IT department will have access to your social media, email accounts, new Income Tax rules come into effect from…; check new rules here

The new Income Tax rules, which will come into force from April 1, 2026, will also empower taxmen to access bank accounts, online investments and trading accounts of suspected defrauders under section 247 of the New Income Tax Bill.

New Income Tax Rules: The Income Tax Department will have the power to access the personal digital space of tax evaders, including email accounts, social media accounts, and more. The new Income Tax rules, which will come into force from April 1, 2026, will also empower taxmen to access bank accounts, online investments and trading accounts of suspected defrauders under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

What is the New Income Tax Bill?

The New Income Tax Bill, which comes into effect from April 1, 2026, will enable income tax officers to investigate suspects by accessing their digital space, including email accounts, social media profiles, online investments and other digital financing platforms. The new law also gives taxmen the power to search and seize a suspect’s digital data in suspected cases of tax evasion.

Additionally, Income tax officials can conduct searches and freeze bank accounts during investigations. The can also seize personal assets like laptops, smartphones, hard drives, and email accounts, to meet investigation demands.

What happens if a suspect doesn’t cooperate?

In such a scenario, the Income tax officers can use their own assets to bypass the suspect’s passwords, and override security settings, to unlock personal files and data.

Is the law applicable to all taxpayers?

No, the new law is only applicable in cases of tax evasion or undeclared assets. The Central government has affirmed that common taxpayers need not panic, adding that the only those income tax officers who are investigating such a case can make use of the new rules to access digital data of a suspect under section 247 of the New Income Tax Bill.