Your PAN can be used by someone to claim fake HRA tax exemption. Know what to do if it happens
Sunaina Mittal has never let out any property to anyone in her entire life. But last year, while checking details on the income tax portal, she found that her Permanent Account Number (PAN) was misused by someone to claim fake HRA tax exemption. Surprised, she filed an RTI application before the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Income Tax (IT) Department to find out details of the person who had wrongly used her PAN to claim HRA.
“I observed that someone has shown me as his landlord and claimed that he paid rent to me for Rs. 1,49,826/- for last year. But I have never ever let out any accommodation on rent in my entire life. I observed that when I logged into my own details on the Income Tax website,” Sunaina wrote in her application while seeking the following details:
However, Sunaina couldn’t get the desired response from the CPIO, who held that the information sought was not maintained/available. The CPIO further said that the compilation of such information would result in the “disappropriate diversion” of office resources. “Therefore, it cannot be provided.”
Being dissatisfied with the CPIO’s response, Sunaina filed a First Appeal. However, the First Appellate Authority (FAA) also upheld the CPIO’s decision. Following this, Sunaina approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) with an instant Second Appeal but failed to get the desired information.
In his order dated 27-09-2023, Infomation Commissioner Saroj Punhani said no further relief can be granted in the matter. However, he advised Sunaina to pursue the matter through an “appropriate channel”.
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While the CIC advised Sunaina to
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