Income Tax Department Flags Bank Accounts with Large Savings but Low Spending
If you have a large amount of money in your savings account but your spending or income doesn’t match it, the Income Tax Department may ask you to explain where that money came from.
They’ve found many cases where people deposit big sums into their bank accounts or fixed deposits but don’t withdraw or spend much, which makes the tax authorities suspicious about the source of the money.
After many inquiries and searches, the department found that in several cases, bank account holders withdrew only a small portion of the total money received, and the same pattern has been followed for many years. When notices were issued, many individuals failed to justify how they managed their daily expenses, children’s school fees, and other essential costs.
Officials think that some people are using unreported or black money to pay for their daily expenses, instead of using the money shown in their bank accounts. This means they might be hiding part of their real income to avoid paying taxes, which is considered tax evasion. When the Income Tax Department notices this, they send formal notices asking people to explain where the money is coming from.
Earlier, this was mostly seen among business owners who would list personal expenses as business costs to reduce taxes. But now, even salaried individuals are doing it. for example, someone who earns a salary and owns several rental properties might collect rent in cash and not report it in their tax return, even though all income must be legally declared.
The Income Tax Department now uses AI technology to track people’s income and spending patterns. If your spending or bank activity doesn’t match what you’ve declared in your tax return, the system can flag it. This new technology helps the department find unreported cash and hidden income, making the system more transparent.
Individuals are advised to explain all their income honestly so they can avoid getting tax notices or paying penalties later.
