Income Tax Bill 2025: Can the government now check your emails and social media? This question has recently created fear and anxiety in the minds of people. Rumors spread on social media that the new Income Tax Bill 2025 gives tax officials new powers to access your digital records. People started worrying whether their personal information was in danger. But CBDT sources have denied these claims. The government has not made any new law but reiterated the already existing rules,which are applicable only in special cases.
No new power in the new Income Tax Bill
According to media reports,sources in the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) have clarified that no new power has been given to tax officials in the latest Income Tax Bill 2025. Some reports claim that now officials can access emails,social media,and digital data,but this is not true.
According to CBDT,Section 132 of the Income Tax Act,of 1961 already gives officials the right to investigate and seize electronic records. Moreover,the definition of ‘document’ in Section 2(22AA) also includes electronic records. Therefore,no additional power has been given in the new law and such reports are false.
‘Document’ also includes electronic records.
Sources said that Section 247 of the Income Tax Bill 2025 makes it clear that officers can override the access code of computer or digital data if required. But this is not a new rule,but is part of the already existing law. This right is used only when a person does not cooperate during the investigation. That is,officers can access digital data only if there is a problem in the investigation.
Access only if there is no cooperation in the investigation
According to the CBDT,this is not an everyday procedure but applies only in special circumstances. Earlier also this rule was there in the Income Tax Act 1961 and no change has been made in it in the new Income Tax Bill 2025. In the July 2024 budget,the government proposed to review the old income tax law to make it simpler and clearer as well as reduce disputes and litigation.
Efforts to simplify tax laws
The new Income Tax Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 13 February 2025. The bill has been brought to replace the old Income Tax Act,of 1961. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a committee of 31 MPs to examine this bill. The bill aims to modernize tax laws,clarify rules,and provide relief to taxpayers. This also includes common people,businesses,and non-profit organizations.
