Mera Samvidhaan All of Income-tax Act, 2025

Chapter XXI · Penalties

444Penalty for false entry, etc., in books of account.

Section 444 · Chapter XXI · page 530 of the Act

(1) The Assessing Officer or the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) or the Commissioner (Appeals), may impose a penalty equal to the aggregate amount of false or omitted entry, where during any proceeding under this Act, it is found that in the books of account maintained by any person there is—

(a) a false entry; or

(b) an omission of any entry which is relevant for computation of total income of such person, to evade tax liability.

(2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1), the Assessing Officer or the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) or the Commissioner (Appeals) may impose a penalty equal to the aggregated amount of false or omitted entry, on any other person, who causes the person referred to in the said sub-section in any manner to make a false entry or omits or causes to omit any entry referred to in that sub-section.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the expression "false entry" includes use or intention to use—

(a) forged or falsified documents such as a false invoice or, in general, a false piece of documentary evidence; or

(b) invoice in respect of supply or receipt of goods or services or both issued by the person or any other person without actual supply or receipt of such goods or services, or both; or

(c) invoice in respect of supply or receipt of goods or services or both to or from a person who does not exist.

Other provisions that mention Section 444

Section 444 of The Income-tax Act, 2025 is reproduced in full above, as printed by India Code, with its footnotes and amendment markers. Read the whole Act, or browse every Act on Mera Samvidhaan.