Govt Debunks Viral Claim: I-T Dept Has No Blanket Access to Private Digital Data

• Government dismissed a viral social media claim about the Income Tax Department gaining sweeping access to private digital data from April 1, 2026.
• PIB Fact Check clarified that the claim by @IndianTechGuide, misinterpreting the Income Tax Act, 2025, is misleading.
• Section 247 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, is strictly limited to Search and Survey operations for significant tax evasion.
• I-T Dept cannot access private digital spaces for routine information gathering, processing returns, or scrutiny assessments.
• Powers to seize evidence during search/survey exist since the 1961 Act; the 2025 Act does not expand them for ordinary taxpayers.

Why It Matters: I-T Dept's digital access is limited to specific tax evasion cases, not routine surveillance.