Taxpayers told to confirm identities of search authorities

Following the recent incident of seven men conducting a search at a businessman's house posing as tax officials, the Delhi wing of the Income Tax Department has issued an advisory for taxpayers to first confirm identities of search authorities. The department has also allotted 9013850099 as contact number for the purpose of confirmation of identities of tax officials working in the Delhi region.

''Instances have been brought to the notice of the department wherein, certain unscrupulous elements have conducted unauthorised / illegal searches through forged identity cards claiming to be from Income Tax Department, Delhi.

''It is reiterated that the tax payers is well within his rights to seek and inspect the warrant of authorisation, confirm the identities of authorised income tax authorities mentioned on the warrant. The assessee can seek the telephone numbers of immediate supervisory officers of the search/survey party for the purpose of verification of genuineness.

''In case, any doubts still persists then the Income Tax Department can be contacted on the following number 9013850099 for the specified purpose of confirmation of identities of officers/officials working in the Delhi region,'' an official release stated.

The Income Tax Department in the Delhi region regularly conducts search/survey/verification exercises in case of suspected tax evaders to uncover concealment of undisclosed income/assets as per the law.