May 8, 2023

Abetment of false return, etc. If a person abets or induces in any manner another person to make and deliver an account or a statement or declaration relating to any income or any fringe benefits chargeable to tax which is false and which he either knows to be false or does not believe to be true or to commit an offence under sub-section (1) of section 276C, he shall be punishable,— (i)  in a case where the amount of tax, penalty or interest which would have been evaded, if the declaration, account or statement had been accepted as true, or which is wilfully attempted to be evaded, exceeds twenty-five hundred thousand rupees, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven years and with fine; (ii)  in any other case, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine.

Falsification of books of account or document, etc. If any person (hereafter in this section referred to as the first person) wilfully and with intent to enable any other person (hereafter in this section referred to as the second person) to evade any tax or interest or penalty chargeable and imposable under this Act, makes or causes to be made any entry or statement which is false and which the first person either knows to be false or does not believe to be true, in any books of account or other document relevant to or useful in any proceedings against the first person or the second person, under this Act, the first person shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine. Explanation.—For the purposes of establishing the charge under this section, it shall not be necessary to prove that the second person has actually evaded any tax, penalty or interest chargeable or imposable under this Act.

False statement in verification, etc. If a person makes a statement in any verification under this Act or under any rule made thereunder, or delivers an account or statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false, or does not believe to be true, he shall be punishable,— (i)  in a case where the amount of tax, which would have been evaded if the statement or account had been accepted as true, exceeds twenty-five hundred thousand rupees, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven years and with fine; (ii)  in any other case, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine.

Failure to comply with the provisions of section 269T. [Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]

Failure to comply with the provisions of section 269SS. [Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]

Failure to produce accounts and documents If a person wilfully fails to produce, or cause to be produced, on or before the date specified in any notice served on him under sub-section (1) of section 142, such accounts and documents as are referred to in the notice or wilfully fails to comply with a direction issued to him under sub-section (2A) of that section, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine.

Failure to furnish return of income in search cases If a person wilfully fails to furnish in due time the return of total income which he is required to furnish by notice given under clause (a) of section 158BC, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to three years and with fine : Provided that no person shall be punishable for any failure under this section in respect of search initiated under section 132 or books of account, other documents or any assets requisitioned under section 132A, after the 30th day of June, 1995 but before the 1st day of January, 1997.

Failure to furnish returns of income If a person wilfully fails to furnish in due time the return of fringe benefits which he is required to furnish under sub-section (1) of section 115WD or by notice given under sub-section (2) of the said section or section 115WH or the return of income which he is required to furnish under sub-section (1) of section 139 or by notice given under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 142 or section 148 or section 153A, he shall be punishable,— (i)  in a case where the amount of tax, which would have been evaded if the failure had not been discovered, exceeds twenty-five hundred thousand rupees, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven years and with fine; (ii)  in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine: Provided that a person shall not be proceeded against under this section for failure to furnish in due time the return of fringe benefits under sub-section (1) of section 115WD or return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139—  (i)  for any assessment year commencing prior to the 1st day of April, 1975; or (ii)  for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1975, if—  (a)  the return is furnished by him before the expiry of the assessment year 68[or a return is furnished by him under sub-section (8A) of section 139 within the time provided in that sub-section]; or (b)  the tax payable by such person, not being a company, on the total income determined on regular assessment, as reduced by the advance tax or self-assessment tax, if any, paid before the expiry of the assessment year, and any tax deducted or collected at source, does not exceed ten thousand rupees.

Wilful attempt to evade tax, etc (1) If a person wilfully attempts in any manner whatsoever to evade any tax, penalty or interest chargeable or imposable, or under reports his income, under this Act, he shall, without prejudice to any penalty that may be imposable on him under any other provision of this Act, be punishable,—  (i)  in a case where the amount sought to be evaded or tax on under-reported income exceeds twenty-five hundred thousand rupees, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven years and with fine; (ii)  in any other case, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine. (2) If a person wilfully attempts in any manner whatsoever to evade the payment of any tax, penalty or interest under this Act, he shall, without prejudice to any penalty that may be imposable on him under any other provision of this Act, be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and shall, in the discretion of the court, also be liable to fine. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, a wilful attempt to evade any tax, penalty or interest chargeable or imposable under this Act or the payment thereof shall include a case where any person— (i)  has in his possession or control any books of account or other documents (being books of account or other documents relevant to any proceeding under this Act) containing a false entry or statement; or (ii)  makes or causes to be made any false entry or statement in such books of account or other documents; or (iii) wilfully omits or causes to be omitted any relevant entry or statement in such books of account or other documents; or (iv) causes any other circumstance to exist which will have the effect of enabling such person to evade any tax, penalty or interest chargeable or imposable under this Act or the payment thereof.

Failure to pay the tax collected at source If a person fails to pay to the credit of the Central Government, the tax collected by him as required under the provisions of section 206C, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to seven years and with fine.