Beware of Income Tax Refund Email Scams

The Income Tax Department has warned taxpayers against a rising wave of phishing scams impersonating the department and promising fake refunds. These fraudulent emails claim there has been an error in tax calculation and

urge recipients to click on links to claim a refund.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the official handle @IncomeTaxIndia issued a public alert.

???? Kind Attention Taxpayers ????

If you’ve filed your Income Tax Return & received an email stating that there has been an error in calculating your tax and a refund has to be issued, — DO NOT click any links.
It’s a phishing scam!
⚠️Sender: [e-mail]… pic.twitter.com/NaA8ywte7R

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) August 7, 2025

The department flagged the sender’s email address — [e-mail] — as fake and not affiliated with the official tax portal.

It reminded taxpayers that official communication from the Income Tax Department only comes from the domain @incometax.gov.in.

What is this scam about?

Fraudsters are sending emails that

mimic official communication, claiming errors in income tax return (ITR) processing and promising a refund. These emails typically contain links or ask for personal and financial details under the pretext of refund verification. Clicking on such links can compromise sensitive information like bank account credentials, passwords, and one-time passwords (OTPs).

How to identify and avoid phishing emails?

The Income Tax Department has listed ways taxpayers can protect themselves:

• Do not click
  on suspicious links in emails or text messages claiming to be from the tax department.


• Verify the sender's email address. Official communication only comes from @incometax.gov.in.


• Never share confidential information such as your bank account details, Aadhaar, passwords, or OTPs over phone, email, or SMS.


• Report any phishing attempt immediately to [e-mail].