Income Tax Digital Powers: Clarifying Access to Emails and Social Media

Recent social media claims suggesting the Income Tax Department would gain sweeping powers to access citizens emails, social media, and cloud storage from April 1, 2026, have been officially debunked. The government, through a PIB fact-check, clarified these claims as misleading, assuring the public there would be no routine or blanket surveillance.

According to Section 247 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, digital access is strictly conditional. These powers are invoked solely during authorised search and survey operations, targeting serious, large-scale tax evasion cases.

Law-abiding taxpayers and salaried employees are explicitly not affected by these provisions, which require credible evidence and proper authorisation. The clarification emphasises that while digital evidence is now recognised under the law, it does not grant unrestricted access to private digital accounts.