Viral claim on mandatory income tax clearance certificate for all Indians travelling abroad declared fake by PIB
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, April 18, 2026: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked a misleading claim circulating on Instagram suggesting that all Indian citizens are required to obtain an Income Tax Clearance Certificate (ITCC) every time they travel abroad.
The claim, shared by the Instagram account casarthakahuja, is false, according to the official fact check.
Authorities clarified that there is no such blanket requirement for all citizens. Under Section 230 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, an Income Tax Clearance Certificate is not mandatory for everyone. It is required only in specific and rare cases where legal conditions are met.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) explained that this provision has been in place since 2003 and has not been changed by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, except for a minor amendment relating to the Black Money Act.
As per existing rules, an ITCC may only be required in exceptional situations, such as:
- Cases involving serious financial irregularities under investigation, or
- Individuals having direct tax arrears exceeding ₹10 lakh that are not stayed by any authority.
CBDT further stated that such certificates are issued only after proper approval from senior tax authorities and are not applicable to the general public.
Officials have urged citizens to rely only on verified government sources for accurate financial and legal information and avoid sharing unverified social media claims.