The Income Tax Department has warned taxpayers about fake messages and emails that are spreading on social media and through email. These messages claim to be official notices related to the Assessment Year 2025–26. However, the department has clarified that these notices are completely fake and are being used by fraudsters to steal personal information.
Taxpayers are advised to stay alert and verify any notice only through the official Income Tax Department portal.
Fake Income Tax Notices Used for Phishing
According to the Income Tax Department, scammers are sending emails that look like genuine government notices. These emails usually say that your “assessment order” has been issued or that you have pending tax payments.
The message also includes a link or an attachment and asks you to click on it. Once you click the link or download the file, your device may get infected with malware. In some cases, the link takes you to a fake website where you are asked to enter your bank details, password, or other personal information.
These phishing emails are designed to trick taxpayers into sharing sensitive data.
PIB Warning About Fake e-PAN Emails
The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau has also discovered another scam related to fake e-PAN emails.
Many people are receiving emails claiming that their e-PAN card is ready to download. The email asks them to click on a link to download the document.
PIB has confirmed that these emails are fake. Their purpose is to hack devices or steal personal and financial information.
Taxpayers should avoid clicking on such links.
How to Check if an Income Tax Notice is Real
The Income Tax Department has shared a few simple ways to identify a genuine notice.
First, check the sender’s email address. Official emails from the department will only come from the domain incometax.gov.in.
Second, always verify the notice by logging in to the official Income Tax e-Filing portal. If the notice is genuine, it will appear in your account dashboard.
What You Should Do If You Receive a Suspicious Email
If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the Income Tax Department, follow these precautions.
Do not reply to the email.
Do not click on any links or download attachments.
Never share personal information such as your PIN, password, OTP, or bank details.
Make sure your computer or phone has updated antivirus and security protection.
You can also report the fake email to the Income Tax Department by sending it to webmanager@incometax.gov.in.
Important Advice from the Income Tax Department
The Income Tax Department has clearly stated that it never asks taxpayers for passwords, bank details, credit card information, or OTP through email, SMS, or phone calls.
For any tax-related work, taxpayers should always visit the official Income Tax e-Filing portal and avoid using links received through unknown messages or emails.
Staying alert and verifying official communication can help taxpayers protect themselves from online fraud.
