The Press Information Bureau has debunked social media claims suggesting that the Income Tax Department will access citizens’ emails, social media, or digital accounts from April 1, 2026, stating such powers are limited to formal search and survey operations.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a detailed fact-check after a post circulating online claimed that the Income Tax Department could access private digital accounts starting April 1, 2026. The PIB flagged the post as misleading, noting that under the Income Tax Act 2025, access to digital spaces is strictly limited to formal search and survey operations targeting evidence of significant tax evasion. Law-abiding taxpayers are unaffected.
“Unless a taxpayer is subject to a formal search operation due to indications of large-scale evasion, the department has no authority to access private digital accounts,” the PIB clarified, adding that the post shared by an X handle @IndianTechGuide incorrectly implied mass digital surveillance.
Digital access powers under Income Tax Act 2025
The Income Tax Act 2025, effective from April 1, 2026, replaces the 1961 Act and reduces 819 complex sections to a simpler, modern framework. Section 247 now allows authorised officers to access digital systems by overriding system codes, but strictly for gathering evidence during search and survey operations.
PIB emphasised that such powers are essential for detecting black money and computing evaded taxes. Routine assessments, scrutiny, or data processing of honest taxpayers do not involve accessing private emails or social media accounts.
