Section 479 Failure to furnish returns of income
- Chapter
- XXII · Offences and Prosecution
- Amendments
- 1
(1) If a person wilfully fails to furnish in due time the return of income, which is required to be furnished under section 263(1), or by notice given under sections 268(1) or 280, he shall be punishable,—
Clauses (a), (b) and (c) substituted by Finance Act, 2026, s. 114, dated 30th March, 2026, with effect from 1 April 2026. Earlier read: "clauses (a) and (b)"(a) with simple imprisonment for a term up to two years, or with fine, or with both, where the amount of tax, which would have been evaded if the failure had not been discovered, exceeds fifty lakh rupees; or
Clauses (a), (b) and (c) substituted by Finance Act, 2026, s. 114, dated 30th March, 2026, with effect from 1 April 2026. Earlier read: "clauses (a) and (b)"(b) with simple imprisonment for a term up to six months, or with fine, or with both, where the amount of tax, which would have been evaded if the failure had not been discovered, exceeds ten lakh rupees but does not exceed fifty lakh rupees; or
Clauses (a), (b) and (c) substituted by Finance Act, 2026, s. 114, dated 30th March, 2026, with effect from 1 April 2026. Earlier read: "clauses (a) and (b)"(c) with fine, in any other case.
(2) A person shall not be proceeded against under sub-section (1) for failure to furnish in due time the return of income under section 263(1) for any tax year, if––
(a) a return is furnished by him under section 263(4) or 263(6); 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 period specified under section 263(4), and any tax deducted or collected at source, does not exceed ₹10000.