Phishing emails impersonating the Income Tax Department are circulating. Learn how to spot fake sites and report them to protect your financial data.
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Fraudsters are sending emails that mimic official Income Tax Department messages, complete with logos and links to fake websites. The goal is to trick taxpayers into handing over bank account numbers, passwords, or PAN details.
The Income Tax Department does not ask for PINs, passwords, or credit card information by email. Any message requesting such data is a scam.
Taxpayers who receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the department can forward it to webmanager@incometax.gov.in. A copy should also go to incident@cert-in.org.in. The department recommends sending the full email, including its internet headers, to help trace the source. After forwarding, delete the message.
The risk is highest during tax filing season, when people expect official communication. Scammers exploit that expectation with realistic-looking portals and urgent language.
This advisory covers only emails impersonating the Income Tax Department. For phishing that targets other services, report directly to incident@cert-in.org.in.
Before clicking any link in a tax-related email, verify the sender's address and cross-check the URL against the official incometax.gov.in domain. When in doubt, open a browser and navigate to the portal directly rather than using an emailed link.
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