers in India will have the authority to access individuals' digital accounts, including emails and social media, under certain conditions. This change is part of the new Income Tax Bill 2025, which aims to curb tax evasion by expanding the powers of tax authorities to investigate digital spaces. Here are the key points regarding this development:
-
: The new provision falls under Clause 247 of the Income Tax Bill, 2025, which grants officers the power to access "virtual digital spaces" if they suspect tax evasion or undisclosed assets.
-
: This includes emails, social media accounts, bank accounts, online investment and trading accounts, and cloud storage.
-
: Access will be granted if there is reason to believe an individual is hiding income or assets taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
-
: The expansion of these powers raises significant privacy concerns, as it allows tax authorities to override security measures and access personal digital data.
-
: These changes are set to take effect from April 1, 2026.
-
: The changes are intended to strengthen tax compliance and reduce tax evasion by allowing authorities to investigate digital assets more effectively.
-
: There are calls for clear safeguards and oversight mechanisms to ensure that these powers are not misused and to protect individual privacy rights.
written by hexahome
What's Your Reaction?
