It is that time of year when inboxes are full of tax-related emails; most of them are routine, and some of them are not. One in particular has been making the rounds in the inboxes of Indian taxpayers: a message claiming there has been a "calculation error" in your income tax return and that you are owed a refund.
The email looks official enough, complete with a government-style header, but there is a catch: chances are, it is not from the Income Tax Department at all.
These are 'phishing emails', designed to trick you into handing over sensitive details. Some even use addresses like donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in, which can be passed off as genuine email addresses at a quick glance.
But the difference lies in the details, for instance, the real department communicates only through domains ending in @incometax.gov.in. and not 'filing.gov' kind of addresses.
What happens if you click on any link in these emails?
Clicking the link in one of these fake emails could take you to a site that can steal your passwords or bank information, or install something on your device you will not notice until it is too late.
The department has said it never asks for passwords, OTPs, or account details over email, phone, or SMS. Any real follow-up on your tax filing will be through the official e-filing portal.
This year's filing deadline for non-audit cases, which is 15 September 2025, is just a month and few days away, and more than 2.6 crore taxpayers have already submitted their returns. That rush is exactly what scammers count on.
In the middle of deadlines and paperwork, a well-timed "refund" email can look tempting enough to click before you stop to think.
A few simple checks can help avoid trouble:
- Look closely at the sender's email address. Even one extra letter is enough to signal a fake.
- Don't click on links in unsolicited messages, rather you should go straight to the income tax portal instead.
- If something feels off, forward the suspicious email to webmanager@incometax.gov.in.
A refund that arrives in your bank account without warning might sound like a pleasant surprise. But when it starts with an unexpected email, it is usually anything but. Pro tip? Better to delete or ignore such emails than to regret. Make sure you do not click on links till you are sure it's completely official.
