In what comes as another hit on privacy, it is being said that your income tax officer can access your email and social media accounts.
Already, data privacy is an issue that concerns one and all. With transactions happening online and with data being divulged to a second party on a goodwill basis, the cyber security threat has increased manifold.
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It emerges that the income tax officer can have access to vital personal information like your emails and social media accounts. All this in the name of income tax evasion.
Starting from April 1, 2026, the income tax department will have the authority to access emails, social media and other digital media spaces if they smell tax evasion.
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For the unversed, this right has been given to them by the new income tax bill. This will also include search and seizure powers over your assets and documents.
Naturally, this has given rise to public outcry as it would mean a challenge to fundamental privacy rights without any judicial intervention or procedural safeguards.
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According to Economic Times, the IT officials can break into your social media accounts, personal emails and bank accounts, online investment accounts, trading accounts and more if they feel you have evaded tax or possess undisclosed income, money, gold, jewellery or valuable item or property on which you haven’t paid the applicable income tax as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The new law also allows officers to conduct searches, seize assets and books of accounts if an individual is trying to evade taxes.
Currently, the officer can break open a door, draw, box or locker if they suspect undisclosed assets.
Now, with the new law, they can break into your computer space or virtual digital space.
