Income Tax Officers might get new Powers Access Social Media and Email Servers in Future
By MYBRANDBOOK
A key provision introduces "virtual digital space" under Section 247, allowing tax officers to override access codes for digital platforms when required.
The Income-Tax Bill, 2025, is set to introduce significant changes in tax scrutiny and audits, granting Income Tax Officers broader authority to access digital records. As tax evasion tactics evolve with digital advancements, the government aims to strengthen oversight by expanding investigative powers over social media, online investments, trading platforms, banking accounts, and email servers.
One of the bill's most notable provisions is the introduction of “virtual digital space” under Section 247, which will allow tax authorities to override access codes for digital platforms when required. This expansion in authority is designed to facilitate the audit of digital records, enabling tax officials to track financial transactions that may otherwise go unreported.
The inclusion of social media and tax law in the bill is a strategic move to identify tax discrepancies linked to online activities. With individuals and businesses increasingly conducting financial transactions via social media platforms, tax officials could use their new powers to scrutinize digital footprints, such as:
● Undisclosed income sources linked to online trading, crypto transactions, or e-commerce activities.
● Luxury purchases and lifestyle expenditures showcased on social media that do not align with declared income.
● Offshore financial links revealed through digital communications or online investments.
● By auditing digital records, tax authorities aim to bridge the gap between declared and actual income, thereby curbing tax evasion more effectively.
While the move to empower tax officials with access to digital data is positioned as a step toward financial accountability, it raises concerns about taxpayer privacy. Critics argue that such sweeping powers could lead to excessive surveillance and potential misuse of personal data. Maintaining a balance between transparency and individual privacy will be crucial as these provisions take shape.
If implemented, the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, will mark a significant shift in the way tax audits are conducted in India. It will redefine the landscape of income tax scrutiny, integrating technology-driven investigation methods to track financial discrepancies across digital platforms. As businesses and individuals adapt to these changes, compliance with tax regulations will become increasingly intertwined with digital accountability.
With tax officers gaining deeper access to virtual digital spaces, the bill underscores the government's commitment to tightening financial oversight while navigating the fine line between regulatory enforcement and privacy rights in an evolving digital economy.
BREAKING NEWS
TECHNO TRENDS
Market Selloff Deepens as Recession Fears Grip Wall Street
Wall Street suffered a sharp decline as escalating trade tensions and reces...
Western Digital Exits SSD and NAND Business to Prioritize HDD
SanDisk, which has long been responsible for Western Digital’s SSD segmen...
ServiceNow to strengthen its AI portfolio with Moveworks acqui
This acquisition boosts ServiceNow’s AI capabilities, reinforcing its str...
Elon Musk’s X (Twitter) Faces Major Global Outage
Users Unable to Access Platform; Cause of Disruption Remains Unclear...
E-Magazine
TECHNOTAINMENT
Is Virender Sehwag seeking a divorce from his wife Aarti Ahlaw
Virender Sehwag is one of the most popular cricketers in India. Known for
Cricketer Shubman Gill to be summoned in Rs 450 cr Ponzi scam
Leading Indian cricketer Shubman Gill is among four Gujarat Titans player
MOVERS & SHAKERS
TelioLabs ropes in Phaniraj V A as the Group CEO
TelioLabs has announced the onboarding of Phaniraj V A as its new Group CE
Wipro Appoints Amit Kumar as Managing Partner and Global Head
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology s
OPEN YOUR EYES
INTERVIEWS
AMD Pensando driving innovation in the DPU architecture space
AMD Pensando stands out in the DPU (Data Processing Unit) market with its u
Cisco building a trusted and resilient future for the nation
Security is foundational to everything Cisco does and customers insist on e
HOT PICK
Nothing Phone (3a) goes on sale today, starting at Rs 19,999
The phone was launched on March 4, featuring a 50MP main, ultra-wide, and t
BOULT unveils AmpVault V10 & V20 powerbanks: Fast charging, sa
BOULT, India’s No 1 Rated Audio brand is proud to announce the launch of
MAKE IN INDIA BRANDS
SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS LTD.
SAMRIDDHI AUTOMATIONS PVT. LTD.
LENOVO INDIA PVT. LTD.
SAFE SECURITY SERVICES PVT. LTD.
EMINENT CIO'S OF INDIA
ICONS OF INDIA
Icons Of India : Daisy Chittilapilly
Daisy Chittilapilly is the President of Cisco’s India and SAARC regi...
Icons Of India : NIKHIL RATHI
Co-founder & CEO of Web Werks, a global leader in Data Centers and Clo...
Icons Of India : Arjun Malhotra
Arjun Malhotra, the Chairman of Magic Software Inc., is widely recogni...
PARTNER SPEAKERS
PSU
BSE - Bombay Stock Exchange
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is one of India’s largest and oldest...
GeM - Government e Marketplace
GeM is to facilitate the procurement of goods and services by various ...
STPI - Software Technology Parks of India
STPI promotes and facilitates the growth of the IT and ITES industry i...
VIDEOS
Top 25 Brands
Global Indian industry
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO- Micron Technology
Sanjay Mehrotra, the President and CEO of Micron Technology, is at the...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Steve Sanghi, Executive Chair, Microchip
Steve Sanghi, the Executive Chair of Microchip Technology, has been a ...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Lal Karsanbhai, President & CEO, Emerson
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO of Emerson, assumed the leadership i...
ITFORUM 2025
CMO of the Year
WOMEN LEADERSHIP
IMAGE GALLERY
TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY
MORE VIDEOS
ADVERTISEMENTS
TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION
UNICORNS REVOLUTIONISING
of images belongs to the respective copyright holders
