• Source:JND
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The Central government on Saturday clarified the claim circulating on social media that all Indian citizens will need an Income Tax Clearance Certificate before travelling abroad is false.

The clarification came in a Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact-Check after a video by Sarthak Ahuja, an investment banker, went viral on social media.

In the now-fact-checked viral video, Ahuja could be heard saying that from April 1, every individual looking to leave the country would be required to visit an income tax officer.

Ahuja could be heard saying in the viral clip, "It says every time that you have to leave the country for tourism, for travel, for any work, or to visit friends and family abroad. And it could be for any number of days, even if you're leaving for just one day".

The PIB Fact Check X handle shared the screenshot of the video, calling it 'fake.' PIB wrote, "An Instagram video by the account (casarthakahuja) is claiming that all Indian citizens must obtain an income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) every time before leaving the country."

"There appears to be misinformation about the said amendment emanating from an incorrect interpretation of the amendment. It is being erroneously reported that all Indian citizens must obtain an income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) before leaving the country. This position is factually incorrect," PIB stated.

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The PIN press release listed circumstances when ITCC is needed for people travelling abroad under Section 230(1A) of the Act

  • A person is involved in serious financial irregularities, and his presence is necessary in the investigation of cases under the Income-tax Act or Wealth-tax Act.
  • A person has direct tax arrears exceeding Rs 10 lakh outstanding against him, which have not been stayed by any authority.

Sarthak Ahuja responds to PIB

However, Ahuja was quick to respond to the PIB Fact Check, accusing them of misconstruing his message. He accused the authorities of focusing only on 18 seconds of the 90-second video. He said, "This blanket calling something fake by changing the claim is not in the best of taste."

His counter didn't sit well with his own followers, as many of them called out that the "hook" of the video was misleading.

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A user wrote, "I panicked seeing your video coz I'm leaving for a trip soon. Only my CA husband could decipher that it's not for us. It was totally your fault in spreading panic."

Another user said, "But you did use the word everyone and didn't provide context. Maybe this is a lesson for you to not do clickbaity videos."


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