Income tax authorities will have access to your social media profiles and email addresses starting next year.

When the new income tax law goes into effect in April of next year, income tax inspectors may be able to access your emails and social media accounts.

According to clause 247 of the new income tax bill, an authorized income tax officer will have the authority to enter any computer system or virtual digital area when the access code is unavailable by overriding it.

In the tax bill, "virtual digital space" is defined as "any digital realm that enables users to interact, communicate, and perform activities using computer systems, computer networks, computer resources, communication devices, cyberspace, internet, worldwide web, and emerging technologies, using data and information in the electronic form for creation or storage or exchange." It is distinct from the physical, tangible world.

It consists of the following:

 (1) Email servers

 (2) A social media profile

 (3) Online banking, trading, and investment accounts, among others

 (4) Any website that keeps track of an asset's ownership information

 (5) Cloud servers or distant servers

 (6) Platforms for digital applications

 (7) Any other comparable space