Lok Sabha Passes Revised Income Tax Bill, 2025

• The revised Income Tax Bill, 2025, aims to simplify, rationalize, and shorten the existing Income Tax Act, 1961.

• It also broadens the powers of income tax officials, allowing them to forcibly access personal emails and social media accounts of assessees during search operations.

• The Bill has around 2.59 lakh words compared to the 5.12 lakh words in the I-T Act, 1961.

• The number of chapters has been reduced from 47 to 23 and the number of Sections to 536 from 819.

• The number of tables has been increased from 18 to 57, and the number of formulae has been increased from six to 46.

• The Bill also tweaks the powers of income tax officials during search and seizure operations.

• The Select Committee defended these provisions, citing the potential for incriminating evidence and material found in electronic records.

• Some committee members dissent, arguing that the provision gives the government excessive powers and infringes on the Right to Privacy.