Be Careful: The Income Tax Department can check your email and social media accounts..

The government has made income up to Rs 12 lakh per annum tax-free. But from April 1, 2025, the Income Tax Department will have the legal right to view and access one's social media accounts, personal email and bank accounts, online investment accounts, trading accounts, and other things.

IT Act

However, honest taxpayers will not have any problem with this. Let us tell you, the officers will have this right in the new Income Tax Act. Section 132 of the existing IT Act, 1961 allows officers to search and seize property and accounts if they have information and reason to believe that a person has any income, property, or documents, which they will not disclose deliberately to avoid income tax.

Virtual digital space

One way they do this under the current law is that if their keys are not available and they suspect that any undeclared property or account book is kept there, they can break the lock of any door, box, or locker. Under the new Income Tax Bill, this power has been extended to your computer system or virtual digital space as well.

Section 247 of the Income Tax Bill

According to Clause 247 of the Income Tax Bill, if an officer has reason to believe that a person has undeclared income or property that is covered under the Income Tax Act, he can break the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, cupboard, or other instrument. He can also gain access to any computer system or virtual digital space by overriding the access code.

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