Income Tax Department Launches Nationwide Campaign Against Restaurant Tax Evasion

New Delhi, March 10: The Income Tax Department has initiated a special campaign targeting restaurants across the country suspected of underreporting their sales.

On March 8, surveys were conducted at 62 restaurants located in 46 cities across 22 states. Preliminary investigations revealed that approximately ₹408 crore in sales may have been concealed.

The department began examining tax evasion patterns in the food and beverage sector in November 2025. The investigation uncovered that some restaurants were deleting large bills or altering them to show reduced sales figures.

Using AI-based technology, the department analyzed transaction data from around 1.77 lakh restaurants. This data was compared against the turnover declared in their income tax returns. The findings indicated that many establishments reported lower incomes, with some sales completely omitted from their accounts or tax returns.

Following this, the nationwide survey on March 8, 2026, revealed the initial concealment of nearly ₹408 crore in sales. The investigation is ongoing.

The Income Tax Department stated that it is promoting voluntary compliance and a trust-based system. To this end, the department has launched the ‘Saksham Naj’ campaign, which aims to guide taxpayers in correcting their mistakes.

In the first phase of the campaign, 63,000 restaurants will receive emails and messages urging them to update their income tax returns by March 31, 2026.

The department has encouraged taxpayers to file updated returns under Section 139(8A) of the Income Tax Act.

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Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.