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FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false

Sep 18, 2024 | 0 comments

Claim

A message circulated on WhatsApp claims that IT refund will get delayed because Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to take over this field.

WhatsApp text

FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false - 1

Fact:

The above information present on various social media platforms is false.

Process of Fact- Checking

Step 1

 Recently, the following text was circulating in some WhatsApp groups.

whatsapp-text
whatsapp-text-2

Step 2

With the help of Google, we did a keyword search as ‘IT refund’ ‘IT refund delay’. We found only the original post which was posted by a user with a verified account who claims to be a chartered accountant on X (Previously known as Twitter) on 29th July, 2024.

FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false - 4

Step 3

When we went to the official website of the Income Tax Department (https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ ) to check if this information is true, there was no information uploaded about Artificial Intelligence (AI) going to take over .

Step 4

We analysed the comments posted by users on the portal

 ( https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ ) and found that there was no discussion about the delay in IT refund. Instead, we found positive feedback such as early refunds, testimonials reported about the early refunds, etc.,

FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false - 5
FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false - 6

Step 5

Even last year in 2023, a page on LinkedIn with 376,167 followers posted the same incorrect text.

FACT-CHECK: WhatsApp message about the delay in IT refund by the Income Tax Department is false - 7

Hence, the information that is circulated is a false information.

About Fact- checking Club

The M.O.P. Fact-checking Club is a student-driven initiative on fact-checking of news stories. The main aim of the club is to build fact checking practice among students. Be a part of our fight against fake news by sending us your queries on WhatsApp at 7358702336.

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