The Income-Tax Act, 1961
[Act No. 43 of 1961]
[13th September, 1961.]
| Contents | |
| Title | Income-Tax Act, 1961 | 
| Sections | Particulars | 
| Chapter I | Preliminary | 
| 1. | Short title, extent and commencement | 
| 2. | Definitions | 
| 3. | Previous year defined | 
| Chapter II | Basis of Charge | 
| 4. | Charge of income-tax | 
| 5. | Scope of total income | 
| 6. | Residence in India | 
| 7. | Income deemed to be received | 
| 8. | Dividend income | 
| 9. | Income deemed to accrue or arise in India | 
| Chapter III | Incomes which do not form Part of Total Income | 
| 10. | Incomes not included in total income | 
| 10A. | Special provision in respect of newly established undertakings in free trade zone, etc. | 
| 10B. | Special provisions in respect of newly established hundred per cent | 
| 10C. | pecial provision in respect of certain industrial undertakings in North-Eastern Region | 
| 11. | Income from property held for charitable or religious purposes | 
| 12. | Income of trusts or institutions from contributions | 
| 13. | Section 11 not to apply in certain cases | 
| Chapter IV | Computation of Total Income | 
| 14. | Heads of income | 
| 15. | Salaries | 
| 16. | Deductions from salaries | 
| 17. | Salary", "perquisite" and "profits in lieu of salary" defined | 
| 18. | [Interest on securities.]- Omitted by the Finance Act, 1988 (26 of 1988), s. 10 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 19. | [Deductions from interest on securities.]- Omitted by s. 10, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 20. | [Deductions from interest on securities in the case of a banking company.]- Omitted by s. 10, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 21. | [Amounts not deductible from interest on securities.]- Omitted by s. 10, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). C.-Income from house property | 
| 22. | Income from house property | 
| 23. | Annual value how determined | 
| 24. | Deductions from income from house property | 
| 25. | Amounts not deductible from income from house property | 
| 26. | Property owned by co-owners | 
| 27. | "Owner of house property", "annual charge", etc., defined | 
| 28. | Profits and gains of business or profession | 
| 29. | Income from profits and gains of business or profession, how computed | 
| 30. | Rent, rates, taxes, repairs and insurance for buildings | 
| 31. | Repairs and insurance of machinery, plant and furniture | 
| 32. | Depreciation | 
| 33. | Development rebate | 
| 34. | Conditions for depreciation allowance and development rebate | 
| 35. | Expenditure on scientific research | 
| 36. | Other deductions | 
| 37. | General | 
| 38. | Building, etc., partly used for business, etc., or not exclusively so used | 
| 39. | [Managing agency commission.]- Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), s. 12, (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 40. | Amounts not deductible | 
| 41. | Profits chargeable to tax | 
| 42. | Special provision for deductions in the case of business for prospecting, etc., for mineral oil | 
| 43. | Definitions of certain terms relevant to income from profits and gains of business or profession | 
| 44. | Insurance business | 
| 45. | Capital gains | 
| 46. | Capital gains on distribution of assets by companies in liquidation | 
| 47. | Transactions not regarded as transfer | 
| 48. | Mode of computation | 
| 49. | Cost with reference to certain modes of acquisition | 
| 50. | Special provision for computation of capital gains in case of depreciable assets | 
| 51 to 53. | Advance money received | 
| 54. | Profit on sale of property used for residence | 
| 55. | Meaning of adjusted, cost of improvement and cost of acquisition | 
| 56. | Income from other sources | 
| 57. | Deductions | 
| 58. | Amounts not deductible | 
| 59. | Profits chargeable to tax | 
| Chapter V | Income of Other Persons, Included in Assessee's Total Income | 
| 60. | Transfer of income where there is no transfer of assets | 
| 61. | Revocable transfer of assets | 
| 62. | Transfer irrevocable for a specified period | 
| 63. | Transfer and revocable transfer defined | 
| 64. | Income of individual to include income of spouse, minor child, etc. | 
| 65. | Liability of person in respect of income included in the income of another person | 
| Chapter VI | Aggregation of Income and set off or Carry Forward of Loss | 
| 66. | Total income | 
| 67. | Method of computing a partner's share in the income of the firm | 
| 68. | Cash credits | 
| 69. | Unexplained investments | 
| 70. | Set off of loss from one source against income from another source under the same head of income | 
| 71. | Set off of loss from one head against income from another | 
| 72. | Carry forward and set off of business losses | 
| 73. | Losses in speculation business | 
| 74. | Losses under the head "Capital gains" | 
| 75 to 77. | Losses of firms | 
| 78. | Carry forward and set off of losses in case of change in constitution of firm or on succession | 
| 79. | Carry forward and set off of losses in case of certain companies | 
| 80. | Submission of return for losses | 
| 1[Chapter VIA and VI-B | Deductions to be Made in Computing Total Income | 
| A. | General | 
| B. | Deductions in respect of certain payments | 
| C. | Deductions in respect of certain incomes | 
| D. | Other deductions | 
| Chapter VII | Incomes Forming Part of Total Income on Which no Income-Tax is Payable | 
| 81 to 85. | Incomes Forming Part of Total Income on Which no Income-Tax is Payable | 
| 86. | Share of member of an association of persons or body of individuals in the income of the association or body | 
| Chapter VIII | Rebates and Reliefs | 
| A. | Rebate of income-tax | 
| 87. | Rebate to be allowed in computing income-tax | 
| 88. | Rebate on life insurance premia, contribution to provident fund, etc. | 
| B. | Relief for income-tax | 
| 89. | Relief when salary, etc., is paid in arrears or in advance | 
| Chapter IX | Double Taxation Relief | 
| 90. | Agreement with foreign countries or specified territories | 
| 91. | Countries with which no agreement exists | 
| Chapter X | Special Provisions Relating to Avoidance of Tax | 
| 92. | Computation of income from international transaction having regard to arm's length price | 
| 93. | Avoidance of income-tax by transactions resulting in transfer of income to non-residents | 
| 94. | Avoidance of tax by certain transactions in securities | 
| Chapter XA | General Anti-Avoidance Rule | 
| 95. | Applicability of GeneralAnti-Avoidance Rule | 
| 96. | Impermissible avoidance arrangement | 
| 97. | Arrangement to lack commercial substance | 
| 98. | Consequences of impermissible avoidance arrangement | 
| 99. | Treatment of connected person and accommodating party | 
| 100. | Application of this Chapter | 
| 101 to 109. | Framing of guidelines | 
| Chapter XII | Determination of Tax in Certain Special Cases | 
| 110. | Determination of tax where total income includes income on which no tax is payable | 
| 111. | Tax on accumulated balance of recognised provident fund | 
| 112. | Tax on long-term capital gains | 
| 113 and 114. | Tax in the case of block assessment of search cases | 
| 115. | Tax on capital gains in case of companies | 
| Chapter XII-A | Special Provisions Relating to Certain Incomes of Non-Residents | 
| Chapter XII-B and XII-C | Special Provisions Relating to Certain Companies | 
| Chapter XIID | Special Provisions Relating to Tax on Distributed Profits of Domestic Companies | 
| Chapter XIIE | Special Provisions Relating to Tax on Distributed Income | 
| Chapter XIIF | Special Provisions Relating to Tax on Income Received from Venture Capital Companies and Venture Capital Funds | 
| Chapter XIIG | Special Provisions Relating to Income of Shipping Companies | 
| A. | Meaning of certain expressions | 
| B. | Computation of tonnage income from business of operating qualifying ships | 
| C. | Procedure for option of tonnage tax scheme | 
| D. | Conditions for applicability of tonnage tax scheme | 
| E. | Amalgamation and demerger of shipping companies | 
| F. | Miscellaneous | 
| G. | Provisions of this Chapter not to apply in certain cases | 
| Chapter XIIH | Income-Tax on Fringe Benefits | 
| A. | Meaning of certain expressions | 
| B. | Basis of charge | 
| C. | Procedure for filing of return in respect of fringe benefits, assessment and payment of tax in respect thereof | 
| Chapter XIII | Income-Tax Authorities | 
| 116. | Income-tax authorities | 
| 117. | Appointment of income-tax authorities | 
| 118. | Control of income-tax authorities | 
| 119. | Instructions to subordinate authorities | 
| 120 to 123. | Jurisdiction of income-tax authorities | 
| 124 to 126. | Jurisdiction of Assessing Officers | 
| 127 and 128. | Power to transfer cases | 
| 129 and 130. | Change of incumbent of an office | 
| 131. | Power regarding discovery, production of evidence, etc. | 
| 132. | Search and seizure | 
| 133. | Power to call for information | 
| 134. | Power to inspect registers of companies | 
| 135. | Power of Principal Director General or Director General or Principal Director or Director, Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner and Joint Commissioner | 
| 136 an d137. | Proceedings before income-tax authorities to be judicial proceedings | 
| 138. | Disclosure of information respecting assessees | 
| Chapter XIV | Procedure for Assessment | 
| 139. | Return of income | 
| 140. | Return by whom to be verified | 
| 141. | Provisional assessment | 
| 142. | Inquiry before assessment | 
| 143. | Assessment | 
| 144. | Best judgment assessment | 
| 145. | Method of accounting | 
| 146. | [Reopening of assessment at the instance of the assessee.] Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1988 (4 of 1988), s.53 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 147. | Income escaping assessment | 
| 148. | Issue of notice where income has escaped assessment | 
| 149. | Time limit for notice | 
| 150. | Provision for cases where assessment is in pursuance of an order on appeal, etc. | 
| 151. | Sanction for issue of notice | 
| 152. | Other provisions | 
| 153. | Time limit for completion of assessment, reassessment and recomputation | 
| 154. | Rectification of mistake | 
| 155. | Other amendments | 
| 156. | Notice of demand | 
| 157. | Intimation of loss | 
| 158. | Intimation of assessment of firm | 
| Chapter XIVA | Special Provision for Avoiding Repetitive Appeals | 
| Chapter XIVB | Special Procedure for Assessment of Search Cases | 
| Chapter XV | Liability in Special Cases | 
| 159. | Legal representatives | 
| 160. | Representative assessee | 
| 161. | Liability of representative assessee | 
| 162. | Right of representative assessee to recover tax paid | 
| 163. | Who may be regarded as agent | 
| 164. | Charge of tax where share of beneficiaries unknown | 
| 165. | Case where part of trust income is chargeable | 
| 166. | Direct assessment or recovery not barred | 
| 167. | Remedies against property in cases of representative assessees | 
| 168. | Executors | 
| 169. | Right of executor to recover tax paid | 
| 170. | Succession to business otherwise than on death | 
| 171. | Assessment after partition of a Hindu undivided family | 
| 172. | Shipping business of non-residents | 
| 173. | Recovery of tax in respect of non-resident from his assets | 
| 174. | Assessment of persons leaving India | 
| 175. | Assessment of persons likely to transfer property to avoid tax | 
| 176. | Discontinued business | 
| 177. | Association dissolved or business discontinued | 
| 178. | Company in liquidation | 
| 179. | Liability of directors of private company in liquidation | 
| 180 and 181. | Royalties or copyright fees for literary or artistic work | 
| Chapter XVI | Special Provisions Applicable to Firms | 
| 182. and 183. | Assessment of firms | 
| 184. | Assessment as a firm | 
| 185. | Assessment when section 184 not complied with | 
| 187. | Change in constitution of a firm | 
| 188. | Succession of one firm by another firm | 
| 189. | Firm dissolved or business discontinued | 
| Chapter XVII | Collection and Recovery of Tax | 
| 190. | Deductionat source and advance payment | 
| 191. | Direct payment | 
| 192. | Salary | 
| 193. | Interest on securities | 
| 194. | Dividends | 
| 195. | Other sums | 
| 196. | Interest or dividend or other sums payable to Government, Reserve Bank or certain corporations | 
| 197. | Certificate for deduction at lower rate | 
| 198. | Tax deductedis income received | 
| 199. | Credit for tax deducted | 
| 200. | Duty of person deducting tax | 
| 201. | Consequences of failure to deduct or pay | 
| 202. | Deduction only one mode of recovery | 
| 203. | Certificate for tax deducted | 
| 204. | Meaning of "person responsible for paying" | 
| 205. | Bar against direct demand on assessee | 
| 206. | Persons deducting tax to furnish prescribed returns | 
| 207. | Liability for payment of advance tax | 
| 208. | Conditions of liability to pay advance tax | 
| 209. | Computation of advance tax | 
| 210. | Payment of advance tax by the assessee of his own accord or in pursuance of order of Assessing Officer | 
| 211. | Instalments of advance tax and due dates | 
| 212. | [Estimate by assessee.] Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), s. 81 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). | 
| 213. | [Commission receipts.] Omitted by s.81, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Due date of instalment Amount payable On or before the 15th June Not less than fifteen per cent. of such advance tax. | 
| 214. | Interest payable by Government | 
| 215. | Interest payable by assessee | 
| 216. | Interest payable by assessee in case of under-estimate, etc. | 
| 217. | Interest payable by assessee when no estimate made | 
| 218. | When assessee deemed to be in default | 
| 219. | Credit for advance tax | 
| 220. | When tax payable and when assessee deemed in default | 
| 221. | Penalty payable when tax in default | 
| 222. | Certificate to Tax Recovery Officer | 
| 223. | Tax Recovery Officer by whom recovery is to be effected | 
| 224. | Validity of certificate and cancellation or amendment thereof | 
| 225. | Stay of proceedings in pursuance of certificate and amendment or cancellation thereof | 
| 226. | Other modes of recovery | 
| 227. | Recovery through State Government | 
| 228. | Recovery of Indian tax in Pakistan and Pakistan tax in India | 
| 229. | Recovery of penalties, fine, interest and other sums | 
| 230. | Tax clearance certificate | 
| 231. | [Period for commencing recovery proceedings.]-Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), s. 93 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). | 
| 232. | Recovery by suit or under other law not affected | 
| 233. | [Recovery of tax payable under provisional assessment.]-Omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1970 (42 of 1970), s. 39 (w.e.f. 1-4-1971). | 
| 234. | Tax paid by deduction or advance payment | 
| Chapter XVIII | Relief Respecting Tax on Dividends in Certain Cases | 
| 235. | Relief Respecting Tax on Dividends in Certain Cases | 
| 236. | Relief to company in respect of dividend paid out of past taxed profits | 
| Chapter XIX | Refunds | 
| 237. | Refunds | 
| 238. | Person entitled to claim refund in certain special cases | 
| 239. | Formof claim for refund and limitation | 
| 240. | Refund on appeal, etc. | 
| 241. | Power to withhold refund in certain cases | 
| 242. | Correctness of assessment not to be questioned | 
| 243. | Interest on delayed refunds | 
| 244. | Interest on refund where no claim is needed | 
| 245. | Set off of refunds against tax remaining payable | 
| Chapter XIXA | Settlementof Cases | 
| Chapter XIX-B | Advance Rulings | 
| Chapter XX | Appealsand Revision | 
| 246. | Appealable orders | 
| 247. | [Appeal by partner].-Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992 (18 of 1992), s. 84 (w.e.f. 1-4-1993). | 
| 248. | Appeal by a person denying liability to deduct tax in certain cases | 
| 249. | Form of appeal and limitation | 
| 250. | Procedure in appeal | 
| 251. | Powers of the Commissioner (Appeals) | 
| 252. | Appellate Tribunal | 
| 253. | Appeals to the Appellate Tribunal | 
| 254. | Orders of Appellate Tribunal | 
| 255. | Procedure of Appellate Tribunal | 
| 256. | Statement of case to the High Court | 
| 257. | Statement of case to Supreme Court in certain cases | 
| 258. | Power of High Court or Supreme Court to require statement to be amended | 
| 259. | Case before High Court to be heard by not less than two judges | 
| 260. | Decision of High Court or Supreme Court on the case stated | 
| 261. | Appeal to Supreme Court | 
| 262. | Hearing before Supreme Court | 
| 263. | Revision of orders prejudicial to revenue | 
| 264. | Revision of other orders | 
| 265. | Tax tobe paid notwithstanding reference, etc. | 
| 266. | Execution for costs awarded by Supreme Court | 
| 267. | Amendment of assessment on appeal | 
| 268. | Exclusion of time taken for copy | 
| 269. | Definition of "High Court" | 
| Chapter XXA | Acquisition of Immovable Properties in Certain Cases of Transfer to Counteract Evasion of Tax | 
| Chapter XXB | Requirement as to Mode of Acceptance, Payment or Repayment in Certain Cases to Counteract Evasion of Tax | 
| Chapter XXC | Purchase by Central Government of Immovable Properties in Certain Cases of Transfer | 
| Chapter XXI | Penalties Imposable | 
| 270. | Failure to furnish information regarding securities, etc. | 
| 271. | Failure to furnish returns, comply with notices, concealment of income, etc. | 
| 272. | Failure to give notice of discontinuance. | 
| 273. | False estimate of, or failure to pay, advance tax | 
| 274. | Procedure | 
| 275. | Bar of limitation for imposing penalties | 
| Chapter XXII | Offences and Prosecutions | 
| 276. | Removal, concealment, transfer or delivery of property to thwart tax recovery | 
| 277. | False statement in verification, etc. | 
| 278. | Abetment of false return, etc. | 
| 279. | Prosecution to be at instance of Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner | 
| 280. | Disclosure of particulars by public servants | 
| Chapter XXIII | Miscellaneous | 
| 281. | Certain transfers to be void | 
| 282. | Service of notice generally | 
| 283. | Service of notice when family is disrupted or firm, etc., is dissolved | 
| 284. | Service of notice in the case of discontinued business | 
| 285. | Submission of statement by a non-resident having liaison office | 
| 286. | Furnishing of report in respect of international group | 
| 287. | Publication of information respecting assessees in certain cases | 
| 288 to 290. | Appearance by authorised representative | 
| 291. | Power to tender immunity from prosecution | 
| 292. | Cognizance of offences | 
| 293. | Bar of suits in civil courts | 
| 294. | Act to have effect pending legislative provision for charge of tax | 
| 295. | Power to make rules | 
| 296. | Rules and certain notifications to be placed before Parliament | 
| 297. | Repeals and savings | 
| 298. | Power to remove difficulties | 
| The Schedules | |
| 1st Schedule | Insurance Business | 
| 2nd Schedule | Procedure for Recovery of Tax | 
| Part I | General Provisions | 
| Part II | Attachment and Sale of Movable Property | 
| Part III | Attachment and Sale of Immovable Property | 
| Part IV | Appointment of Receiver | 
| Part V | Arrest and Detention of The Defaulter | 
| Part VI | Miscellaneous | 
| 3rd Schedule | Procedure for Distraint by Assessing Officer or Tax Recovery Officer | 
| 4th Schedule | |
| Part A | Recognised Provident Funds | 
| Part B | Approved Superannuation Funds | 
| Part C | Approved Gratuity Fund | 
| 5th Schedule | List of Articles and Things | 
| 6th Schedule | Omitted by the Finance Act, 1972 (16 of 1972), s. 43 (w.e.f. 1-4-1973). Originally, the Schedule was inserted by the Finance Act, 1968 (19 of 1968), s. 30 and the Third Schedule (w.e.f. 1-4-1969) and was later amended by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971 (32 of 1971), s. 30 (w.e.f. 1-4-1972). | 
| 7th Schedule | |
| Part A | Minerals | 
| Part B | Groups of Associated Minerals | 
| 8th Schedule | List of Industrially Backward States and Union Territories | 
| 9th Schedule | Omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986 (46 of 1986), s. 31(w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Original Ninth Schedule was inserted by the Direct Taxes (Amendment) Act, 1974 (26 of 1974), s. 16 (w.e.f. 1-4-1975). | 
| 10th Schedule | Omitted by the Finance Act, 1999 (27 of 1999), s. 89 (w.e.f. 1-4-2000). | 
| 11th Schudule | List of Articles or Things | 
| 12th Schudele | Processed Minerals and Ores | 
| 13th Schedule | List of Articles or Things | 
| Part A | For The State of Sikkim | 
| Part B | For The State of Himachal Pradesh and The State of Uttaranchal | 
| Part C | For The State of Jammu and Kashmir | 
| 14th Schedule | List of Articles or Things or Operations | 
| Part A | For The North-Eastern States | 
| Part B | For The State of Sikkim | 
| Part C | For The State of Himachal Pradesh and The State of Uttaranchal |