Income Tax Officers can Gain Access to your Emails and Social Media Profiles From April 2026
The new bill is allowing tax officers to gain access to your emails, bank accounts, online investments and social media accounts as well from April 1, 2026. This new law will help the government by making it easier for tax officers to find and prevent tax evasion.
Introducing ‘Virtual Digital Space’
The current Income Tax Act of 1961 gives power to officers to conduct searches and seize assets if they suspect someone has undisclosed income or property. The new bill is further extending these powers to the ‘Virtual figital space’. This means that the officers can access codes to computer systems for the investigation. With the new rule, the officers not only have the power to seize your physical assets but also the digital information from your social media, email servers, trading accounts, bank accounts, cloud storage and website storing asset details.
According to clause 247 of the bill, authorized offers have the power to break or open the lock of any door, box, safe, almirah, locker or other receptacle or gain access by overriding the access code to any computer system or any other digital platforms if they suspect undisclosed income or property.
The broad definition of “virtual digital space” in the new law could also put your employer’s data at risk. This is because the law might allow authorities to access sensitive company information, such as emails, documents, or financial records, where a taxpayer works or has worked.
New Rule raises Privacy Concerns: Experts Warn
Experts are debating over this law as it invades the privacy of individuals. They are criticising this move and describing it as an ‘assault on rights’. It gives the officers too much power to monitor personal and financial information, which could lead to conflicts over privacy rights. The bill violates the ‘Right to Privacy’ mentioned under Article 21. That is why it is facing criticism, as it could go against current laws that are meant to protect people’s private data.
