Kamal Ghorui
As a traveller, when we think of important travel documents, a passport and a boarding pass are all that seem important. That’s all Indian travellers think they require. But recently, an Instagram reel left the travel world confused. An Instagram video by influencer Sarthak Ahuja (casarthakahuja) claimed that every Indian citizen should get an Income-Tax Clearance Certificate (ITCC) before leaving the country. Now this particular claim didn’t go well with Indian travellers and the Indian government. Ahuja, with over 3.5 million followers, makes informative videos and has over a decade of experience in startup advisory. For many international travellers, this claim sounded like a bureaucratic storm waiting at the airport to consume their time and energy. But the Indian government issued a clarification on Saturday and PIB also shared a “fact check” on social media against the influencer’s claim calling it “FAKE”. Government calls it FakeAs per an official clarification by the Government of India under #PIBFactCheck, it is a false claim. It further explained that under Section 230 of the Income-tax Act, not every traveller needs to obtain an ITCC. The rule remains unchanged since 2003, even after the recent amendments introduced through the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024. For the everyday traveller, this means your long-awaited holiday — whether it’s a spontaneous trip to Bali, a honeymoon in Europe, or a work trip to Dubai — is not suddenly tied to an additional layer of tax paperwork.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.#PIBFactCheck❌ This claim is #FAKE✅ Under Section 230, tax clearance certificates are not mandatory for everyone; they are only required for specific individuals under certain legal circumstances. This rule has remained unchanged since 2003, even after the amendments vide Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024.💠Always rely on official sources for accurate information.”Why the confusion
It is a misinterpretation of legal provisions that has caused the confusion. An Income-Tax Clearance Certificate (ITCC) is proof that a person has no pending tax. However it is not a universal travel requirement and is applicable only in specific and rare situations.Authorities may ask for an ITCC if a person is involved in some financial irregularities. If they find any significant unpaid tax dues exceeding ₹10 lakh, they might ask for ITCC. It is because the government wants to make sure that the individual does not leave the country in case of tax discrepancy.But for everyone else and regular Indian travellers, there is no such rule. They can easily plan their trip without worrying about ITCC.So what caused travel panic?We live in a digital world where reels travel faster than light. A single reel from an authentic influencer with millions of followers can easily create panic. For those already struggling with understanding visa rules and currency exchange, such claims can trigger added stress.So the next time you pack your bags, check your passport but remember you don’t need a tax clearance certificate unless you have a serious legal tax issue. The runway is still open, the skies unchanged, the world is still yours to explore!Also remember one thing: As PIB said, “Always rely on official sources for accurate information.”
