Wealth Tax Act

Wealth-tax Act, 1957
[Act No. 27 of Year 1957 dated 12th. September, 1957]

An Act to provide for the levy of wealth-tax
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the Wealth-tax Act, 1957.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.1
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st. day of April, 1957.
2. Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,2
[***]
[(b) "Appellate Tribunal" means the Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 252 of the
Income-tax Act;
(c) "assessee" means a person by whom wealth-tax or any other sum of money is payable under
this Act, and includes(i) every person in respect of whom any proceeding under this Act has been taken for the
determination of wealth-tax payable by him or by any other person or the amount of refund due
to him or such other person;
(ii) every person who is deemed to be an assessee under this Act;
(iii) every person who is deemed to be an assessee in default under this Act;
4
[(ca) "Assessing Officer" means the Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax or the Assistant
Commissioner or the income-tax Officer who is vested with the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of
directions or orders issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 120 or any other
provision of the Income-Tax Act which apply for the purposes of wealth-tax under section 8 of
this Act and also the Joint Commissioner who is directed under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of
the said 120 to exercise or perform all or any of the powers and functions conferred on or
assigned to the Assessing officer under that Act;]
5
[(cb)] "assessment" includes reassessment;
(d) "assessment year" means a period of twelve months commencing on the 1st day of April,
every year;]
[(e) "assets" includes property of every description, movable or immovable, but does not
include,(1) in relation to the assessment year commencing on the1st day of April, 1969, or any earlier
assessment year(i) agricultural land and growing crops, grass or standing trees on such land;
(ii) any building owned or occupied by a cultivator of, or receiver of rent or revenue out of,
agricultural land;
Provided that the building is on or in the immediate vicinity of the land and is a building which
the cultivator or the receiver of rent or revenue by reason of his connection with the land
requires as a dwelling house or a store-house or an out-house;
(iii) animals;
(iv) a right to any annuity in any case where the terms and conditions relating thereto preclude
the commutation of any portion thereof into a lump sum grant;
(v) any interest in property where the interest is available to an assessee for a period not
exceeding six years from the date the interest vests in the assessee;
(2) in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1970, or any
subsequent assessment year 7[but before the 1st day of April, 1993] (i) animals;
(ii) a right to 8[any annuity (not being an annuity purchased by the assessee or purchased by
any other person in pursuance of a contract with the assessee)] in any case where the terms
and conditions relating thereto preclude the commutation of any portion thereof into a lump sum
grant;
(iii) any interest in property where the interest is available to an assessee for a period not
exceeding six years from the date the interest vests in the assessee:]
9
[Provided that in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of. April, 1981,
[and the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1982], this sub-clause shall
have effect subject to the modification that for item (i) thereof, the following item shall be
substituted, namely10
(i)(a) agricultural land other than land comprised in any tea, coffee, rubber or cardamom
plantation;
(b) any building owned or occupied by a cultivator of or receiver of rent or revenue out of,
agricultural land other than land comprised in any tea, coffee, rubber or cardamom plantation:
Provided that the building is on or in the immediate vicinity of the land and is a building which
the cultivator or the receiver of the rent or revenue by reason of his connection with the land
requires as a dwelling-house or a store-house or an out-house;
(c) animals;]
11
[Provided further that in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April,
1983 or any subsequent assessment year, this sub-clause shall have effect subject to the
modification that for item (i) thereof, the following item shall be substituted, namely:(i)(a) agricultural land and growing crops (including fruits on trees), grass or standing trees on
such land;
(b) one building or one group of buildings owned or occupied by a cultivator of, or receiver of
rent or revenue out of, agricultural land:
Provided that such buildings or group of buildings is on or in the immediate vicinity of the land
and is a building which the cultivator or the receiver of rent or revenue by reason of his
connection with the land requires as store-house or for keeping livestock;
(c) animals;]
12 9 13
[ [ [Provided also] that] in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, this sub-clause shall
have effect subject to the modification that for the assets specified in 14[item (i)] of this subclause, the assets specified in 15[items (i) to (iii)] of sub-clause (1) shall be substituted and the
other provisions of this Act shall be construed accordingly;]
7
[(ea) "assets", in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993, or
any subsequent assessment year, means16
[(i) any building or land appurtenant thereto (hereinafter referred to as "house"), whether
used for residential or commercial purposes or for the purpose of maintaining a guest house or
otherwise including a farm house situated within twenty-five kilometres from local limits of any
municipality (whether known as Municipality, Municipal Corporation or by any other name) or a
Cantonment Board, but does not include(1) a house meant exclusively for residential purposes and which is allotted by a company to an
employee or an officer or a director who is in whole-time employment, having a gross annual
salary of less than five lakh rupees;
(2) any house for residential or commercial purposes which forms part of stock-in-trade;
(3) any house which the assessee may occupy for the purposes of any business or profession
carried on by him;
(4) any residential property that has been let-out for a minimum period of three hundred days in
the previous year;
(5) any property in the nature of commercial establishments or complexes.]
(ii) motor cars (other than those used by the assessee in the business of running them on hire
or as stock-in-trade);
(iii) jewellery, bullion and furniture, utensils or any other article made wholly or partly of gold,
silver, platinum or any other precious metal or any alloy containing one or more of such precious
metals:
Provided that where any of the said assets is used by the assessee as stock-in-trade, such
assets shall be deemed as excluded from the assets specified in this sub-clause;
(iv) yachts, boats and aircrafts (other than those used by the assessee for commercial
purposes);
(v) urban land;
(vi) cash in hand, in excess of fifty thousand rupees, of individuals and Hindu undivided families
and in the case of other persons any amount not recorded in the books of account.
Explanation
17
[1].- For the purposes of this clause,-
(a) "jewellery" includes(i) ornaments made of gold, silver, platinum or any other precious metal or any alloy containing
one or more of such precious metals, whether or not containing any precious or semi-precious
stones, and whether or not worked or sewn into any wearing apparel;
(ii) precious or semi-precious stones, whether or not set in any furniture, utensils or other article
or worked or sewn into any wearing apparel;
(b) "urban land" means land situate(i) in any area which is comprised within the jurisdiction of a municipality (whether known as a
municipality, municipal corporation, notified area committee, town area committee, town
committee, or by any other name) or a cantonment board and which has a population of not less
than ten thousand according to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have
been published before the valuation date; or
(ii) in any area within such distance, not being more than eight kilometres from the local limits
of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in sub-clause (i), as the Central
Government may, having regard to the extent of, and scope for, urbanisation of that area and
other relevant considerations, specify in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette,
but does not include land on which construction of a building is not permissible under any law for
the time being in force in the area in which such land is situated or the land occupied by any
building which has been constructed with the approval of the appropriate authority or any
unused land held by the assessee for industrial purposes for a period of two years from the date
of its acquisition by him 18[or any land held by the assessee as stock-in-trade for a period of
19
[ten] years from the date of its acquisition by him];]
17
[Explanation 2- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that "jewellery" does not
include the Gold Deposit Bonds issued under the Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999 notified by the
Central Government.]
(f) "Board" means the 20[Central Board of Direct Taxes constituted under the Central Boards of
Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963)];
21
[***]
22
[***]
23
[(h) "company" shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (17) of section 2 of the
Income-tax Act;]
24
[(ha) "co-operative society" means a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative
Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force in any State
for the registration of co-operative societies;]
25
[***]
(i) "executor" means an executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person;

26
[(ia) "High Court", in relation to the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa,
Daman and Diu, means the High Court at Bombay;]
27
[(j) "Income-tax Act" means the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);]
28
[***]
26
[(ka) "India" shall be deemed to include the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa,
Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry(i) as respects any period, for the purposes of section 6; and
(ii) as respects any period included in the year ending with the valuation date, for the purpose of
making any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the1st day of April, 1963 or for
any subsequent year;]
29
[***]
30
[***]
31
[(lb) "legal representative" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (11) of section 2 of the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908);]
32
[(lc) "maximum marginal rate" means the rate of wealth-tax applicable in relation to the
highest slab of wealth in the case of an individual as specified in Part I of Schedule I;]
(m) "net wealth" means the amount by which the aggregate value computed in accordance with
the provisions of this Act of all the assets, wherever located, belonging to the assessee on the
valuation date, including assets required to be included in his net wealth as on that date under
this Act, is in excess of the aggregate value of all the debts owed by the assessee 33[on the
valuation date which have been incurred in relation to the said assets;]
(n) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(o) "principal officer", used with reference to a company, means the secretary, manager,
managing agent or managing director of the company, and includes any person connected with
the management of the affairs of the company upon whom the 34[Assessing] Officer has served
a notice of his intention of treating him as the principal officer thereof;
31
[(oa) "public servant" has the same meaning as in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
(45 of 1860);]
35
[(oaa) "registered valuer" means a person registered as a valuer under section 34AB;]
31
[(ob) "regular assessment" means the assessment made under

section (5) of section 16];]
36
[sub-section (3) or sub-
(p) "Ruler" means a Ruler as defined in clause (22) of Article 366 of the Constitution;
(q) "valuation date", in relation to any year for which an assessment is to be made under this
Act, means the last day of the previous year as defined in 37[section 3] of the Income-tax Act, if
an assessment were to be made under that Act for that year:
27
[Provided that-
38
[***]
(ii) in the case of a person who is not an assessee within the meaning of the Income-tax Act, the
valuation date for the purposes of this Act shall be the 31st day of March immediately preceding
the assessment year;
(iii) where an assessment is made in pursuance of section 19A, the valuation date shall be the
same valuation date as would have been adopted in respect of the net wealth of the deceased if
he were alive;]
39
[(r) "Valuation Officer" means a person appointed as a Valuation Officer under section 12A,
and includes a Regional Valuation Officer, a District Valuation Officer, and an Assistant Valuation
Officer;]
40
[(s) the expressions "Chief Commissioner", Director-General, Commissioner, Commissioner

(Appeals), Director, Additional Director of Income-tax, Additional Commissioner of Income-tax,
Joint Director, Joint Commissioner of Income-tax, Deputy Director, Deputy Commissioner,
Assistant Commissioner, Assistant-Director, Income-tax Officer, Inspector of Income-tax and
Tax Recovery Officer" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under section 2 of
the Income-tax Act.]
3. Charge of wealth-tax
7
[(1)] 41[Subject to the other provisions (including provisions for the levy of additional wealthtax) contained in this Act], there shall be charged for every 42[assessment year] commencing on
and from the first day of April, 1957 7[but before the first day of April, 1993], a tax (hereinafter
referred to as wealth-tax) in respect of the net wealth on the corresponding valuation date of
every individual, Hindu undivided family and company at the rate or rates specified in
43
[Schedule I].
7
[(2) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, there shall be charged for every
assessment year commencing on and from the 1st day of April, 1993, wealth-tax in respect of
the net wealth on the corresponding valuation date of every individual, Hindu undivided family
and company, at the rate of one per cent of the amount by which the net wealth exceeds fifteen
lakh rupees.]
4. Net wealth to include certain assets
44
[(1) In computing the net wealth-
(a) of an individual, there shall be included, as belonging to that individual, the value of assets
which on the valuation date are held-]
45
[(i) by the spouse of such individual to whom such assets have been transferred by the
individual, directly or indirectly, otherwise than for adequate consideration or in connection with
an agreement to live apart, or
(ii) by a minor child, not being 46[a minor child suffering from any disability of the nature
specified in section 80U of the Income-tax Act or] a married daughter, of such individual,
47
[***], or
(iii) by a person or association of persons to whom such assets have been transferred by the
individual 48[directly or indirectly] otherwise than for adequate consideration for the immediate
or deferred benefit of the individual, his or her spouse 49[***] or]
(iv) by a person or association of persons to whom such assets have been transferred by the
individual otherwise than under an irrevocable transfer 48[or]
48
[(v) by the son's wife, 50[***] of such individual, to whom such assets have been transferred
by the individual, directly or indirectly, on or after the1st day of June, 1973, otherwise than for
adequate consideration,] 51[or]
51
[(vi) by a person or association of persons to whom such assets have been transferred by the
individual, directly or indirectly, on or after the1st day of June, 1973, otherwise than for
adequate consideration for the. immediate or deferred benefit of the son's wife, 50[***] of such
individual or both,]
whether the assets referred to in any of the sub-clauses aforesaid are held in the form in which
they were transferred or otherwise;
31
[Provided that where the transfer of such assets or any part thereof is either chargeable to
gift-tax under the Gift-tax Act, 1958 (18 of 1958), or is not chargeable under section 5 of that
Act for any assessment year commencing after the 31st day of March, 1964, 52[but before the
1st day of April, 1972,] the value of such assets or part thereof, as the case may be, shall not be
included in computing the net wealth of the individual;]
7
[Provided further that nothing contained in sub-clause (ii) shall apply in respect of such assets
as have been acquired by the minor child out of his income referred to in the proviso to subsection (1A) of section 64 of the Income-tax Act and which are held by him on the valuation
date:
Provided also that where the assets held by a minor child are to be included in computing the
net wealth of an individual, such assets shall be included,(a) where the marriage of his parents subsists, in the net wealth of that parent whose net wealth
(excluding the assets of the minor child so includible under this sub-section) is greater; or
(b) where the marriage of his parents does not subsist, in the net wealth of that parent who
maintains the minor child in the previous year as defined in section 3 of the Income-tax Act,
and where any such assets are once included in the net wealth of either parent, any such assets
shall not be included in the net wealth of the other parent in any succeeding year unless the
Assessing Officer is satisfied, after giving that parent an opportunity of being heard, that it is
necessary so to do;]
53
[(b) of an assessee who is a partner in a firm or a member of an association of persons (not

being a co-operative housing society), there shall be included, as belonging to that assessee, the
value of his 54[interest in the assets of the firm] or association determined in the manner laid
down in Schedule III:
55
[Provided that where a minor is admitted to the benefits of partnership in a firm, the value of
the interest of such minor in the firm, determined in the manner specified above, shall be
included in the net wealth of the parent of the minor, so far as may be, in accordance with the
provisions of the third proviso to clause (a).]
52
[(1A) Where, in the case of an individual being a member of a Hindu undivided family, any
property having been the separate property of the individual has, at any time after the 31st day
of December, 1969, been converted by the individual into property belonging to the family
through the act of impressing such separate property with the character of property belonging to
the family or throwing it 56[into the common stock of the family or been transferred by the
individual, directly or indirectly, to the family otherwise than for adequate consideration (the
property so converted or transferred being hereinafter referred to as the converted property)],
then notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act or in any other law for
the time being in force, for the purpose of computing the net wealth of the individual under this
Act for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1972,(a) the individual shall be deemed to have transferred the converted property, through the
family, to the members of the family for being held by them jointly;
(b) the converted property or any part thereof
the individual and not to the family;
57
[***] shall be deemed to be assets belonging to
58
[(c) where the converted property has been the subject-matter of a partition (whether partial
or total) amongst the members of the family, the converted property or any part thereof which
is received by the spouse 59[***] of the individual on such partition shall be deemed to be assets
transferred indirectly by the individual to the spouse 59[***] and the provisions of sub-section
(1) shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly:]
Provided that the property referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) shall, on being included in the
net wealth of the individual, be excluded from the net wealth of the family or, as the case may
be, the spouse 59[***] of the individual.]
77
[***]
60
[***]
(4) Nothing contained in clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall apply to any such transfer as is
referred to therein made by an individual before the 1st day of April, 1956, and the value of any
assets so transferred shall not be included in the computation of his net wealth.
26
[(4A) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (4), nothing contained in clause (a) of subsection (1) shall apply to any such transfer as is referred to therein made before the 1st day of
April, 1963, by an individual who but for the extension of this Act to the Union territories of
Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry, would not have been an
assessee, and the value of any assets so transferred shall not be included in the computation of
his net wealth.]
(5) The value of any assets transferred under an irrevocable transfer shall be liable to be
included in computing the net wealth of the transferor as and when the power to revoke arises
to him.
48
[(5A) Where a gift of money from one person to another is made by means of entries in the
books of account maintained by the person making the gift or by an individual or a Hindu
undivided family or a firm or an association of persons or body of individuals with whom or
which he has business or other relationship, the value of such gift shall be liable to be included
in computing the net wealth of the person making the gift unless he proves to the satisfaction of
the 34[Assessing] Officer that the money has actually been delivered to the other person at the
time the entries were made.]
61
[(6) For the purposes of this Act, the holder of an impartible estate shall be deemed to be the
individual owner of all the properties comprised in the estate.
62
[(7) Where the assessee is a member of a co-operative society, company or other association
of persons and a building or part thereof is allotted or leased to him under a house building
scheme of the society, company or association, as the case may be, the assessee shall,
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, be
deemed to be the owner of such building or part and the value of such building or part, shall be
included in computing the net wealth of the assessee; and, in determining the value of such
building or part, the value of any outstanding instalments of the amount payable under such
scheme by the assessee to the society, company or association towards the cost of such building
or part and the land appurtenant thereto shall, whether the amount so payable is described as
such or in any other manner in such scheme, be deducted as a debt owed by him in relation to
such building or part.
(8) A person(a) who is allowed to take or retain possession of any building or part thereof in part
performance of a contract of the nature referred to in section 53A of the Transfer of Property
Act, 1882 (4 of 1882):
(b) who acquires any rights (excluding any rights by way of a lease from month to month or for
a period not exceeding one year) in or with respect to any building or part thereof by virtue of
any such transaction as is referred to in clause (f) of section 269UA of the Income-tax Act, 1961
(43 of 1961),
shall be deemed to be the owner of that building or part thereof and the value of such building
or part shall be included in computing the net wealth of such person.]
Explanation- For the purposes of this section,
(a) the expression "transfer" includes any disposition, settlement, trust, covenant, agreement or
arrangement; 63[***]
48
(aa) the expression "child" includes a step-child and an adopted child;]
(b) the expression "irrevocable transfer" includes a transfer of assets which, by the terms of the
instrument effecting it, is not revocable for a period exceeding six years or during the lifetime of
the transferee, and under which the transferor derives no direct or indirect benefit, but does not
include a transfer of assets if such instrument -
(i) contains any provision for the retransfer, directly or indirectly, of the whole or any part of the
assets or income therefrom to the transferor; or
(ii) in any way gives the transferor a right to reassume power, directly or indirectly, over the
whole or any part of the assets or income therefrom;] 48[and]
52
[(c) the expression "property" includes any interest in any property, movable or immovable,
the proceeds of sale thereof and any money or investment for the time being representing the
proceeds of sale thereof and where the property is converted into any other property by any
method, such other property 64[***].]
65
[***]
5. Exemptions in respect of certain assets

66
[***] 67[***] Wealth-tax shall not be payable by an assessee in respect of the following
assets], and such assets shall not be included in the net wealth of the assessee(i) any property held by him under trust or other legal obligation for any public purpose of a
charitable or religious nature in India:
68
[Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to any property forming part of any
business, not being a business referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (4A) of
section 11 of the Income-tax Act in respect of which separate books of account are maintained
or a business carried on by an institution, fund or trust referred to in 69[***] clause (23B) or
clause (23C) of section 10 of that Act;]
(ii) the interest of the assessee in the coparcenary property of any Hindu undivided family of
which he is a member;
(iii) 70[any one building in the occupation of a Ruler, being a building which immediately before
the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was his official
residence by virtue of a declaration by the Central Government] under paragraph 13 of the
Merged States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1949, or paragraph 15 of the Part B States
(Taxation Concessions) Order, 1950;
71
[***]
72
[(iv)] jewellery in the possession of any Ruler, not being his personal property, which has been
recognised before the commencement of this Act, by the Central Government as his heirloom or,
where no such recognition exists, which the Board may, subject to any rules that may be made
by the Central Government in this behalf, recognise as his heirloom at the time of his first
assessment to wealth-tax under this Act:
73
[Provided that in the case of jewellery recognised by the Central Government as aforesaid,
such recognition shall be subject to the following conditions, namely:(i) that the jewellery shall be permanently kept in India and shall not be removed outside India
except for a purpose and period approved by the Board;
(ii) that reasonable steps shall be taken for keeping the jewellery substantially in its original
shape;
(iii) that reasonable facilities shall be allowed to any officer of Government authorised by the
Board in this behalf to examine the jewellery as and when necessary; and
(iv) that if any of the conditions hereinbefore specified is not being duly fulfilled, the Board may,
for reasons to be recorded in writing, withdraw the recognition retrospectively with effect from
the date of commencement of clause (b) of section 5 of the Rulers of Indian States (Abolition of
Privileges) Act, 1972, and in such a case, wealth-tax shall become payable by the Ruler for all
the assessment years after such commencement for which the jewellery was exempted on
account of the recognition.
Explanation.- For the purposes of clause (iv) of the foregoing proviso, the fair market value of
any jewellery on the date of the withdrawal of the recognition in respect thereof shall be deemed
to be the fair market value of such jewellery on each successive valuation date relevant for the
assessment years referred to in the said proviso:
Provided further that the aggregate amount of wealth-tax payable in respect of any jewellery
under clause (iv) of the foregoing proviso for all the assessment years referred to therein shall
not in any case exceed fifty per cent of its fair market value on the valuation date relevant for
the assessment year in which recognition was withdrawn;]
74
[***]
75 76
[ [(v)] in the case of an assessee, being a person of Indian origin 78[or a citizen of India
(hereafter in this clause referred to as such person)] who was ordinarily residing in a foreign
country and who, on leaving such country, has returned to India with the intention of
permanently residing therein, moneys and the value of assets brought by him into India and the
value of the assets acquired by him out of such moneys 79[within one year immediately
preceding the date of his return and at any time thereafter]:
Provided that this exemption shall apply only for a period of seven successive assessment years
commencing with the assessment year next following the date on which such person returned to
India.
Explanation 80[1].- A person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents
or any of his grand-parents, was born in undivided India.]
80
[Explanation 2.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that moneys standing to the
credit of such person in a Non-resident (External) Account in any bank in India in accordance
with the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), and any rules made thereunder,
on the date of his return to India, shall be deemed to be moneys brought by him into India on
that date;]
81
[(vi) one house or part of a house or a plot of land belonging to an individual or a Hindu
undivided family:
Provided that wealth-tax shall not be payable by an assessee in respect of an asset being a plot
of land comprising an area of five hundred square meters or less.]
82
[***]
83
[***]
84
[***]
60
[***]
85
[***]
6. Exclusion of assets and debts outside India

In computing the net wealth of an individual 86[who is not a citizen of India or of an individual]
or a Hindu undivided family not resident in India or resident but not ordinarily resident in India,
or of a company not resident in India during the year ending on the valuation date(i) the value of the assets and debts located outside India; and
(ii) the value of the assets in India represented by any loans or debts owing to the assessee in
any case where the interest, if any, payable on such loans or debts is not to be included in the
total income of the assessee under 87[section 10] of the Income-tax Act;
shall not be taken into account.
Explanation 1.- An individual or a Hindu undivided family shall be deemed to be not resident in
India or resident but not ordinarily resident in India during the year ending on the valuation date
if in respect of that year the individual or the Hindu undivided family, as the case may be, is not
resident in India or resident but not ordinarily resident in India within the meaning of the
Income-tax Act.
88
[Explanation 1A.- Where in the case of an individual the value of an asset in India is
represented by any debt owing to him, being any moneys to his credit in a Non-resident
(External) Account, the interest payable on which is not to be included in his total income under
89
[sub-clause (ii) of clause (4)] of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, the provisions of this section
shall, in relation to such asset, apply subject to the modification that the reference in this section
to an individual not resident in India shall be construed as a reference to a person resident
outside India as defined in clause (q) of section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973
(46 of 1973)].
Explanation 2.- A company shall be deemed to be resident in India during the year ending on the
valuation date, if(a) it is a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or is an
existing company within the meaning of that Act; or
(b) during that year the control and management of its affairs is situated wholly in India.
90
[7. Value of assets, how to be determined
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the value of any asset, other than cash, for the
purposes of this Act shall be its value as on the valuation date determined in the manner laid
down in Schedule III.
(2) The value of a house belonging to the assessee and exclusively used by him for residential
purposes throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the valuation date,
may, at the option of the assessee, be taken to be the value determined in the manner laid
down in Schedule III as on the valuation date next following the date on which he became the
owner of the house or the valuation date relevant to the assessment year commencing on the
1st day of April, 1971, whichever valuation date is later.
91
[***]
Explanation- For the purposes of this sub-section,(i) where the house has been constructed by the assessee, he shall be deemed to have become
the owner thereof on the date on which the construction of such house was completed;
(ii) "house" includes a part of a house being an independent residential unit.]
92[8. Wealth-tax authorities and their jurisdiction
The income-tax authorities specified in section 116 of the Income-tax Act shall be the wealth-tax
authorities for the purposes of this Act and every such authority shall exercise the powers and
perform the functions of a wealth-tax authority under this Act in respect of any individual, Hindu
undivided family or company, and for this purpose his jurisdiction under this Act shall be the
same as he has under the Income-tax Act by virtue of orders or directions issued under section
120 of that Act (including orders or directions assigning concurrent jurisdiction) or under any
other provision of that Act.
Explanation- For the purposes of this section, the wealth-tax authority having jurisdiction in
relation to a person who is not an assessee within the meaning of the Income-tax Act shall be
the wealth-tax authority having jurisdiction in respect of the area in which that person resides.]
[Sections 8A, 8AA and 8B omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988]
93
[9. Control of wealth-tax authorities
Section 118 of the Income-tax Act and any notification issued thereunder shall apply in relation
to the control of wealth-tax authorities as they apply in relation to the control of the
corresponding income-tax authorities, except to the extent to which the Board may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, otherwise direct in respect of any wealth-tax authority.]
[Section 9A omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988]
94
[10. Instructions to subordinate authorities
(1) The Board may, from time to time, issue such orders, instructions and directions to other
wealth-tax authorities as it may deem fit for the proper administration of this Act, and such
authorities and all other persons employed in the execution of this Act shall observe and follow
such orders, instructions and directions of the Board:
Provided that no such orders, instructions or directions shall be issued(a) so as to require any wealth-tax authority to make a particular assessment or to dispose of a
particular case in a particular manner; or
(b) so as to interfere with the discretion of the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner
(Appeals) in the exercise of his appellate functions.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,-
(a) the Board may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, for the purpose of proper
and efficient management of the work of assessment and collection of revenue, issue, from time
to time (whether by way of relaxation of any of the provisions of sections 95[14, 15, 16, 17,
17B,] 18 and 35 or otherwise), general or special orders in respect of any class of cases, setting
forth directions or instructions (not being prejudicial to assesses) as to the guidelines, principles
or procedures to be followed by other wealth-tax authorities in the work relating to assessment
or collection of revenue or the initiation of proceedings for the imposition of penalties and any
such order may, if the Board is of opinion that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, be
published and circulated in the prescribed manner for general information;
(b) the Board may, if it considers it desirable or expedient so to do for avoiding genuine hardship
in any case or class of cases, by general or special order, authorise any wealth-tax authority, not
being a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals,) to admit an application or
claim for any exemption, deduction, refund or any other relief under this Act after the expiry of
the period specified by or under this Act for making such application or claim and deal with the
same on merits in accordance with law.]
[Section 10A omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1887, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988]
96
[11. Jurisdiction of Assessing Officers and power to transfer cases
(1) The provisions of sections 124 and 127 of the Income-tax Act shall, so far as may be, apply
for the purposes of this Act as they apply for the purposes of the Income-tax Act, subject to the
modifications specified in sub-section (2).
(2) The modifications referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following, namely:(a) in section 124 of the Income-tax Act,(i) in sub-section (3), references to the provisions of the Income-tax Act shall be construed as
references to the corresponding provisions of the Wealth-tax Act;
(ii) sub-section (5) shall be omitted;
(b) in section 127 of the Income-tax Act, in the Explanation below sub-section 97[(4)],
references to proceedings under the Income-tax Act shall be construed as including references
to proceedings under the Wealth-tax Act.]
[Sections 11A, 11AA, 11B and 12 omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988]
35
[12A. Appointment of Valuation Officers
(1) The Central Government may appoint as many Valuation Officers as it thinks fit.
(2) Subject to the rules and orders of the Central Government regulating the conditions of
service of persons in public services and posts, a wealth-tax authority may all point as many
overseers, surveyors and assessors as may be necessary to assist the Valuation Officers in the
performance of their functions.]
[Section 13 omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988]
31
[13A. Powers of 98[Director-General or Director], 99[Chief Commissioner or

commissioner] and 100[101[Joint] Commissioner] to make enquiries
The 98[Director-General or Director], the 102[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] and the
103 101
[ [Joint] Commissioner] shall be competent to make any enquiry under this Act, and for this
purpose shall have all the powers that an 34[Assessing] Officers has under this Act in relation to
the making of enquiries.]
CHAPTER IV: ASSESSMENT
14. Return of wealth104
105
[(1) Every person, if his net wealth or the net wealth of any other person in respect of which
he is assessable under this Act on the valuation date exceeded the maximum amount which is
not chargeable to wealth-tax, shall, on or before the due date, furnish a return of his net wealth
or the net wealth of such other person as on that valuation date in the prescribe form and
verified in the prescribed manner setting forth particulars of such net wealth and such other
particulars as may be prescribed.
Explanation.- In this sub-section, "due date" in relation to an assessee under this Act shall be
the same date as that applicable to an assessee under the Income-tax Act under the Explanation
to sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Income-tax Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, a return of net wealth
which shows the net wealth below the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax shall be
deemed never to have been furnished:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply to a return furnished in response to a notice under
section 17.]
106
[***]
107[15. Return after due date and amendment of return

If any person has not furnished a return within the time allowed under sub-section (1) of section
14 or under a notice issued under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 16, or having furnished
a return discovers any omission or wrong statement therein, he may furnish a return or a
revised return, as the case may be, at any time before the expiry of one year from the end of
the relevant assessment year or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier:
Provided that(a) where such return or revised return relates to the assessment year commencing on the 1st
day of April, 1987, or any earlier assessment year, it may be furnished at any time up to and
inclusive of the 31st day of March, 1990 or before the completion of the assessment, whichever
is earlier;
(b) where such return or revised return relates to the assessment year commencing on the 1st
day of April, 1988, it may be furnished at any time up to and inclusive of the 31st day of March,
1991 or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier.]
31
[15A. Return by whom to be signed
The return made under section 14 or section 15 shall be signed and verified108
[(a) in the case of an individual,-
(i) by the individual himself;

(ii) where he is absent from India, by the individual himself or by some person duly authorised
by him in this behalf;
(iii) where he is a mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by his guardian or any
other person competent to act on his behalf; and
(iv) where for any other reason, it is not possible for the individual to sign the return, by any
person duly authorised by him in this behalf:
Provided that in a case referred to in sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iv), the person signing the
return holds a valid power of attorney from the individual to do so, which shall be attached to
the return;]
(b) in the case of a Hindu undivided family, by the karta, and, where the karta is absent from
India or is mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by any other adult member of
such family; and
58
[(c) in the case of a company, by the managing director thereof, or where for any unavoidable
reason such managing director is not able to sign and verify the return or where there is no
managing director, by any director thereof:]]
32
[Provided that where the company is not resident in India, the return may be signed and
verified by a person who holds a valid power of attorney from such company to do so, which
shall be attached to the return:
Provided further that,(a) where the company is being wound-up, whether under the orders of the court or other-wise,
or where any person has been appointed as the receiver of any assets of the company, the
return shall be signed and verified by the liquidator referred to in sub-section (1) of section 178
of the Income-tax Act;
(b) where the management of the company has been taken over by the Central Government or
any State Government under any law, the return of the company shall be signed and verified by
the principal officer thereof.]
109[15B. Self-assessment
(1) Where any tax is payable on the basis of any return furnished under section 14 or section 15
or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 16 or under section 17,
after taking into account the amount of tax, if any, already paid under any provision of this Act,
the assessee shall be liable to pay such tax, together with interest payable under any provision
of this Act, for any delay in furnishing the return, before furnishing the return and the return
shall be accompanied by proof of payment of such tax and interest.
Explanation- Where the amount paid by the assessee under this sub-section falls short of the
aggregate of the tax and interest as aforesaid, the amount so paid shall first be adjusted
towards the interest payable as aforesaid and the balance, if any, shall be adjusted towards the
tax payable.
(2) After the regular assessment under section 16 has been made, any amount paid under subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been paid towards such regular assessment.
(3) If any assessee fails to pay the whole or any part of such tax or interest or both in
accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), he shall, without prejudice to any other
consequences which he may incur, be deemed to be an assessee in default in respect of the tax
or interest or both remaining unpaid and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.]
110
[(4) The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the
Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), shall apply to and in relation to any
assessment for the assessment year commencing on the1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier
assessment year and references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be
construed as references to those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the
relevant assessment year.]
[Section 15C omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989]
111
[16. Assessment
112
[(1)Where a return has been made under section 14 or section 15 or in response to a notice
under clause (i) of sub-section (4),(i) if any tax or interest is found due on the basis of such return, after adjustment of any
amount paid by way of tax or interest, then, without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section
(2), an intimation shall be sent to the assessee specifying the sum so payable, and such
intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand issued under section 30 and all the
provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly; and
(ii) if any refund is due on the basis of such return, it shall be granted to the assessee and an
intimation to this effect shall be sent to the assessee:
Provided that except as otherwise provided in this sub-section, the acknowledgement of the
return shall be deemed to be intimation under this sub-section where either no sum is payable
by the assessee or no refund is due to him:
Provided further that no intimation under this sub-section shall be sent after the expiry of two
years from the end of the assessment year in which the net wealth was first assessable.]
113
114
[***]
[(2) Where a return has been made under section 14 or section 15, or in response to a notice
under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of this section, the Assessing Officer shall, if he] considers it
necessary or expedient to ensure that the assessee has not understated the net wealth or has
not underpaid the tax in any manner 115[***] serve on the assessee a notice requiring him, on
a, date to be specified therein, either to attend at the office of the Assessing Officer or to
produce, or cause to be produced there, any evidence on which the assessee may rely in support
of the return:
116
[Provided that no notice under this sub-section shall be served on the assessee after the
expiry of twelve months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished.]
(3) On the day specified in the notice issued under sub-section (2) or as soon afterwards as may
be, after hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and such other evidence as the
Assessing Officer may require on specified points, and after taking into account all relevant
material which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by order in writing, assess the net
wealth of the assessee and determine the sum payable by him on the basis of such assessment.
(4) For the purposes of making an assessment under this Act, the Assessing Officer may serve,
on any person who has made a return under section 14 or section 15 or in whose case the time
allowed under sub-section (1) of section 14 for furnishing the return has expired, a notice
requiring him, on a date to be specified therein,(i) where such person has not made a return 117[within the time allowed under sub-section (1) of
section 14] to furnish a return of his net wealth or the net wealth of any other person in respect
of which he is assessable under this Act on the valuation date, in the prescribed form and
verified in the prescribed manner, setting forth the particulars of such net wealth and such other
particulars as may be prescribed, or
(ii) to produce or cause to be produced such accounts, records or other documents as the
Assessing Officer may require.
(5) If any person,(a) fails to make the return required under sub-section (1) of section 14 and has not made a
return or a revised return under section 15, or
(b) fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under sub-section (2) or sub-section (4),
the Assessing Officer, after taking into account, all relevant material which he has gathered,
shall, after giving such person an opportunity of being heard, estimate the net wealth to the best
of his judgment and determine the sum payable by the person on the basis of such assessment:
Provided that such opportunity shall be given by the Assessing Officer by serving a notice calling
upon the person to show cause, on a date and time to be specified in the notice, why the
assessment should not be completed to the best of his judgment:
Provided further that it shall not be necessary to give such opportunity in a case where a notice
under sub-section (4) has been issued prior to the making of the assessment under this subsection.]
110
[(6) Where a regular assessment under subsection (3) or sub-section (5) is made,-
(a) any tax or interest paid by the assessee under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been
paid towards such regular assessment;
(b) if no refund is due on regular assessment or the amount refunded under sub-section (1)
exceeds the amount refundable on regular assessment, the whole or the excess amount so
refunded shall be deemed to be tax payable by the assessee and the provisions of this Act shall
apply accordingly.
118
[***]
119[16A. Reference to Valuation Officer

(1) For the purpose of making an assessment (including an assessment in respect of any
assessment year commencing before the date of coming into force of this section) under this
Act, 120[where under the provisions of section 7 read with the rules made under this Act or, as
the case may be, the rules in Schedule III, the market value of any asset is to be taken into
account in such assessment,] the 34[Assessing] Officer may refer the valuation of any asset to a
Valuation Officer(a) in a case where the value of the asset as returned is in accordance with the estimate made
by a registered valuer if the 34[Assessing] Officer is of opinion that the value so returned is less
than its fair market value;
(b) in any other case, if the
34
[Assessing] Officer is of opinion-
(i) that the fair market value or the asset exceeds the value of the asset as returned by more
than such percentage of the value of the asset as returned or by more than such amount as may
be prescribed in this behalf; or
(ii) that having regard to the nature of the asset and other relevant circumstances, it is
necessary so to do.
(2) For the purpose of estimating the value of any asset in pursuance of a reference under subsection (1), the Valuation Officer may serve on the assessee a notice requiring him to produce or
cause to be produced on a date specified in the notice such accounts, records or other
documents as the Valuation Officer may require.
(3) Where the Valuation Officer is of opinion that the value of the asset has been correctly
declared in the return made by the assessee under section 14 or section 15, he shall pass an
order in writing to that effect and send a copy of his order to the 34[Assessing] Officer and to the
assessee.
(4) Where the Valuation Officer is of opinion that the value of the asset is higher than the value
declared in the return made by the assessee under section 14 or section 15, or where the asset
is not disclosed or the value of the asset is not declared in such return or where no such return
has been made, the Valuation Officer shall serve a notice on the assessee intimating the value
which he proposes to estimate and giving the assessee an opportunity to state, on a date to be
specified in the notice, his objections either in person or in writing before the Valuation Officer
and to produce or cause to be produced on that date such evidence as the assessee may rely in
support of his objections.
(5) On the date specified in the notice under sub-section (4), or as soon thereafter as may be,
after-hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and after considering such evidence
as the Valuation Officer may require on any specified points and after taking into account all
relevant material which he has gathered, the Valuation Officer shall, by order in writing,
estimate the value of the asset and send a copy of his order to the 34[Assessing] Officer and to
the assessee.
(6) On receipt of the order under sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) from the Valuation Officer,
the 34[Assessing] Officer shall, so far as the valuation of the asset in question is concerned,
proceed to complete the assessment in conformity with the estimate of the Valuation Officer.]
17. Wealth escaping assessment
121
[(1) If the Assessing Officer 122[has reason to believe] that the net wealth chargeable to tax in
respect of which any person is assessable under this Act has escaped assessment for any
assessment year (whether by reason of under-assessment or assessment at too low a rate or
otherwise), he may, subject to the other provisions of this section and section 17A, serve on
such person a notice requiring him to furnish within such period, not being less than thirty days,
as may be specified in the notice, a return in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed
manner setting forth the net wealth in respect of which such person is assessable as on the
valuation date mentioned in the notice, along with such other particulars as may be required by
the notice, and may proceed to assess or reassess such net wealth and also any other net
wealth chargeable to tax in respect of which such person is assessable, which has escaped
assessment and which comes to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings under
this section for the assessment year concerned (hereafter in this section referred to as the
relevant assessment year) and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply as if the
return were a return required to be furnished under section 14:
Provided that where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 16 or this section has been
made for the relevant assessment year, no action shall be taken under this section after the
expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless any net wealth
chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for such assessment year by reason of the failure on
the part of the assessee to make a return under section 14 or section 15 or in response to a
notice issued under sub-section (4) of section 16 or this section or to disclose fully and truly all
material facts necessary for his assessment for that assessment year:
120
[Provided further that the Assessing Officer shall, before issuing any notice under this subsection, record his reasons for doing so.]
Explanation- Production before the Assessing Officer of account books or other evidence from
which material evidence could with due diligence have been discovered by the Assessing Officer
will not necessarily amount to disclosure within the meaning of the foregoing proviso.
(1A) No notice under sub-section (1) shall be issued for the relevant assessment year,120B
[(a) if four years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the case
falls under clause (b);
(b) if four years, but not more than six years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant
assessment year unless the net wealth chargeable to tax which has escaped assessment
amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees ten lakh or more for that year.]
(1B) (a) In a case where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 16 or sub-section (1)
of this section has been made for the relevant assessment year, no notice shall be issued under
sub-section (1) 123[by an Assessing Officer, who is below the rank of Assistant Commissioner
124
[or Deputy Commissioner], unless the 101[Joint] Commissioner is satisfied on the reasons
recorded by such Assessing Officer that it is a fit case for the issue of such notice]:
Provided that, after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, no
such notice shall be issued unless the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner is satisfied, on the
reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer aforesaid, that it is a fit case for the issue of such
notice.
(b) In a case other than a case falling under -clause (a), no notice shall be issued under subsection (1) by an Assessing Officer, who is below the rank of 101[Joint] Commissioner, after the
expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the 101[joint]
Commissioner is satisfied, on the reasons recorded by such Assessing Officer, that it is a fit case
for the issue of such notice.]
31
[(2) Nothing contained in this section limiting the time within which any proceeding for
assessment or reassessment may be commenced, shall apply to an assessment or reassessment
to be made on such person in consequence of or to give effect to any finding or direction
contained in an order under section 23, 24, 25, 27 or 29 32[or by a court in any proceedings
under any other law]:
Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in any case where any such
assessment or reassessment relates to an assessment year in respect of which an assessment or
reassessment could not have been made at the time the order which was the subject-matter of
the appeal, reference or revision, as the case may be, was made by reason of any provision
limiting the time within which any action for assessment or reassessment may be taken.]
125[17A. Time limit for completion of assessment and reassessment

105
[(1) No order of assessment shall be made under section 16 at any time after the expiry of
two years from the end of the assessment year in which the net wealth was first assessable:
126
[Provided that,-
(a) where the net wealth was first assessable in the assessment year commencing on the 1st
day of April, 1987, or any earlier assessment year, such assessment may be made on or before
the 31st day of March, 1991;
(b) where the net wealth was first assessable in the assessment year commencing on the 1st
day of April, 1988, such assessment may be made on or before the 31st day of March, 1992.]
(2) No order of assessment or reassessment shall be made under section 17 after the expiry of
127
[one year] from the end of the financial year in which the notice under sub-section (1) of that
section was served:
126A
[Provided that where the notice under sub-section (1) of section 17 was served on or after
the 1st day of April, 1999 but before the 1st day of April, 2000, such assessment or
reassessment may be made at any time up to the 31st day of March, 2002.]
126B
[***]]
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), an order of fresh
assessment in pursuance of an order passed on or after the1st day of April, 1975, under section
127A
[23A], section 24 or section 25, setting aside or cancelling an assessment, may be made at
any time before the expiry of 127[one year] from the end of the financial year in which the order
under section 127A[23A] or section 24 is received by the 128[Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner] or, as the case may be, the order under section 25 is passed by the
Commissioner:
128A
[Provided that where the order under section 23A or section 24 is received by the Chief
Commissioner or Commissioner or, as the case may be, the order under section 25 is passed by
the Commissioner, on or after the 1st day of April, 1999 but before the 1st day of April, 2000,
such an order of fresh assessment may be made at any time up to the 31st day of March, 2002.]
(4) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall not apply to the assessment or reassessment
made on the assessee or any other person in consequence of, or to give effect to, any finding or
direction contained in an order under section 23, section 24, section 25, section 27 or section 29
or in an order of any court in a proceeding otherwise than by way of appeal or reference under
this Act, and such assessment or reassessment may, subject to the provisions of sub-section
(3), be completed at any time.
Explanation1.- In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section(i) the time taken in reopening the whole or any part of the proceeding or in giving an
opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 39, or
(ii) the period during which the assessment proceeding is stayed by an order or injunction of any
court, or
129
[(iia) the period (not exceeding sixty days) commencing from the date on which the
[Assessing] Officer received the declaration under sub-section (1) of section 18C and ending
with the date on which the order under sub-section (3) of that section is made by him, or]
34
(iii) in a case where an application made before the Wealth-tax Settlement Commission under
section 22C is rejected by it or is not allowed to be proceeded with by it, the period commencing
from the date on which such application is made and ending with the date on which the order
under sub-section (1) of section 22D is received by the Commissioner under sub-section (2) of
that section,
shall be excluded:
130
[Provided that where immediately after the exclusion of the aforesaid time or period, the
period of limitation referred to in sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) available to the Assessing Officer
for making an order of assessment or reassessment, as the case may be, is less than sixty days,
such remaining period shall be extended to sixty days and the aforesaid period of limitation shall
be deemed to be extended accordingly.]
Explanation 2.- Where, by an order referred to in sub-section (4), any asset is excluded from the
net wealth of one person and held to be the asset of another person, then, an assessment in
respect of such asset on such other person. shall, for the purposes of sub-section (2) of section
17 and this section, be deemed to be one made in consequence of, or to give effect to, any
finding or direction contained in the said order, provided such other person was given an
opportunity of being heard before the said order was passed.]
32[17B. Interest for defaults in furnishing return of net wealth
(1) Where the return of net wealth for any assessment year under sub-section (1) of section 14
or section 15, or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 16, is
furnished after the due date, or is not furnished, the assessee shall be liable to pay simple
interest at the rate of 32A[one and one-fourth per cent] for every month or part of a month
comprised in the period commencing on the date immediately following the due date, and,(a) where the return is furnished after the due date, ending on the date of furnishing of the
return, or
(b) where no return has been furnished, ending on the date of completion of the assessment
under sub-section (5) of section 16,
on the amount of tax payable on the net wealth as determined

section 16, or] on regular assessment.
120
[under sub-section (1) of
Explanation 1.- In this section, "due date" means the date specified in sub-section (1) of section
14 as applicable in the case of the assessee.
44
[Explanation 2.- In this sub-section, "tax payable on the net wealth as determined under subsection (1) of section 16" shall not include the additional wealth-tax, if any, payable under
section 16.]
Explanation 3.- Where, in relation to an assessment year, an assessment is made for the first
time under section 17, the assessment so made shall be regarded as a regular assessment for
the purposes of this section.
120
[Explanation 4.- In this sub-section, "tax payable on the net wealth as determined under subsection (1) of section 16 or on regular assessment" shall, for the purposes of computing the
interest payable under section 15B, be deemed to be tax payable on the net wealth as declared
in the return.]
(2) The interest payable under sub-section (1) shall be reduced by the interest, if any, paid
under section 15B towards the interest chargeable under this section.
(3) Where the return of net wealth for any assessment year, required by a notice under subsection (1) of section 17, issued 120[after the determination of net wealth under sub-section (1)
of section 16, or] after the completion of an assessment under sub-section (3) or sub-section (5)
of section 16 or section 17, is furnished after the expiry of the time allowed under such notice,
or is not furnished, the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of 32A[one and
one-fourth per cent] for every month or part of a month comprised in the period commencing on
the day immediately following the expiry of the time allowed as aforesaid, and,(a) where the return is furnished after the expiry of the time aforesaid, ending on the date of
furnishing the return; or
(b) where no return has been furnished, ending on the date of completion of the reassessment
under section 17,
on the amount by which the tax on the net wealth determined on the basis of such reassessment
exceeds the tax on the net wealth as determined 120[under sub-section (1) of section 16 or] on
the basis of the earlier assessment aforesaid.
120A
[***]
(4) Where, as a result of an order under section 23 or section 24 or section 25 or section 27 or

section 29 or section 35 or any order of the Wealth-tax Settlement Commission under subsection (4) of section 22D, the amount of tax on which interest was payable under this section
has been increased or reduced, as the case may be, the interest shall be increased or reduced
accordingly, and,(i) in a case where the interest is increased, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a
notice of demand in the prescribed form specifying the sum payable, and such notice of demand
shall be deemed to be a notice under section 30 and the provisions of this Act shall apply
accordingly, and
(ii) in a case where the interest is reduced, the excess interest paid, if any, shall be refunded.
(5) The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of assessments for the assessment year
commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989 and subsequent assessment years.]
Foot Notes
1 Extended also to the State of Sikkim w.e.f. 1st. April, 1990; see also Notification No. SO
148(E), dated 23rd. February, 1989.
2 Clause (a) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
3 Substituted for earlier clauses (b), (c) and (d) by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964,
w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
4 Substituted for earlier clause (ca) by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
5 Renumbered by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, as amended by the Finance Act,
1988, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
6 Substituted by the Finance Act, 1969, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1969.
7 Inserted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
8 Substituted for the words "any annuity" by the Finance Act, 1974, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1975.
9 Substituted for the words "Provided that" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1980, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1981.
10 Substituted for the words "or any subsequent assessment year" by the Finance Act, 1982,
12 Inserted by the Finance Act, 1970, w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1969.
13 Substituted for the words "Provided further" by the Finance Act, 1982, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1983.
14 Substituted for the words and brackets "items (i) to (iii)" by the Finance Act, 1974, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1975.
15 Substituted for the words and brackets "items (i) to (v)", by the Finance Act, 1974, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1975.
16. Earlier sub-clause (i) substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1999.
19 Substituted for the word "five" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1999.
20 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "Central Board of Revenue constituted under
the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1924 (4 of 1924)" by the Central Boards of Revenue Act,
1963, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1964.
21 Clause (g) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
22 Clause (gg) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
23 Earlier clause (h) substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
25 Earlier clause (hb) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987.
26 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Extension to Union Territories) Regulation, 1963, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1963.
27 Substituted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
28. Earlier clause (k) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988.
29 Clause (l) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
30 Clause (la) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, as amended by the
Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
31 Inserted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
32 Inserted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
32A. Substituted for the words "two per cent" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st June, 2001.
34 Substituted for the words "Wealth-tax" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
35 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 15th. November, 1972.
36 Substituted for the words and figure "section 16" by the Finance Act, 1990, w.r.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
37 Substituted for the words and figure "clause (11) of section 2" by the Wealth-tax
(Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
38 Clause (i) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
39 Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 15th. November, 1972.
40 Earlier clause (s) substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
41 Substituted for the words "Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act" by the Direct
Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
42 Substituted for the words "financial year" by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1965.
43 Substituted for the words "the Schedule" by the Finance Act, 1976, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1977.
44 Substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
45 Substituted for earlier sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act,
1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
47 The words "to whom such assets have been transferred by the individual, directly or
indirectly, otherwise than for adequate consideration" omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1993.
48 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
49 The words "or minor child (not being a married daughter) or both" omitted by the Finance
Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
50 The words "or the son's minor child," omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1993.
52 Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1972.
53 Earlier clause (b) substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
54 Substituted for the words "interest in the firm" by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1993.
55 Earlier proviso substituted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
56 Substituted for the words and brackets "into the common stock of the family (such property
being hereinafter referred to as the converted property)" by the Finance Act, 1979, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1980.
57 The words "in so far as it is attributable to the interest of the individual in the property of the
family" omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
58 Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
59 The words "or minor child" omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
60 Earlier sub-section (3) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
61 Substituted for the Explanation by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1965.
62 Substituted for earlier sub-section (7) by the Finance (No.2) Act, 1996, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1997.
63 The word "and" omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1972.
64 The word "and" omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1976.
65 Clause (d) omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
66 The words "(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A)", omitted by the Finance Act,
1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
67 Substituted for the words "Wealth-tax shall not be payable by an assessee in respect of the
following assets" by the Finance Act, 1970, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1971.
68 Proviso re-enacted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
69 The words, brackets and numbers "clause (22) or clause (22A) or" omitted by the Finance
(No.2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1999.
70 Substituted for the words "any one building in the occupation of a Ruler declared by the
Central Government as his official residence" by the Rulers of Indian States (Abolition of
Privileges) Act, 1972, w.r.e.f. 28th. December, 1971.
71 Clauses (iv) to (xiii) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
72 Clause renumbered by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
73 Inserted by the Rulers of Indian States (Abolition of Privileges) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 9th.
September, 1972.
74 Earlier clauses (xv) to (xxxii) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
76 Renumbered by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
77 Earlier sub-section (2) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
81 Earlier clause (vi) substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1999.
82 Earlier clause (xxxiv) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
83 Earlier sub-section (1A) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
87 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "sub-section (3) of section 4" by the Wealthtax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
89 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "clause (4A)" by the Direct Tax Laws
90 Earlier section 7 substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
91 Proviso omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
92 Earlier section 8 substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, 1st. April, 1988.
93 Earlier section 9 substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988.
94 Earlier section 10 substituted by the Direct Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1988.
95 Substituted for the figures "16, 17" by the Finance Act, 1990, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1990.
96 Earlier section 11 substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1988.
97 Substituted for the figure and brackets "(5)" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989,
w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1988
98 Substituted for the words "Director of Inspection" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
99 Substituted for the words "Commissioner of Wealth-tax", by the Direct Tax Laws
100 Substituted for the words "Inspecting Assistant Commissioner," by the Direct Tax Laws
101 Substituted for the word "Deputy" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October,
1998.
102 Substituted for the words "Commissioner of Wealth-tax," by the Direct Tax Laws
103 Substituted for the words "Inspecting Assistant Commissioner of Wealth-tax", by the Direct
Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
104 See Form BA of the Wealth Tax Rules.
105 Earlier sub-sections (1) & (2) substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
106 Sub-section (3) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
107 Earlier section 15 substituted by the Direct Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
108 Earlier item (a) substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
109 Earlier section 15B substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
110 Inserted by the Direct Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
111 Earlier section 16 substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
112 Earlier sub-section (1) substituted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1999.
113 Sub-sections (1A) and (1B) omitted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1999.
114 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "in a case referred to in sub-section (1), if
the Assessing Officer" by the Direct Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
115 The words "he shall" omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1989.
116 Earlier proviso substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1991.
117 Substituted for the words "before the end of the relevant assessment year" by the Finance
Act, 1990, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1990.
118 Earlier sub-section (7) and Explanation omitted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1st. June,
1999.
119 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
120A Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f 1st. April, 1989.
120B Clauses (a) and (b) substituted by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st June, 2001. Earlier
clauses (a) and (b) stood as under: "(a) in a case where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 16 or sub-section (1) of this
section has been made for such assessment year,(i) if four years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the case falls
under sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii);
(ii) if four years, but not more than seven years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant
assessment year, unless the net wealth chargeable to tax which has escaped assessment
amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees five lakhs or more for that year;
(iii) if seven years, but not more than ten years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant
assessment year, unless the net wealth chargeable to tax which has. escaped assessment
amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees ten lakhs or more for that year;
(b)
in any other case,(i) if four years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the case falls
under sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii);
(ii) if four years, but not more than seven years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant
amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees two lakhs and fifty thousand or more for that year;
(iii) if seven years, but not more than ten years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant
amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees five lakhs or more for that year."
121 Earlier sub-section (1) substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1989.
122 Substituted for the words "for reasons to be recorded by him in writing, is of the opinion" by
the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
123 Substituted for the words "except by an Assessing Officer of the rank of Assistant
Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner" by the Finance Act, 1990, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1990.
124 Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
125 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1976 except
clause (iii) of Explanation 1 which is w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
126 Earlier proviso substituted by the Finance Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
126A. Proviso substituted by the Finance Act, 2001 w.e.f. 1st June, 2001. The proviso read as
under:
"Provided that,-
(i) where the notice under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 17 was served during the
financial year commencing on the 1st day of April 1985, or the 1st day of April, 1986, such
assessment or reassessment may be completed on or before the 31st day of March, 1990;
(ii) where the notice under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 17 relates to the assessment
for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1985, or the1st day of April, 1986,
such assessment or reassessment may be completed on or before the 31st day of March 1990,
or the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which such notice was served,
whichever is later."
126B. The Explanation omitted by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f.1st June, 2001. The Explanation
read as under: "Explanation-References to section 17 in the proviso shall be construed as references to that
section as it stood before amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987."
127. Substituted for the words "two years" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st. June, 2001.
127A. Substituted for the figure "23" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st. June, 2001.
128 Substituted for the word "Commissioner" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
128A. Proviso substituted by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st June, 2001. Erstwhile proviso
stood as under: "Provided that where the order setting aside or cancelling an assessment was passed during the
financial year commencing on the1st day of April, 1985, or the 1st day of April, 1986, the order
of fresh assessment may be made on or before the 31st day of March, 1990."
129 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
130 Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 27th. September, 1991.
131[18. Penalty for failure to furnish returns, to comply with notices and concealment
of assets, etc.132
(1) If the 133[Assessing] Officer, 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 135[Commissioner
(Appeals),] 136[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] or Appellate Tribunal in the course of any
proceedings under this Act is satisfied that any person137
[***]
(b) has
16; or
138
[***] failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (2) or sub-section (4) of section
(c) has concealed the particulars of any assets or furnished inaccurate particulars of any assets
or debts,
he or it may, by order in writing, direct that such person shall pay by way of penalty139
[***]
140
[(ii) in the cases referred to in clause (b), in addition to the amount of wealth-tax payable by
him, a sum which shall not be less than one thousand rupees but which may extend to twentyfive thousand rupees for each such failure;]
141
[(iii) in the cases referred to in clause (c), in addition to any wealth-tax payable by him, a
sum which shall not be less than, but which shall not exceed five times, the amount of tax
sought to be evaded by reason of the concealment of particulars of any assets or the furnishing
of inaccurate particulars in respect of any assets or debts:
140
[Provided that in the cases referred to in clause (b), no penalty shall be imposable if the
person proves that there was a reasonable cause for the failure referred to in that clause.]
Explanation 1.- For the purposes of clause (iii) of this sub-section, the expression "the amount of
tax sought to be evaded"(a) in a case to which Explanation 3 applies, means the tax on the net wealth assessed;
(b) in any other case, means the difference between the tax on the net wealth assessed and the
tax that would have been chargeable had the net wealth assessed been reduced by the amount
which represents the value of any assets in respect of which particulars have been concealed or
inaccurate particulars have been furnished and of any debts in respect of which inaccurate
particulars have been furnished.
Explanation 2.- Where in respect of any facts material to the computation of the net wealth of
any person under this Act,(A) such person fails to offer an explanation or offers an explanation which is found by the
133
[Assessing] Officer or the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or the Commissioner
(Appeals)], to be false, or
(B) such person offers an explanation which he is not able to substantiate 142[and fails to prove
that such explanation is bona fide and that, all the facts relating to the same and material to the
computation of his net wealth have been disclosed by him],
then, the amount added or disallowed in computing the net wealth of such person as a result
thereof shall, for the purposes of clause (c) of this sub-section, be deemed to represent the
value of the assets in respect of which particulars have been concealed.
143
140
[***]
[Explanation 3.- Where any person who has not previously been assessed under this Act, fails,
without reasonable cause, to furnish within the period specified in sub-section (1) of section
17A, a return of his net wealth which he is required to furnish under section 14 in respect of any
assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1989, and until the expiry of the
period aforesaid no notice has been issued to him under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section
16 or sub-section (1) of section 17 and the Assessing Officer or the Deputy Commissioner
(Appeals) or the Commissioner (Appeals) is satisfied that in respect of such assessment year
such person has assessable net wealth, then, such person shall, for the purposes of clause (c) of
this sub-section, be deemed to have concealed the particulars of his assets or furnished
inaccurate particulars of any assets or debts in respect of such assessment year,
notwithstanding that such person furnishes a return of his net wealth at any time after the
expiry of either of the periods aforesaid applicable to him in pursuance of a notice under section
17.]
Explanation 4.- Where the value of any asset returned by any person is less than seventy per
cent of the value of such asset as determined in an assessment under section 16 or section 17,
such person shall be deemed to have furnished inaccurate particulars of such asset within the
meaning of clause (c) of this sub-section, unless he proves that the value of the asset as
returned by him is the correct value.]
144
[Explanation 5.- Where in the course of a search under section 37A, the assessee is found to
be the owner of any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing (hereafter in this
Explanation referred to as assets) and the assessee claims that such assets represent or form
part of his net wealth,(a) on any valuation date falling before the date of the search, but the return in respect of the
net wealth on such date has not been furnished before the date of the search or, where such
return has been furnished before the said date, such assets have not been declared in such
return; or
(b) on any valuation date falling on or after the date of the search, then, notwithstanding that
such assets are declared by him in any return of net wealth furnished on or after the date of the
search, he shall, for the purposes of imposition of a penalty under clause (c) of sub-section (1)
of this section, be deemed to have concealed the particulars of such assets or furnished
inaccurate particulars of such assets, 145[unless(1) such assets are recorded,(i) in a case falling under clause (a), before the date of the search; and
(ii) in a case falling under clause (b), on or before such date,
in the books of account, if any, maintained by him or such assets are otherwise disclosed to the
136
[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] before the said date; or
(2) he, in the c curse of the search, makes a statement under sub-section (4) of section 37A
that any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing found in his possession or
under his control, forms part of his net wealth which has not been disclosed so far in his return
of net wealth to be furnished before the expiry of the time specified in sub-section (1) of section
14, and also specifies in the statement the manner in which such net wealth has been acquired
and pays the tax, together with interest, if any, in respect of such net wealth].]
146
[Explanation 6.- Where any adjustment is made in the wealth declared in the return under the
proviso to clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 16 and additional wealth-tax charged under
that section, the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in relation to the adjustments so
made.]
147
[(1A) ***]
(2) No order shall be made under sub-section (1) unless the person concerned has been given a
reasonable opportunity of being heard.
147
[(2A) and (2B) ***]
140
[(3) No order imposing a penalty under sub-section (1) shall be made,-
(i) by the Income-tax Officer, where the penalty exceeds ten thousand rupees;
(ii) by the Assistant Commissioner 148[or Deputy Commissioner], where the penalty exceeds
twenty thousand rupees, except with the prior approval of the 149[Joint] Commissioner.]
150
[***]
(4) A 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 135[a Commissioner (Appeals),] a 136[Chief

Commissioner or Commissioner] or the Appellate Tribunal on making an order under this section
imposing a penalty, shall forthwith send a copy of the same to the 133[Assessing] Officer.
140
[(5) No order imposing a penalty under this section shall be passed-
(i) in a case where the assessment to which the proceedings for imposition of penalty relate is
the subject-matter of an appeal to the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or the Commissioner
(Appeals) under section 23 or an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (2) of
section 24, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceedings, in the course of which
action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed, or six months from the
end of the month in which the order of the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or, the
Commissioner (Appeals) or, as the case may be, the Appellate Tribunal is received by the Chief
Commissioner or Commissioner, whichever is later;
(ii) in a case where the relevant assessment is the subject-matter of revision under sub-section
(2) of section 25, after the expiry of six months from the end of the month in which such order
of revision is passed;
(iii) in any other case, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceedings, in the
course of which action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed, or six
months from the end of the month in which action for imposition of penalty is initiated,
whichever period expires later.
Explanation.- In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section,(i) any period during which the immunity granted under section 22H remained in force;
(ii) the time taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to
section 39; and
(iii) any period during which a proceeding under this section for the levy of penalty is stayed by
an order or injunction of any court,
shall be excluded.
(6) The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the
Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989 shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the
assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year and
references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be construed as references to
those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the relevant assessment year.]
140
[18A. Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information,
allow inspection, etc.
(1) If any person,-
(a) being legally bound to state the truth of any matter touching the subject of his assessment,
refuses to answer any question put to him by a wealth-tax authority in the exercise of his
powers under this Act, or
(b) refuses to sign any statement made by him in the course of any proceedings under this Act,
which a wealth-tax authority may legally require him to sign; or
(c) to whom a summons is issued under sub-section (1) of section 37 either to attend to give
evidence or produce books of account or other documents at a certain place and time, omits to
attend or produce the books of account or documents at the place and time,
he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but
which may extend to ten thousand rupees for each such default or failure:
Provided that no penalty shall be imposable under clause (c) if the person proves that there was
reasonable cause for the said failure.
(2) If a person fails to furnish in due time any statement or information which such person is
bound to furnish to the Assessing Officer under section 38, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a
sum which shall not be less than one hundred rupees but which may extend to two hundred
rupees for every day during which the failure continues:
Provided that no penalty shall be imposable under this sub-section if the person proves that
there was reasonable cause for the said failure.
(3) Any penalty imposable under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be imposed(a) in a case where the contravention, failure or default in respect of which such penalty is
imposable occurs in the course of any proceeding before a wealth-tax authority not lower in rank
than a 149[Joint] Director or a 149[Joint] Commissioner, by such wealth-tax authority;
(b) in any other case, by the
149
[Joint] Director or the
149
[Joint] Commissioner.
(4) No order under this section shall be passed by any wealth-tax authority referred to in subsection (3) unless the person on whom the penalty is proposed to be imposed has been heard,
or has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter, by such authority.
Explanation.- In this section, "wealth-tax authority" includes a Director General, Director,
149
[Joint] Director, Assistant Director 151[or Deputy Director] and a Valuation Officer while
exercising the powers vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908),
when trying a suit in respect of the matters specified in sub-section (1) of section 37.]
152[ 18B. Power to reduce or waive penalty in certain cases
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the
discretion, whether on his own motion or otherwise,139
136 153
[***] Commissioner] may, in his
[***]
(ii) reduce or waive the amount of penalty imposed or imposable on a person under clause (iii)
of sub-section (1) of section 18,
if he is satisfied that such person,-
154
[***]
(b) in the case referred to in clause (ii), has, prior to the detection by the 133[Assessing] Officer,
of the concealment of particulars of assets or of the inaccuracy of particulars furnished in respect
of any asset or debt in respect of which the penalty is imposable, voluntarily and in good faith
made full and true disclosure of such particulars,
and also has co-operated in any inquiry relating to the assessment of his net wealth and has
either paid or made satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any tax or interest payable in
consequence of an order passed under this Act in respect of the relevant assessment year.
Explanation 155[***] For the purposes of this sub-section, a person shall be deemed to have
made full and true disclosure of the particulars of his assets or debts in any case where the
excess of net wealth assessed over the net wealth returned is of such a nature as not to attract
the provisions of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 18.
156
[***]
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if in a case falling under clause (c) of
sub-section (1) of section 18, the net wealth in respect of which the penalty is imposed or
imposable for the relevant assessment year, or, where such disclosure relates to more than one
assessment year, the net wealth for any one of the relevant assessment years, exceeds five
hundred thousand rupees, no order reducing or waiving the penalty under sub-section (1) shall
be made by the 157[Commissioner except with the previous approval of the Chief Commissioner
or Director General, as the case may be].
(3) Where an order has been made under sub-section (1) in favour of any person, whether such
order relates to one or more assessment. years, he shall not be entitled to any relief under this
section in relation to any other assessment year at any time after the making of such order:
158
[Provided that where an order has been made in favour of any person under sub-section (1)
on or before the 24th day of July, 1991, such person shall be entitled to further relief only once
in relation to other assessment year or years if he makes an application to the wealth-tax
authority referred to in sub-section (4) at any time before the 1st day of April, 1992.]
(4) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on him by any other provision of this Act, the
136 159
[ [***] Commissioner] may, on an application made in this behalf by an assessee, and after
recording his reasons for so doing, reduce or waive the amount of any penalty payable by the
assessee under this Act or stay or compound any proceeding for the recovery of any such
amount, if he is satisfied that(i) to do otherwise would cause genuine hardship to the assessee, having regard to the
circumstances of the case, and
(ii) the assessee has co-operated in any inquiry relating to the assessment or any proceeding for
the recovery of any amount due from him.
(5) Every order made under this section shall be final and shall not be called into question by
any court or any other authority.]
146
[(6) The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the
Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the
assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year, and
references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be construed as references to
those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the relevant assessment year.]
18C. Procedure when assessee claims identical question of law is pending before High
Court or Supreme Court
160
[(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where an assessee claims that any
question of law arising in his case for an assessment year which is pending before the
133
[Assessing] Officer or any appellate authority (such case being hereafter in this section
referred to as the relevant case) is identical with a question of law arising in his case for another
assessment year which is pending before the High Court or the Supreme Court on a reference
under section 27 or in appeal before the Supreme Court under section 29 (such case being
hereafter in this section referred to as the other case), he may furnish to the 133[Assessing]
Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, a declaration in the prescribed form and
verified in the prescribed manner, that if the 133[Assessing] Officer or the appellate authority, as
the case may be, agrees to apply to the relevant case the final decision on the question of law in
the other case, he shall not raise such question of law in the relevant case in appeal before any
appellate authority or for a reference before the High Court or the Supreme Court under section
27 or in appeal before the Supreme Court under section 29.
(2) Where a declaration under sub-section (1) is furnished to any appellate authority, the
appellate authority shall call for a report from the 133[Assessing] Officer on the correctness of the
claim made by the assessee and, where the 133[Assessing] Officer makes a request to the
appellate authority to give him an opportunity of being heard in the matter, the appellate
authority shall allow him such opportunity.
(3) The 133[Assessing] Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, may, by order in
writing,(i) admit the claim of the assessee if he or it is satisfied that the question of law arising in the
relevant case is identical with the question of law in the other case; or
(ii) reject the claim if he or it is not so satisfied.
(4) Where a claim is admitted under sub-section (3),(a) the 133[Assessing] Officer or, as the case may be, the appellate authority may make an order
disposing of the relevant case without awaiting the final decision on the question of law in the
other case; and
(b) the assessee shall not be entitled to raise, in relation to the relevant case, such question of
law in appeal before any appellate authority or for a reference before the High Court or the
Supreme Court under section 27 or in appeal before the Supreme Court under section 29.
(5) When the decision on the question of law in the other case becomes final, it shall be applied
to the relevant case and the 133[Assessing Officer] or the appellate authority, as the case may
be, shall, if necessary, amend the order referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (4) conformably
to such decision.
(6) An order under sub-section (3) shall be final and shall not be called in question in any
proceeding by way of appeal, reference or revision under this Act.
Explanation.- In this section,-
(a) "appellate authority" means the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], or the Commissioner
(Appeals) or the Appellate Tribunal;
(b) "case", in relation to an assessee, means any proceeding under this Act for the assessment
of the net wealth of the assessee or for the imposition of any penalty on him.]
19. Tax of deceased person payable by legal representative
(1) Where a person dies, his executor, administrator or other legal representative shall be liable
to pay out of the estate of the deceased person, to the extent to which the estate is capable of
meeting the charge, the wealth-tax assessed as payable by such person, or any sum, which
would have been payable by him under this Act if he had not died.
(2) Where a person dies without having furnished a return under the provisions of section 14 or
after having furnished a return which the 133[Assessing] Officer has reason to believe to be
incorrect or incomplete, the 133[Assessing] Officer may make an assessment. of the net wealth of
such person and determine the wealth-tax payable by the person on the basis of such
assessment, and for this purpose may, by the issue of the appropriate notice which would have
had to be served upon the deceased person if he had survived, require, from the executor,
administrator or other legal representative of the deceased person any accounts, documents or
other evidence which might under the provisions of section 16 have been required from the
deceased person.
(3) The provisions of sections 14, 15 and 17 shall apply to an executor, administrator or other
legal representative as they apply to any person referred to in those sections.
161
[19A. Assessment in the case of executors
(1) Subject as hereinafter provided, the net wealth of the estate of a deceased person shall be
chargeable to tax in the hands of the executor or executors.
(2) The executor or executors shall for the purposes of this Act be treated as an individual.
(3) The status of the executor or executors shall for the purposes of this Act as regards
residence and citizenship be the same as that of the deceased on the valuation date immediately
preceding his death.
(4) The assessment of an executor under this section shall be made separately from any
assessment that may be made on him in respect of his own net wealth or on the net wealth of
the deceased under section 19.
(5) Separate assessments shall be made under this section in respect of the net wealth as on
each valuation date as is included in the period from the date of the death of the deceased to
the date of complete distribution to the beneficiaries of the estate according to their several
interests.
(6) In computing the net wealth on any valuation date under this section, any assets of the
estate distributed to, or applied to the benefit of, any specific legatee of the estate prior to that
valuation date shall be excluded, but the assets so excluded shall, to the extent such assets are
held by the legatee on any valuation date, be included in the net wealth of such specific legatee
on that valuation date.
Explanation.- In this section "executor" includes an administrator or other person administering

the estate of a deceased person.]
20. Assessment after partition of a Hindu undivided family
(1) Where, at the time of making an assessment, it is brought to the notice of the 133[Assessing]
Officer that a partition has taken place among the members of a Hindu undivided family, and the
133
[Assessing] Officer, after inquiry, is satisfied that the joint family property has been
partitioned as a whole among the various members or groups of members in definite portions,
he shall record an order to that effect and shall make assessment on the net wealth of the
undivided family as such for the assessment year or years, including the year relevant to the
previous year in which the partition has taken place, if the partition has taken place on the last
day of the previous year and each member or group of members shall be liable jointly and
severally for the tax assessed on the net wealth of the joint family as such.
(2) Where the 133[Assessing] Officer is not so satisfied, he may, by order, declare that such
family shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to continue to be a Hindu undivided family
liable to be assessed as such.
162[20A. Assessment after partial partition of a Hindu undivided family

Where a partial partition has taken place after the 31st day of December, 1978, among the
members of a Hindu undivided family hitherto assessed as undivided,(a) such family shall continue to be liable to be assessed under this Act as if no such partial
partition had taken place;
(b) each member or group of members of such family immediately before such partial partition
and the family shall be jointly and severally liable for any tax, penalty, interest, fine or other
sum payable under this Act by the family in respect of any period, whether before or after such
partial partition;
(c) the several liability of any member or group of members aforesaid shall be computed
according to the portion of the joint family property allotted to him or it at such partial partition,
and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, "partial partition" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in clause (b) of the Explanation to section 171 of the Income-tax Act.]
21. Assessment when assets are held by courts of wards, administrators-general, etc.
(1) 163[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A), in the case of assets chargeable to tax
under this Act], which are held by a court of wards or an administrator-general or an official
trustee or any receiver or manager or any other person, by whatever name called, appointed
under any order of a court to manage property on behalf of another, or any trustee appointed
under a trust declared by a duly executed instrument in writing, whether testamentary or
otherwise (including a trustee under a valid deed of wakf), the wealth-tax shall be levied upon
and recoverable from the court of wards, administrator-general, official trustee, receiver,
manager or trustee, as the case may be, in the like manner and to the same extent as it would
be leviable upon and recoverable from the person on whose behalf 161[or for whose benefit] the
assets are held, and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
164
[Explanation.- A trust which is not declared by a duly executed instrument in writing

(including a valid deed of wakf) shall be deemed, for the purposes of this sub-section, to be a
trust declared by a duly executed instrument in writing if a statement in writing, signed by the
trustee or trustees, setting out the purpose or purposes of the trust, particulars as to the trustee
or trustees, the beneficiary or beneficiaries and the trust property, is forwarded to the
133
[Assessing] Officer,(i) where the trust has been declared before the 1st day of June, 1981, within a period of three
months from that day; and
(ii) in any other case, within three months from the date of declaration of the trust.]
162
[(1A) Where the value or aggregate value of the interest or interests of the person or persons
on whose behalf or for whose benefit such assets are held falls short of the value of any such
assets, then, in addition to the wealth-tax leviable and recoverable under sub-section (1), the
wealth-tax shall be levied upon and recovered from the court of wards, administrator-general,
official trustee, receiver, manager or other person or trustee of aforesaid in respect of the value
of such assets, to the extent it exceeds the value or aggregate value of such interest or
interests, as if such excess value were the net wealth of an individual who is a citizen of India
and resident in India for the purposes of this Act, and(i) at the rates specified in Part I of Schedule I; or
(ii) at the rate of three per cent,
whichever course would be more beneficial to the revenue.]
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall prevent either the direct assessment of the person
on whose behalf 161[or for whose benefit] the assets above referred to are held, or the recovery
from such person of the tax payable in respect of such assets.
(3) Where the guardian or trustee of any person being a minor, lunatic or idiot 165[***] holds
any assets on behalf 161[or for the benefit] of such beneficiary, the tax under this Act shall be
levied upon and recoverable from such guardian or trustee, as the case may be, in the like
manner and to the same extent as it would be leviable upon and recoverable from any such
beneficiary if of full age, of sound mind and in direct ownership of such assets.
166
[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in 164[the foregoing provisions of] this section, where
the shares of the persons on whose behalf or for whose benefit any such assets are held are
indeterminate or unknown, the wealth-tax shall be levied upon and recovered from the court of
wards, administrator-general, official trustee, receiver, manager, or other person aforesaid 167[as
the case may be, in the like manner and to the same extent as it would be leviable upon and
recoverable from an individual who is a citizen of India and resident in India] for the purposes of
this Act, and(a) at the rates specified in Part I of
(b) at the rate of
170
168
[Schedule I]
169
[***]; or
[three per cent],
whichever course would be more beneficial to the revenue:
Provided that in a case where(i) such assets are held 171[under a trust declared by any person by will and such trust is the
only trust so declared by him] or
162
[(ia) none of the beneficiaries has net wealth exceeding the amount not chargeable to wealthtax in the case of an individual who is a citizen of India and resident in India for the purposes of
this Act or is a beneficiary under any other trust; or
(ii) such assets are held under a trust created before the 1st day of March, 1970, by a nontestamentary instrument and the 133[Assessing] Officer is satisfied, having regard to all the
circumstances existing at the relevant time, that the trust was created bona fide exclusively for
the benefit of the relatives of the settlor or where the settlor is a Hindu undivided family,
exclusively for the benefit of the members of such family, in circumstances where such relatives
or members were mainly dependent on the settlor for their support and maintenance; or
(iii) such assets are held by the trustees on behalf of a provident fund, superannuation fund,
gratuity fund, pension fund or any other fund, created bona fide by a person carrying on a
business or profession exclusively for the benefit of persons employed in such business or
profession, wealth-tax shall be charged at the rates specified in Part I of 168[Schedule I]
169
[***].]
162
[Explanation 1.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the shares of the persons on whose
behalf or for whose benefit any such assets are held shall be deemed to be indeterminate or
unknown unless the shares of the persons on whose behalf or, for whose benefit such assets are
held on the relevant valuation date are expressly stated in the order of the court or instrument
of trust or deed of wakf, as the case may be, and are ascertainable as such on the date of such
order, instrument or deed.]
172
[Explanation 173[2].- Notwithstanding anything contained in section 5, in computing the net

wealth 174[for the purposes of this sub-section or sub-section (4A) in any case, not being a case
referred to in the proviso to this sub-section], any assets referred to in clauses (xv), (xvi), (xxii),
(xxiii), (xxiv), (xxv), (xxvi), (xxvii), (xxviii) and (xxix) of sub-section (1) of that section shall not
be excluded.]
164
[(4A) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where the assets chargeable to tax
under this Act are held by a trustee under an oral trust, the wealth-tax shall be levied upon and
recovered from such trustee in the like manner and to the same extent as it would be leviable
upon and recoverable from an individual who is a citizen of India and resident in India for the
purposes of this Act, and(a) at the rates specified in Part I of Schedule I; or
(b) at the rate of three per cent,
whichever course would be more beneficial to the revenue.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, "oral trust" means a trust which is not
declared by a duly executed instrument in writing (including a valid deed of wakf) and which is
not deemed under the Explanation to sub-section (1) to be a trust declared by a duly executed
instrument in writing.]
161
[(5) Any person who pays any sum by virtue of the provisions of this section in respect of the
net wealth of any beneficiary, shall be entitled to recover the sum so paid from such beneficiary,
and may retain out of any assets that he may hold on behalf or for the benefit of such
beneficiary, an amount equal to the sum so paid.
Explanation.- In this section, the term "beneficiary" means any person including a minor, lunatic
or idiot on whose behalf or for whose benefit assets are held by any other person.]
175
[(6) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the
assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993 or any subsequent assessment
year.]
176[21A. Assessment in cases of diversion of property, or of income from property,
held under trust for public charitable or religious purposes
177
[Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (i) of section 5, where any property is held]
under trust for any public purpose of a charitable or religious nature in India and178
[(i) any part of such property or any income of such trust [whether derived from such
property or from voluntary contributions referred to in sub-clause (iia) of clause (24) of section 2
of the Income-tax Act] is used or applied, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of 179[any person
referred to in sub-section (3) of section 13 of the Income-tax Act], or
(ii) any part of the income of the trust [whether derived from such property or from voluntary
contributions referred to in sub-clause (iia) of clause (24) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act],
being a trust created on or after the 1st day of April, 1962, endures, directly or indirectly, for the
benefit of 179[any person referred to in sub-section (3) of section 13 of the said Act, or]
179
[(iii) any funds of the trust are invested or deposited, or any shares in a company are held by
the trust, in contravention of the provisions of clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the
Income-tax Act,]
wealth-tax shall be leviable upon, and recoverable from, the trustee or manager (by whatever
name called) in the like manner and to the same extent as if the property were held by an
individual who is a citizen of India and resident in India for the purposes of this Act, 180[***]:]
Provided that in the case of a trust created before the 1st day of April, 1962, the provisions of
clause (i) shall not apply to any use or application, whether directly or indirectly, of any part of
such property or any income of such trust for the benefit of 179[any person referred to in subsection (3) of section 13 of the Income-tax Act,] if such use or application is by way of
compliance with a mandatory term of the trust:
181
[***]
182
[Provided
183
[further] that,-
179
[(a) in the case of any association referred to in clause (21) of section 10 of the Income-tax
Act,(i) the provisions of clause (i) and clause (ii) shall not apply; and
(ii) the other provisions of this section shall apply with the modifications that,-
(1) for the words, brackets, letter and figures "in contravention of the provisions of clause (d) of
sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Income-tax Act", the words, brackets and figures "in
contravention of the provisions contained in the proviso to clause (21) of section 10 of the
Income-tax Act" had been substituted; and
(2) for the words "at the maximum marginal rate", the words and figures "at the rates specified
in 184[sub-section (2) of section 3]" had been substituted;]
(b) in the case of any institution, fund or trust referred to in clause (22) or clause (22A) or
clause (23B) or clause (23C) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, the provisions of 179[clauses (i)
to (iii)] shall not apply.]
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section,179
[(a) any part of the property or income of a trust shall be deemed to have been used or
applied for the benefit of any person referred to in sub-section (3) of section 13 of the Incometax Act in every case in which it can be so deemed to have been used or applied within the
meaning of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of that section at any time during the period of twelve
months ending with the relevant valuation date;
185
[***]
(b) "trust" includes any other legal obligation.]

164[21AA. Assessment when assets are held by certain association of persons
(1) Where assets chargeable to tax under this Act are held by an association of persons, other
than a company or co-operative society 186[or society registered under the Societies Registration
Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or under any law corresponding to that Act in force in any part of India],
and the individual shares of the members of the said association in the income or assets or both
of the said association on the date of its formation or at any time thereafter are indeterminate or
unknown, the wealth-tax shall be levied upon and recovered from such association in the like
manner and to the same extent as it would be leviable upon and recoverable from an individual
who is a citizen of India and resident in India for the 187[purposes of this Act 188[***]].
(2) Where any business or profession carried on by an association of persons referred to in subsection (1) has been discontinued or where such association of persons is dissolved, the
133
[Assessing] Officer shall make an assessment of the net wealth of the association of persons
as if no such discontinuance or dissolution had taken place and all the provisions of this Act,
including the provisions relating to the levy of penalty or any other sum chargeable under any
provisions of this Act, so far as may be, shall apply to such assessment.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (2), if the 133[Assessing]
Officer or the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] or the Commissioner (Appeals) in the course
of any proceedings under this Act in respect of any such association of persons as is referred to
in sub-section (1) is satisfied that the association of persons was guilty of any of the acts
specified in section 18 or section 18A, he may impose or direct the imposition of a penalty in
accordance with the provisions of the said sections.
(4) Every person who was at the time of such discontinuance or dissolution a member of the
association of persons, and the legal representative of any such person who is deceased, shall
be jointly and severally liable for the amount of tax, penalty or other sum payable, and all the
provisions of this Act, so far as may be, shall apply to any such assessment or imposition of
penalty or other sum.
(5) Where such discontinuance or dissolution takes place after any proceedings in respect of an
assessment year have commenced, the proceedings may be continued against the persons
referred to in sub-section (4) from the stage at which the proceedings stood at the time of such
discontinuance or dissolution, and all the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply
accordingly.
181
[***]
22. Assessment of persons residing outside India

(1) Where the person liable to tax under this Act resides outside India, the tax may be levied
upon and recovered from his agent, and the agent shall be deemed to be, for all the purposes of
this Act, the assessee in respect of such tax.
(2) Any person employed by or on behalf of a person referred to in sub-section (1) or through
whom such person is in the receipt of any income, profits or gains, or who is in possession or
has custody of any asset of such person and upon whom the 133[Assessing] Officer has caused a
notice to be served of his intention of treating him as the agent of such person shall, for the
purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to be the agent of such person.
189
[***]
161
[(3) No person shall be deemed to be the agent of any person residing outside India unless he
has had an opportunity of being heard by the 133[Assessing] Officer as to his being treated as
such.
(4) Any agent, who, as such, pays any sum under this Act, shall be entitled to recover the sum
so paid from the person on whose behalf it is paid or to retain out of any moneys that may be in
his possession or may come to him in his capacity as such agent, an amount equal to the sum so
paid.
(5) Any agent, or any person who apprehends that he may be assessed as an agent, may retain
out of any money payable by him to the person residing outside India on whose behalf he is
liable to pay tax (hereinafter in this section referred to as the principal), a sum equal to his
estimated liability under this section, and in the event of any disagreement between the principal
and such agent or person, as to the amount to be so retained, such agent or person may secure
from the 133[Assessing] Officer a certificate stating the amount to be so retained pending final
settlement of the liability, and the certificate so obtained shall be his warrant for retaining that
amount.
(6) The amount recoverable from such agent or person at the time of final settlement shall not
exceed the amount specified in such certificate, except to the extent to which such agent or
person may at such time have in his hands additional assets of the principal.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any arrears of tax due from a person
residing outside India may be recovered also in accordance with the provisions of this Act from
any assets of such person which are or may at any time come within India.]
191[22A. Definitions
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,(a) "Bench" means a Bench of the Settlement Commission;
(b) "case" means any proceeding under this Act for the assessment or reassessment of any
person in respect of any year or years, or by way of appeal or revision in connection with such
assessment or reassessment, which may be pending before any wealth-tax authority on the date
on which an application under sub-section (1) of section 22C is made:
Provided that where any appeal or application for revision has been preferred after the expiry of
the period specified for the filing of such appeal or application for revision under this Act and
which has not been admitted, such appeal or revision shall not be deemed to be a proceeding
pending within the meaning of this clause;
(c) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Settlement Commission;
(d) "Member" means a Member of the Settlement Commission, and includes the Chairman and a
Vice-Chairman;
(e) "Settlement Commission" means the Income-tax Settlement Commission constituted under
section 245B of the Income-tax Act; "Vice-Chairman" means a Vice-Chairman of the Settlement
Commission;
(g) "wealth-tax authority" means an income-tax authority specified in section 116 of the
Income-tax Act who is treated as a wealth-tax authority under section 8.]
22B. Wealth-tax Settlement Commission
(1) The Central Government shall constitute a Commission to be called the Wealth-tax
Settlement Commission 192[***] for the settlement of cases under this Chapter.
(2) The Settlement Commission shall consist of a Chairman 193[and as many Vice-Chairmen and
other members as the Central Government thinks fit] and shall function within the Department
of the Central Government dealing with direct taxes.
194
[***]
(3) The Chairman 142[, Vice-Chairman] and other members of the Settlement Commission shall
be appointed by the Central Government from amongst persons of integrity and outstanding
ability, having special knowledge of, and experience in, problems relating to direct taxes and
business accounts:
Provided that where a member of the Board is appointed as the Chairman 142[, Vice-Chairman]
or as a member of the Settlement Commission, he shall cease to be a member of the Board.
143
[***]
195
[22BA. Jurisdiction and powers of Settlement Commission
(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, the jurisdiction, powers and authority of the
Settlement Commission may be exercised by Benches thereof.
(2) Subject to the other provisions of this section, a Bench shall be presided over by the
Chairman or a Vice-Chairman and shall consist of two other Members.
(3) The Bench for which the Chairman is the Presiding Officer shall be the principal Bench and
the other Benches shall be known as additional Benches.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), the Chairman may authorise
the Vice-Chairman or other Member appointed to one Bench to discharge also the functions of
the Vice-Chairman or, as the case may be, other Member of another Bench.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, and subject to
any rules that may be made in this behalf, when one of the persons constituting a Bench
(whether such person be the Presiding Officer or other Member of the Bench) is unable to
discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause or in the event of the
occurrence of any vacancy either in the office of the Presiding Officer or in the office of one or
the other Members of the Bench, the remaining two persons may function as the Bench and if
the Presiding Officer of the Bench is not one of the remaining two persons, the senior among the
remaining persons shall act as the Presiding Officer of the Bench:
Provided that if at any stage of the hearing of any case or matter, it appears to the Presiding
Officer that the case or matter is of such a nature that it ought to be heard by a Bench
consisting of three Members, the case or matter may be referred by the Presiding Officer of such
Bench to the Chairman for transfer to such Bench as the Chairman may deem fit.
196
[(5A) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section the
Chairman may, for the disposal of any particular case, constitute a Special Bench consisting of
more than three Members.]
(6) Subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, the places at which the principal Bench and
the additional Benches shall ordinarily sit, shall be such as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, specify 196[and the Special Bench shall sit at a place to be
fixed by the Chairman.]
195[22BB. Vice-Chairman to act as Chairman or to discharge his functions in certain
circumstances
(1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairman by reason of his
death, resignation or otherwise, the Vice-Chairman or, as the case may be, such one of the ViceChairmen as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, authorise in
this behalf, shall act as the Chairman until the date on which a new Chairman, appointed in
accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to fill such vacancy, enters upon his office.
(2) When the Chairman is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any
other cause, the Vice-Chairman or, as the case may be, such one of the Vice-Chairmen as the
Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, authorise in this behalf, shall
discharge the functions of the Chairman until the date on which the Chairman resumes his
duties.]
195
[22BC. Power of Chairman to transfer cases from one Bench to another
On the application of the assessee or the 136[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] and after
notice to them, and after hearing such of them as may desire to be heard, or on his own motion
without such notice, the Chairman may transfer any case pending before one Bench, for
disposal, to another Bench.]
195
[22BD. Decision to be by majority
If the members of a Bench differ in opinion on any point, the point shall be decided according to
the opinion of the majority, if there is a majority, but if the Members are equally divided, they
shall state the point or points on which they differ, and make a reference to the Chairman who
shall either hear the point or points himself or refer the case for hearing on such point or points
by one or more of the other Members of the Settlement Commission and such point or points
shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the Members of the Settlement
Commission who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.]
22C. Application for settlement of cases197
198
[(1) An assessee may, at any stage of a case relating to him, make an application in such
form and in such manner as may be prescribed, and containing a full and true disclosure of his
wealth which has not been disclosed before the 133[Assessing] Officer, the manner in which such
wealth has been derived, the additional amount of wealth-tax payable on such wealth and such
other particulars as may be prescribed, to the Settlement Commission to have the case settled
and any such application shall be disposed of in the manner hereinafter provided:
195
[Provided that no such application shall be made unless the assessee has furnished the return
of wealth which he is or was required to furnish under any of the provisions of this Act.]
(1A) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of this section and sub-sections (2A) to (2D) of section
22D, the additional amount of wealth-tax payable in respect of the wealth disclosed in an
application made under sub-section (1) of this section shall be the amount calculated in
accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (1B) to 1D).
191
[(1B) Where the wealth disclosed in the application relates to only one previous year,-
(i) if the applicant has not furnished a return in respect of the net wealth of that year (whether
or not an assessment has been made in respect of the net wealth of that year), then, except in a
case covered by clause (iii), wealth tax shall be calculated on the wealth disclosed in the
application as if such wealth were the net wealth;
(ii) if the applicant has furnished a return in respect of the net wealth of that year (whether or
not an assessment has been made in pursuance of such return), wealth-tax shall be calculated
on the aggregate of the net wealth returned and the wealth disclosed in the application as if
such aggregate were the net wealth;
(iii) if the proceeding pending before the wealth-tax authority is in the nature of a proceeding for
reassessment, of the applicant under section 17 or by way of appeal or revision in connection
with such reassessment, and the applicant has not furnished a return in respect of the net
wealth of that year in the course of such proceeding for reassessment, wealth-tax shall be
calculated on the aggregate of the net wealth as assessed in the earlier proceeding for
assessment under section 16 or section 17 and the wealth disclosed in the application as if such
aggregate were the net wealth.]
191
[(1C) The additional amount of wealth-tax payable in respect of the wealth disclosed in the
application relating to the previous year referred to in sub-section (1B) shall be,-
(a) in a case referred to in clause (i) of that sub-section, the amount of wealth-tax calculated
under that clause;
(b) in a case referred to in clause (ii) of that sub-section, the amount of wealth-tax calculated
under that clause as reduced by the amount of wealth-tax calculated on the net wealth returned
for that year;
(c) in a case referred to in clause (iii) of that sub-section, the amount of wealth-tax calculated
under that clause as reduced by the amount of wealth-tax calculated on the net wealth assessed
in the earlier proceeding for assessment under section 16 or section 17.]
(1D) Where the wealth disclosed in the application relates to more than one assessment year,
the additional amount of wealth-tax payable in respect of the wealth disclosed for each of the
years shall first be calculated in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (1B) and (1C)
and the aggregate of the amount so arrived at in respect of each of the years for which the
application has been made under sub-section (1) shall be the additional amount of wealth-tax
payable in respect of the wealth disclosed in the application.
(1E) Where any books of account or other documents belonging to an assessee are seized under
section 37A, the assessee shall not be entitled to make an application under sub-section (1)
before the expiry of one hundred and twenty days from the date of the seizure.
(2) Every application made under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by such fees as may be
prescribed.
(3) An application made under sub-section (1) shall not be allowed to be withdrawn by the
applicant.
22D. Procedure on receipt of an application under section 22C197
(1) On receipt of an application under section 22C, the Settlement Commission shall call for a
report from the Commissioner and on the basis of the materials contained in such report and
having regard to the nature and circumstances of the case or the complexity of the investigation
involved therein, the Settlement Commission may, by order, allow the application to be
proceeded with or reject the application:
Provided that an application shall not be rejected under this sub-section unless an opportunity
has been given to the applicant of being heard:
158
[Provided further that the Commissioner shall furnish the report within a period of one
hundred and twenty days of the receipt of communication from the Settlement Commission in
case of all applications made under section 22C on or after the date on which the Finance (No.
2) Act, 1991 receives the assent of the President and if the Commissioner fails to furnish the
report within the said period, the Settlement Commission may make the order without such
report.]
199
[***]
(2) A copy of every order under sub-section (1) shall be sent to the applicant and to the
Commissioner.
144
[(2A) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2B), the assessee shall, within thirty-five days
of the receipt of a copy of the order under sub-section (1) 200[allowing the application to be
proceeded with], pay the additional amount of wealth-tax payable on the wealth disclosed in the
application and shall furnish proof of such payment to the Settlement Commission.
(2B) if the Settlement Commission is satisfied, on an application made in this behalf by the
assessee, that he is unable for good and sufficient reasons to pay the additional amount of
wealth-tax referred to in sub-section (2A) within the time specified in that sub-section, it may
extend the time for payment of the amount which remains unpaid or allow payment thereof by
instalments if the assessee furnishes adequate security for the payment thereof.
(2C) Where the additional amount of wealth-tax is not paid within the time specified under subsection (2A), then, whether or not the Settlement Commission has extended the time for
payment of the amount which remains unpaid or has allowed payment thereof by instalments
under sub-section (2B), the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at fifteen per cent per
annum on the amount remaining unpaid from the date of expiry of the period of thirty-five days
referred to in sub-section (2A).
(2D) Where the additional amount of wealth-tax referred to in sub-section (2A) is not paid by
the assessee within the time specified under that sub-section or extended under sub-section
(2B), as the case may be, the Settlement Commission may direct that the amount of wealth-tax
remaining unpaid, together with any interest payable thereon under sub-section (2C), be
recovered and any penalty for default in making payment of such additional amount of wealthtax may be imposed and recovered, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VII, by the
133
[Assessing] Officer having jurisdiction over the assessee.]
(3) Where an application is allowed to be proceeded with under sub-section (1), the Settlement
Commission may call for the relevant records from the Commissioner and after examination of
such records, if the Settlement Commission is of the opinion that any further enquiry or
investigation in the matter is necessary, it may direct the Commissioner to make or cause to be
made such further enquiry or investigation and furnish a report on the matters covered by the
application and any other matter relating to the case.
(4) After examination of the records and the report of the Commissioner received under subsection (1) and the report, if any, of the Commissioner received under sub-section (3), and after
giving an opportunity to the applicant and to the Commissioner to be heard, either in person or
through a representative duly authorised in this behalf, and after examining such further
evidence as may be placed before it or obtained by it, the Settlement Commission may, in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, pass such order as it thinks fit on the matters covered
by the application and any other matter relating to the case not covered by the application but
referred to in the report of the Commissioner under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3).
195
[(5) Subject to the, provisions of section 22BA, the materials brought on record before the
Settlement Commission shall be considered by the members of the concerned Bench before
passing any order under sub- section (4) and, in relation to the passing of such order, the
provisions of section 22BD shall apply.]
(6) Every order passed under sub-section (4) shall provide for the terms of settlement including
any demand by way of 201[tax, penalty or interest] the manner in which any sum due under the
settlement shall be paid and all other matters to make the settlement effective and shall also
provide that the settlement shall be void if it is subsequently found by the Settlement
Commission that it has been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation of facts.
144
[(6A) Where any tax payable in pursuance of an order under sub-section (4) is not paid by the
assessee within thirty-five days of the receipt of a copy of the order by him, then, whether or
not the Settlement Commission has extended the time for payment of such tax or has allowed
payment thereof by instalments, the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at fifteen per
cent per annum on the amount remaining unpaid from the date of expiry of the period of thirtyfive days aforesaid.]
(7) Where a settlement becomes void as provided in sub-section (6), the proceedings with
respect to the matters covered by the settlement shall be deemed to have been revived from the
stage at which the application was allowed to be proceeded with by the Settlement Commission
and the wealth-tax authority concerned may, notwithstanding anything contained in any other
provision of this Act, complete such proceedings at any time before the expiry of two years from
the end of the financial year in which the settlement became void.
144
[(8) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing contained in section 17A
shall apply to any order passed under sub-section (4) or to any order of assessment or
reassessment required to be made by the 133[Assessing] Officer in pursuance of any directions
contained in such order passed by the Settlement Commission.]
202
[22DD. Power of Settlement Commission to order provisional attachment to protect

revenue
(1) Where, during the pendency of any proceeding before it, the Settlement Commission is of
the opinion that for the purpose of protecting the interests of the revenue it is necessary so to
do, it may, by order, attach provisionally any property belonging to the applicant in the manner
provided in the Second Schedule to the Income-tax Act as made applicable to this Act by section
32:
Provided that where a provisional attachment made under section 34C is pending immediately
before an application is made under section 22C, an order under this sub-section shall continue
such provisional attachment up to the period up to which an order made under section 34C
would have continued if such application had not been made:
Provided further that where the Settlement Commission passes an order under this sub-section
after the expiry of the period referred to in the preceding proviso, the provisions of sub-section
(2) shall apply to such order as if the said order had originally been passed by the Settlement
Commission.
(2) Every provisional attachment made by the Settlement Commission under sub-section (1)
shall cease to have effect after the expiry of a period of six months from the date of the order
made under sub-section. (1):
Provided that the Settlement Commission may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the
aforesaid period by such further period or periods as it thinks fit, so, however, that the total
period of extension shall not in any case exceed two years.]
22E. Power of Settlement Commission to reopen completed proceedings
If the Settlement Commission is of the opinion (the reasons for such opinion to be recorded by it
in writing) that, for the proper disposal of the case pending before it, it is necessary or expedient
to reopen any proceeding connected with the case, but which has been completed under this Act
by any wealth-tax authority before the application under section 22C was made, it may, with the
concurrence of the applicant, reopen such proceeding and pass such order thereon as it thinks fit
as if the case in relation to which the application for settlement had been made by the applicant
under that section covered such proceeding also:
191
[Provided that no proceeding shall be reopened by the Settlement Commission under this
section if the period between the end of the assessment year to which such a proceeding relates
and the date of application for settlement under section 22C exceeds nine years.]
22F. Powers and procedure of Settlement Commission
(1) In addition to the powers conferred on the Settlement Commission under this Chapter, it
shall have all the powers which are vested in a wealth-tax authority under this Act.
(2) Where an application made under section 22C has been allowed to be proceeded with under
section 22D, the Settlement Commission shall, until an order is passed under sub-section (4) of
section 22D, have, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) of that section, exclusive
jurisdiction to exercise the powers and perform the functions of a wealth-tax authority under this
Act in relation to the case.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2) and in the absence of any express
direction to the contrary by the Settlement Commission, nothing contained in this section shall
affect the operation of any other provision of this Act requiring the applicant to pay tax on the
basis of self-assessment in relation to the matters before the Settlement Commission.
(4) For the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that, in the absence of any express direction
by the Settlement Commission to the contrary, nothing in this Chapter shall affect the operation
of the provisions of this Act insofar as they relate to any matters other than those before the
Settlement Commission.
203
[(5) and (6) ***]
142
[(7) The Settlement Commission shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, have power
to regulate its own procedure and the procedure of Benches thereof in all matters arising out of
its exercise of its powers or of the discharge of its functions, including the places at which the
Benches shall hold their sittings.]
22G. Inspection, etc., of reports
No person shall be entitled to inspect, or obtain copies of, any reports made by any wealth-tax
authority to the Settlement Commission; but the Settlement Commission may, in its discretion,
furnish copies thereof to any such person on an application made to it in this behalf and on
payment of the prescribed fee:
Provided that, for the purpose of enabling any person whose case is under consideration to rebut
any evidence brought on the record against him in any such report, the Settlement Commission
shall, on an application made in this behalf and on payment of the prescribed fee by such
persons, furnish him with a certified copy of any such report or part thereof relevant for the
purpose.
22H. Powers of Settlement Commission to grant immunity from prosecution
(1) The Settlement Commission may, if it is satisfied that any person who made the application
for settlement under section 22C has co-operated with the Settlement Commission in the
proceedings before it and has made a full and true disclosure of his net wealth and the manner
in which such wealth has been acquired, grant to such person, subject to such conditions as it
may think fit to impose, immunity from prosecution for any offence under this Act or under the
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or under any other Central Act for the time being in force 204[and
also (either wholly or in part) from the imposition of any penalty] under this Act, with respect to
the case covered by the settlement:
195
[Provided that no such immunity shall be granted by the Settlement Commission in cases
where the proceedings for the prosecution for any such offence have been instituted before the
date of receipt of the application under section 22C.]
195
[(1A) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) shall stand withdrawn if such
person fails to pay any sum specified in the order of settlement passed under sub-section (4) of
section 22D within the time specified in such order or within such further time as may be allowed
by the Settlement Commission, or fails to comply with, any other condition subject to which the
immunity was granted and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall apply as if such immunity
had not been granted.]
(2) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) may, at any time, be withdrawn by
the Settlement Commission, if it is satisfied that such person 205[***] had, in the course of the
settlement proceedings, concealed any particular material to the settlement or had given false
evidence, and thereupon such person may be tried for the offence with respect to which the
immunity was granted or for any other offence of which he appears to have been guilty in
connection with the settlement and shall also become liable to the imposition of any penalty
under this Act to which such person would have been liable, had no such immunity been
granted.
195
[22HA. Power of Settlement Commission to send a case back to the

Officer if the assessee does not co-operate
133
[Assessing]
(1) The Settlement Commission may, if it is of opinion that any person who made the application
for settlement under section 22C has not co-operated with the Settlement Commission in the
proceedings before it, send the case back to the 133[Assessing] Officer who shall, thereupon
dispose of the case in accordance with the provisions of this Act as if no application under
section 22C had been made.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the 133[Assessing] Officer shall be entitled to use all the
materials and other information produced by the assessee before the Settlement Commission or
the results of the inquiry held or evidence recorded by the Settlement Commission in the course
of the proceedings before it as if such materials, information, inquiry and evidence had been
produced before the 133[Assessing] Officer or held or recorded by him in the course of the
proceedings before him.
(3) For the purposes of the time limit under sections 17A, 32 and 35 and for the purposes of
payment of interest under section 34A, in a case referred to in sub-section (1), the period
commencing on and from the date of the application to the Settlement Commission under
section 22C and ending with the date of receipt by the 133[Assessing] Officer of the order of the
Settlement Commission sending the case back to the 133[Assessing] Officer, shall be excluded.]
22-I. Order of settlement to be conclusive
Every order of settlement passed under sub-section (4) of section 22D shall be conclusive as to
the matters stated therein and no matter covered by such order shall, save as otherwise
provided in this Chapter, be reopened in any proceeding under this Act or under any other law
for the time being in force.
22J. Recovery of sums due under order of settlement
Any sum specified in an order of settlement passed under sub-section (4) of section 22D may,
subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified therein, be recovered, and any penalty for
default in making payment of such sum may be imposed and recovered in accordance with the
provisions of section 32 by the 133[Assessing] Officer having jurisdiction over the person who
made the application for settlement under section 22C.
22K. Bar on subsequent application for settlement in certain cases
Where(i) an order of settlement passed under sub-section (4) of section,22D provides for the
imposition of a penalty on the person who made the application under section 22C for
settlement, on the ground of concealment of particulars of his net wealth; or
(ii) after the passing of an order of settlement under the said sub-section (4) in relation to a
case, such person is convicted of any offence under Chapter VIII in relation to that case; 195[or]
195
[(iii) the case of any such person is sent back to the

Commission under section 22HA,]
133
[Assessing] Officer by the Settlement
then, he shall not be entitled to apply for settlement under section 22C in relation to any other
matter.
22L. Proceedings before Settlement Commission to be judicial proceedings
Any proceeding under this Chapter before the Settlement Commission shall be deemed to be a
judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section
196, of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).
[22M. Certain persons who have filed appeals to the Appellate Tribunal entitled to
make applications to the Settlement Commission- Omitted by the Finance Act, 1987,
w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987]
CHAPTER VI: APPEALS, REVISIONS AND REFERENCES
23. 206Appeal to the
Officer
(1)
207
134
[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] from orders of
133
[Assessing]
[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A), any person],-
(a) objecting to the amount of
208
[***] net wealth determined under this Act; or
(b) objecting to the amount of wealth-tax determined as payable by him under this Act; or
(c) denying his liability to be assessed under this Act; or
187
[(d) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Assessing Officer under section 18
(e) objecting to any order of the
133
209
[***];]
[Assessing] Officer under sub-section (2) of section 20; or
(f) objecting to any penalty imposed by the 133[Assessing] Officer under the provisions of
210
[section 221] of the Income-tax Act as applied under section 32 for the purposes of wealthtax; 161[or]
161
[(g) objecting to any order made by the 133[Assessing] Officer under section 22 treating him
as the agent of a person residing outside India; or
(h) objecting to any order of the 133[Assessing] Officer under section 35 having the effect of
enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund or refusing to allow the claim made by the
assessee under the said section; or]
211
[(ha) objecting to any order of the Valuation Officer under section 35 having the effect of
enhancing the valuation of any asset or refusing to allow the claim made by the assessee under
the said section; 212[***]
213
[***]
may appeal to the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 214[before the 1st day of June, 2000,]
against the assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the
prescribed manner.
135
[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person,-
(a) objecting to the amount of net wealth determined under this Act or objecting to the amount
of wealth-tax determined as payable by him under this Act or denying his liability to be assessed
under this Act, where the net wealth determined on assessment made under section 16 exceeds
fifteen lakh rupees; or
140
[(b) objecting to any penalty imposed under sub-section (1) of section 18 with the previous
approval of the 149[Joint] Commissioner as specified in sub-section (3) of that section; or]
187
[(c) objecting to any assessment or order referred to in clauses (a) to (h) (both inclusive) of
sub-section (1), where such assessment or order has been made by the 149[Joint] Commissioner
in exercise of the powers or functions conferred on or assigned to him under section 8 or section
11; or
(d) objecting to any penalty imposed by the
section 18A; or]
149
[Joint] Director or 149[Joint] Commissioner under
(e) objecting to an order made by an 133[Assessing] Officer in the case of such persons or
classes of persons as the Board may, having regard to the nature of the cases, the complexities
involved and other relevant considerations, direct,
may appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) 214[before the 1st. day of June, 2000,] against the
assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed
manner.]
214
[(1AA) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), every appeal filed, on or after
the 1st day of October, 1998, but before the 1st day of June, 2000, before the Deputy
Commissioner (Appeals) and any matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which
is so pending shall stand transferred to the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Commissioner
(Appeals) may proceed with such appeal or matter from the stage at which it was on that day.]
187
[(1B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Board or the Director
General or Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, if so authorised by the Board, may, by order in
writing, transfer any appeal which is pending before a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) and any
matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which is so pending, to the
Commissioner (Appeals) if the Board or, as the case may be, the Director General, Chief
Commissioner or Commissioner (at the request of the appellant or otherwise) is satisfied that it
is necessary or expedient so to do having regard to the nature of the case, the complexities
involved and other relevant considerations and the Commissioner (Appeals) may proceed with
such appeal or matter from the stage at which it was before it was so transferred:
Provided that the appellant may demand that before proceeding further with the appeal or
matter, the previous proceeding or any part thereof be re-opened or that he be reheard.]
(2) An appeal shall be presented within thirty days of the receipt of the notice of demand
relating to the assessment or penalty objected to, or the date on which any order objected to, is
communicated to him, but the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may be,
the Commissioner (Appeals)] may admit an appeal after the expiration of the period aforesaid if
he is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not presenting the appeal within that
period.
152
[(2A) Where a return has been filed by an assessee, no appeal under this section shall be
admitted unless at the time of filing of the appeal he has paid the tax due on the net wealth
returned by him;
213
[***]
(3) The 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner
(Appeals)] shall fix a day and place for the hearing of the appeal and may, from time to time,
adjourn the hearing.
211
[(3A) If the valuation of any asset is objected to in an appeal under clause (a) of sub-section
(1) 135[or of sub-section (1A)], the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may
be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] shall,(a) in a case where such valuation has been made by a Valuation Officer under section 16A, give
such Valuation Officer an opportunity of being heard;
(b) in any other case, on a request being made in this behalf by the 133[Assessing] Officer, give
an opportunity of being heard to any Valuation Officer nominated for the purpose by the
133
[Assessing] Officer.]
(4) The 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)]
(Appeals)] may-
135
[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner
(a) at the hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to go into any ground of appeal not specified
in the grounds of appeal;
(b) before disposing of an appeal, make such further inquiry as he thinks fit or cause further
inquiry to be made by the 133[Assessing] Officer 211[or, as the case may be, the Valuation
Officer].
(5) In disposing of an appeal the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may
be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may pass such order as he thinks fit which may include an
order enhancing the assessment or penalty:
Provided that no order enhancing the assessment or penalty shall be made unless the person
affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such
enhancement.
161
[(5A) In disposing of an appeal, the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case
may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may consider and decide any matter arising out of the
proceedings in which the order appealed against was passed, notwithstanding that such matter
was not raised before the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may be, the
Commissioner (Appeals)] by the appellant.
(5B) The order of the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case may be, the
Commissioner (Appeals)] disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for
determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.]
(6) A copy of every order passed by the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or, as the case
may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] under this section shall be forwarded to the appellant and
the 136[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner.]
148[23A. Appealable orders before Commissioner (Appeals)
(1) Any person(a) objecting to the amount of net wealth determined under this Act; or
(b) objecting to the amount of wealth-tax determined as payable by him under this Act; or
(c) denying his liability to be assessed under this Act; or
(d) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Assessing Officer under section 18 or section 18A;
or
(e) objecting to any order of the Assessing Officer under sub-section (2) of section 20; or
(f) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Assessing Officer under the provisions of section 221
of the Income-tax Act as applied under section 32 for the purposes of wealth-tax; or
(g) objecting to any order made by the Assessing Officer under section 22 treating him as the
agent of a person residing outside India; or
(h) objecting to any order of the Assessing Officer under section 35 having the effect of
enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund or refusing to allow the claim made by the
assessee under the said section; or
(i) objecting to any order of the Valuation Officer under section 35 having the effect of
enhancing the valuation of any asset or refusing to allow the claim made by the assessee under
the said section; or
(j) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Deputy Director or Deputy Commissioner under
section 18A,
may appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) against the assessment or order, as the case may
be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and on payment of a fee of two
hundred and fifty rupees.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, where on or before the 1st day of October,
1998, the post of Deputy Commissioner has been redesignated as Joint Commissioner and the
post of Deputy Director has been redesignated as Joint Director the references in this subsection for "Deputy Commissioner" and "Deputy Director" shall be substituted by "Joint
Commissioner" and "Joint Director" respectively.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 23, every appeal under this
Act which is pending immediately before the appointed day, before the Deputy Commissioner
(Appeals) and any matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which is so pending
shall stand transferred on that day to the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Commissioner
(Appeals) may proceed with such appeals or matter from the stage on which it was on. that day:
Provided that the appellant may demand that before proceeding further with the appeal or
matter, the previous proceedings or any part thereof be re-opened or that he be re-heard.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, "appointed day" means the day appointed
under section 246A of the Income-tax Act.
(3) An appeal shall be presented within thirty days of the receipt of the notice of demand
relating to the assessment or penalty objected to or the day on which any order objected to is
communicated to him, but the Commissioner (Appeals) may admit an appeal after the expiration
of the period aforesaid, if he is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not presenting
the appeal within that period.
(4) Where a return has been filed by an assessee, no appeal under this section shall be admitted
unless at the time of filing of the appeal, he has paid the tax due on the net wealth returned by
him.
(5) The Commissioner (Appeals) shall fix a day and place for the hearing of the appeal and may,
from time to time, adjourn the hearing.
(6) If the valuation of any asset is objected to in an appeal under clause (a) or clause (i) of subsection (1) the Commissioner (Appeals) shall,(a) in case where such valuation has been made by a Valuation Officer under section 16A, give
such Valuation Officer an opportunity of being heard;
(b) in any other case on request being made in this behalf by the Assessing Officer, give an
opportunity of being heard to any Valuation Officer nominated for the purpose by the Assessing
Officer.
(7) The Commissioner (Appeal) may,(a) at the hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to go into any ground of appeal not specified
in the grounds of appeal;
(b) before disposing of any appeal, make such further enquiry as he thinks fit or cause further
enquiry to be made by the Assessing Officer or as the case may be, by the Valuation Officer.
(8) In disposing of an appeal, the Commissioner (Appeals) may pass such order as he thinks fit
which may include an order enhancing the assessment or penalty:
Provided that no order enhancing the assessment or penalty shall be made unless the person
affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing: cause against such
enhancement.
215
[(8A) In every appeal, the Commissioner (Appeals), where it is possible, may hear and decide
such appeal within a period of one year from the end of the financial year in which such appeal is
filed under sub-section (1).]
(9) In disposing of an appeal, the Commissioner (Appeals) may consider and decide any matter
arising out of the proceedings in which the order appealed against was passed, notwithstanding
that such matter was not placed before the Commissioner (Appeals) by the appellant.
(10) The order of the Commissioner (Appeals) disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and
shall state the points for determining the decision thereon and reasons for the decision.
(11) A copy of every order passed by the Commissioner (Appeals) under this section shall be
forwarded to the appellant and the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner.]
24. Appeal to the Appellate Tribunal from orders of the
(Appeals)]
134
[Deputy Commissioner
187
[(1) An assessee objecting to an order passed by the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals), or the
Commissioner (Appeals) under section 18 or section 18A or section 23 or section 23A or subsection (2) of section 37 216[***] may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal within sixty days of the
date on which the order is communicated to him.]
(2) The Commissioner may, if he is not satisfied as to the correctness of any order passed by
217
[a Commissioner (Appeals) under sub-section (10) of section 23A], direct the 133[Assessing]
Officer to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal against such order, and such appeal may be made at
any time before the expiry of sixty days of the date on which the order is communicated to the
Commissioner.
161
[(2A) 218The 133[Assessing] Officer or the assessee, as the case may be, on receipt of notice
that an appeal against the order of 219[*** 135[*] the Commissioner (Appeals)] has been
preferred under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) by the other party, may, notwithstanding that
he may not have appealed against such order or any part thereof, within thirty days of the
receipt of the notice, file a memorandum of cross-objections verified in the prescribed manner
against any part of the order of 219[*** 135[*] the Commissioner (Appeals)] and such
memorandum shall be disposed of by the Appellate Tribunal as if it were an appeal presented
within the time specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2).]
220
[(3) The Appellate Tribunal may admit an appeal or permit the filing of a memorandum of
cross-objections after the expiry of the relevant period referred to in sub-section (1) or subsection (2) or sub-section (2A), if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not presenting
it within that period.]
221
(4) An appeal to the Appellate Tribunal shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in
the prescribed manner and shall, except in the case of an appeal referred to in sub-section (2),
be accompanied by a fee of 222[two hundred] rupees:
215
[Provided that in the case of an appeal not relatable to net wealth as computed by the
Assessing Officer, the appeal shall be accompanied by a fee of five hundred rupees.]
(5) The Appellate Tribunal may, after giving both parties to the appeal an opportunity of being
heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit and any such orders may include an order
enhancing the assessment or penalty:
223
[Provided that if the valuation of any asset is objected to, the Appellate Tribunal shall,-
(a) in a case where such valuation has been made by a Valuation Officer under section 16A, also
give such Valuation Officer an opportunity of being heard;
(b) in any other case, on a request being made in this behalf by the 133[Assessing] Officer, give
an opportunity of being heard also to any Valuation Officer nominated for the purpose by the
133
[Assessing] Officer:
Provided further that] no order enhancing an assessment or penalty shall be made unless the
person affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such
enhancement.
215
[(5A) In every appeal, the Appellate Tribunal, where it is possible, may hear and decide such
appeal within a period of four years from the end of the financial year in which such appeal is
filed under sub-section (1) 214[or sub-section (2)].
(5B) The cost of any appeal to the Appellate Tribunal shall be at the discretion of that Tribunal.]
224
[(6)
(7)
(8)
(8A) and
(8B) ***]
(9) A copy of every order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under this section shall be forwarded
to the assessee and the Commissioner.
(10) Save as provided in section 27
Tribunal on appeal shall be final.
215
[or section 27A], any order passed by the Appellate
(11) The provisions of 225[sub-sections (1), (4) and (5) of section 255] of the Income-tax Act
shall apply to the Appellate Tribunal in the discharge of its functions under this Act as they apply
to it in the discharge of its functions under the Income-tax Act.
25. Powers of Commissioner to revise orders of subordinate authorities
(1) The Commissioner may, either of his own motion or on application made by an assessee in
this behalf, call for the record of any proceeding under this Act in which an order has been
passed by any authority subordinate to him, and may make such inquiry, or cause such enquiry
to be made, and, subject to the provisions of this Act pass such order thereon, not being an
order prejudicial to the assessee, as the Commissioner thinks fit:
Provided that the Commissioner shall not revise any order under this sub-section in any case-
(a) where an appeal against the order lies to the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 135[or to
the Commissioner (Appeals)] or to the Appellate Tribunal, the time within which such appeal can
be made has not expired or in the case of an appeal 135[or to the Commissioner (Appeals)] or to
the Appellate Tribunal the assessee has not waived his right of appeal;
(b) where the order is the subject of an appeal before the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)]
[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] or the Appellate Tribunal;
135
(c) where the application is made by the assessee for such revision, unless(i) the application is accompanied by a fee of twenty-five rupees; and
(ii) the application is made within one year from the date of the order sought to be revised or
within such further period as the Commissioner may think fit to allow on being satisfied that the
assessee was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application within that period; and
(d) where the order is sought to be revised by the Commissioner of his own motion, if such
order is made more than one year previously.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section,(a) the 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] shall be deemed to be an authority subordinate to
the Commissioner; and
(b) an order by the Commissioner declining to interfere shall be deemed not to be an order
prejudicial to the assessee.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the Commissioner may call
for and examine the record of any proceeding under this Act, and if he considers that any order
passed therein by an 133[Assessing] Officer is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the
interests of revenue, he may, after giving the assessee an opportunity of being heard, and after
making or causing to be made such inquiry as he deems necessary, pass such order thereon as
the circumstances of the case justify, including an order enhancing or modifying the assessment
or cancelling it and directing a fresh assessment.
226
[Explanation.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that, for the purposes of this
sub-section,(a) an order passed 227[on or before or after the 1st day of June, 1988] by the Assessing Officer
shall include an order made by the 149[Joint] Commissioner in exercise of the powers or in the
performance of the functions of an Assessing Officer conferred on or assigned to him under
orders or directions issued by the Board or by the Chief Commissioner or Director General or
Commissioner authorised by the Board in this behalf under section 120 of the Income-tax Act
read with section 8 of this Act;
(b) "record", 228[shall include and shall be deemed always to have included] all records relating
to any proceeding under this Act available at the time of examination by the Commissioner;
(c) where any order referred to in this sub-section and passed by the Assessing Officer had been
the subject-matter of any appeal 227[filed on or before or after the first day of June, 1988], the
power of the Commissioner under this sub-section shall extend 227[and shall be deemed always
to have extended] to such matters as had not been considered and decided in such appeal.]
161
[(3) No order shall be made under sub-section (2) after the expiry of two years
end of the financial year in which the order sought to be revised was passed].
229
[from the
Explanation.- In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of sub-section (3), the time
taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 39 and
any period during which any proceeding under this section is stayed by an order or injunction of
any court shall be excluded.]
148
[(3A) On every application made by an assessee for revision under sub-section (1), an order
shall be passed by the Commissioner within one year from the end of financial year in which
such application is made by the assessee for revision.
Explanation.- In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this sub-section, the time
taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be re-heard under the proviso to section 39
and any period during which any proceeding under this section is stayed by an order or
injunction of any court shall be excluded.]
230
[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A), an order in

revision under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) may be passed at any time in consequence of,
or to give effect to, any finding or direction contained in an order of Appellate Tribunal, the High
Court or the Supreme Court.]
26. Appeal to the Appellate Tribunal from orders of enhancement by
Commissioners or Commissioners]
231
[Chief
(1) Any assessee objecting to 232[an order passed by the 136[Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner] under section 18 190[or section 18A] or sub-section (2) of section 25] 146[or an
order passed by the Director General or Director under section 18A] may appeal to the Appellate
Tribunal within sixty days of the date on which the order is communicated to him.
221
(2) An appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be in the prescribed form
and shall be verified in the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by a fee of 222[two
hundred] rupees.
(3) The provisions of 233[sub-sections (3), (5), (9) and (10)] of section 24 shall apply in relation
to any appeal under this section as they apply in relation to any appeal under that section.
27. Reference to High Court
234
[(1) The assessee or the 136[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] may, within sixty days of
the date upon which he is served with notice of an order 215[passed before the 1st day of June,
1999] under section 24 or section 26 158[or clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 35] by
application in the prescribed form, accompanied, where the application is made by the assessee,
by a fee of 222[two hundred] rupees, require the Appellate Tribunal to refer to the High Court any
question of law arising out of such order and, subject to the other provisions contained in this
section, the Appellate Tribunal shall, within one hundred and twenty days of the receipt of such
application, draw up a statement of the case and refer it to the High Court.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal may, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient
cause from presenting the application within the period specified in sub-section (1), allow it to
be presented within a further period not exceeding thirty days.]
(3) If, on an application made under sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal-
(a) refuses to state a case on the ground that no question of law arises, or
(b) rejects it on the ground that it is time barred,
the applicant may, within 235[ninety days] from the date on which he is served with a notice of
refusal or rejection, as the case may be, apply to the High Court, and the High Court may, if it is
not satisfied with the correctness of the decision of the Appellate Tribunal, require the Appellate
Tribunal to state the case to the High Court, and on receipt of such requisition, the Appellate
Tribunal shall state the case:
Provided that, if in any case where the Appellate Tribunal has been required by an assessee to
state a case, the Appellate Tribunal refuses to do so on the ground that no question of law
arises, the assessee may, within thirty days from the date on which he receives notice of refusal
to state the case, withdraw his application, and if he does so, the fee paid by him under subsection (1) shall be refunded to him.
161
[(3A) If on an application made under this section, the Appellate Tribunal is of the opinion
that, on account of a conflict in the decisions of the High Courts in respect of any particular
question of law, it is expedient that a reference should be made direct to the Supreme Court, the
Appellate Tribunal may draw up a statement of the case and refer it through its President direct
to the Supreme Court.]
(4) The statement to the High Court 161[or the Supreme Court] shall set forth the facts, the
determination of the Appellate Tribunal and the question of law which arises out of the case.
(5) If the High Court 161[or the Supreme Court] is not satisfied that the case as stated is
sufficient to enable it to determine the question of law raised thereby, it may require the
Appellate Tribunal to make such modifications therein as it may direct.
(6) The High Court 235[or the Supreme Court], upon hearing any such case, shall decide the
question of law raised therein, and in doing so, may, if it thinks fit, alter the form of the question
of law and shall deliver judgment thereon containing the ground on which such decision is
founded and shall send a copy of the judgment under the seal of the court and the signature of
the Registrar to the Appellate Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal shall pass such orders as are
necessary to dispose of the case conformably to such judgment.
236
[(7) The cost of any reference to the High Court or the Supreme Court which shall not include
the fee for making the reference, shall be in the discretion of the court.]
148[27A. Appeal to High Court
The assessee or the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner may, within one hundred and twenty
days of the day upon which he is served with notice of an order under section 24 or section 26
or clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 35, file on or after the 1st day of October, 1998, an
appeal to the High Court.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from every order passed in appeal by the Appellate
Tribunal, under sub-section (1) of section 24 only if the High Court is satisfied that the case
involves a substantial question of law.
(3) In an appeal under this section, the Memorandum of Appeal shall precisely state the
substantial question of law involved in the appeal 237[***]
(4) Where the High Court is satisfied that a substantial question of law is involved in any case, it
shall formulate that question.
(5) The appeal shall be heard only on the questions so formulated and the respondent shall, at
the time of hearing of the appeal, be allowed to argue that the case does not involve such
question:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to take away or abridge the power of
the Court to hear, for reasons to be recorded, the appeal on any other substantial question of
law not formulated by it, if it is satisfied that the case involves such question.
(6) The High Court shall decide the question of law so formulated and deliver such judgment
thereon containing the grounds on which such decision is founded and may award such cost as it
deems fit.
(7) Assessing Officer shall give effect to the order of the High Court on the basis of a certified
copy of judgment delivered under sub-section (6).]
215
[(8) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) relating to appeals to
High Court shall, so far as may be, apply in the case of appeals under this section.]
28. Hearing by High Court
When a case has been stated to the High Court under section 27 148[or an appeal filed before the
High Court under section 27A], it shall be heard by a Bench of not less than two Judges of the
High Court and shall be decided in accordance with the opinion of such Judges or of the majority
of such judges, if any:
Provided that where there is no such majority, the Judges shall state the point of law upon which
they differ and the case shall then be heard upon that point only by one or more of the Judges of
the High Court, and such point shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the
Judges who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.
29. Appeal to Supreme Court
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment of the High Court delivered on a
case stated under section 27 148[or an appeal filed under section 27A] in any case which the High
Court certifies as a fit case for appeal to the Supreme Court.
(2) Where the judgment of the High Court is varied or reversed on appeal under this section,
effect shall be given to the order of the Supreme Court in the manner provided in sub-section
(6) of section 27 148[or in sub-section (7) of section 27A.]
(3) The High Court may, on application made to it for the execution of any order of the Supreme
Court in respect of any costs awarded by it, transmit the order for execution to any court
subordinate to the High Court.
161[29A. Tax to be paid notwithstanding reference, etc.
Notwithstanding that a reference has been made to the High Court or the Supreme Court or an
appeal has been preferred to the Supreme Court, wealth-tax shall be payable in accordance with
the assessment made in the case.]
161
[29B. Definition of High Court
In this Chapter, "High Court" means(i) in relation to any State, the High Court of that State;
238
[(ii) in relation to the Union territory of Delhi, the High Court of Delhi;]
239
[(iia) ***]
240
[(iii) in relation to the Union territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, the Gauhati High
Court (the High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura);]
(iv) in relation to the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the High Court at
Calcutta;
(v) in relation to the Union territory of
241
[Lakshadweep], the High Court of Kerala;
(vi) in relation to the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa, Daman and Diu, the
High Court at Bombay;
(vii) in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry, the High Court at Madras;]
242
[(viii) in relation to the Union territory of Chandigarh, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.]
Foot Notes
131. Earlier substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989
but restored by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. the same date.
132. For special provisions relating to assessees in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, for the
period from 19th. April, 1983 to 4th. February, 1993, see Order No. 12/ 93-WT, dated 17th.
June, 1993.
133. Substituted for the words "Wealth-tax" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
134. Substituted for the words "Appellate Assistant Commissioner", by the Direct Tax Laws
135. Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1977, w.e.f. 10th. July, 1978.
136. Substituted for the word "Commissioner" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
137. Clause (a) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
138. The words "without reasonable cause" omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment &
Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f. 10th. September, 1986.
139. Clause (i) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
140. Substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
141. Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1975.
142. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f.
10th. September, 1986.
143. Omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f
145 Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f.
147 Omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
149 Substituted for the word "Deputy", by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October,
1998.
150 Sub-section (3A) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
151 Inserted for the word "Deputy" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
153 The words "Chief Commissioner or" omitted by the Finance Act, 1993, w.e.f. 1st. June,
1993.
154 Sub-clause (a) omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
155 The figure "1" omitted by the Finance Act, 1985, w.e.f. 24th. May, 1985.
156 Omitted by the Finance Act, 1985, w.e.f. 24th. May, 1985.
157 Substituted for the words "Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, except with the previous
approval of the Board" by the Finance Act, 1993, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1993.
158 Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 27th. September, 1991.
159 The words "Chief Commissioner" omitted by the Finance Act, 1993, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1993.
160 See Form DB of the Wealth Tax Rules.
161 Inserted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
163 Substituted for the words "In the case of assets chargeable to tax under this Act" by the
Finance (No. 2) Act, 1980, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1980.
165 The words "(all of which persons are hereinafter in this sub-section included in the term
"beneficiary")" omitted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
167 Substituted for the words "as if the persons on whose behalf or for whose benefit the assets
are held were an individual who is a citizen of India and resident in India" by the Finance (No. 2)
Act, 1980, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1980.
168 Substituted for the words "the Schedule" by the Finance Act, 1976, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1977.
169 The words "in the case of an individual" omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1972.
170 Substituted for the words "one and one-half per cent" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1980,
171 Substituted for the words "under a trust declared by will", by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1980,
173 Renumbered by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1980, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1980.
174 Substituted for the words "for the purposes of this section, in any case not being a case
referred to in the proviso" by the Finance Act, 1981, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1981.
177 Substituted for the words "Where any property is held" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996,
w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
179 Restored to the original version by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1989.
180 The words "but without excluding the value of any asset under sub-section (1) of section 5,
and at the maximum marginal rate" omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
181 Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
183 Substituted for the word "also" by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
184 Substituted for the words "Part I of Schedule I in the case of an individual" by the Finance
Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
185 Clause (aa) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
187 Substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
188 The words ", and at the maximum marginal rate" omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1993.
189 Omitted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
191 Substituted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
192 The words "(hereafter in this Chapter referred to as "the Settlement Commission")" omitted
by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
193 Substituted for the words "and two other members" by the Taxation Laws (Amendment
Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f. 10th. September, 1986.
194 Sub-section (2A) omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act, 1986, w.e.f. 10th. September, 1986.
195 Inserted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
197 See Form DA of the Wealth Tax Rules.
198 Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
199 Sub-section (1A) omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 27th. September, 1991.
200 Inserted by the Finance Act, 1985, w.r.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
201 Substituted for the words "tax or penalty" by the Finance Act, 1987 w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
203 Omitted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
204 Substituted for the words "and also from the imposition of any penalty" by the Taxation
Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
205 The words "has not complied with the conditions subject to which the immunity was granted
or that such person", omitted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1987.
206 See Form E of the Wealth Tax Rules.

207 Substituted for the words "Any person" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1977, w.e.f. 10th. July,
1978.
208 The word "his" omitted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
209 The words "as it stood immediately before the 1st day of April, 1989 or under section 18 as
amended by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988)" omitted by the Direct Tax
Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
210 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "sub-section (1) of section 46" by the
Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
211 Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
212 The word "or" omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
213 Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
216 The words ", or to an order passed by the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner under section
18A" omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1977, w.e.f. 10th. July, 1978.
217 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "[a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] [or a
Commissioner (Appeals)] under section 23" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st.
October, 1998.
218 See Form G of the Wealth Tax Rules.
219 The words "the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or" omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act,
1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
220 Substituted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
221 See Form F of the Wealth Tax Rules.
222 Substituted for the words "one hundred and twenty-five" by the Finance Act, 1981, w.e.f.
1st. June, 1981.
223 Substituted for the words "Provided that" by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972,
w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
224 Omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
225 Substituted for the words, figures and brackets "sub-sections (5), (7) and (8) of section 5A"
by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
226 Substituted by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
227 Inserted by the Finance Act, 1989, w.r.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
228 Substituted for the word "includes" by the Finance Act, 1989, w.r.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
229 Substituted for the words "from the date of the order sought to be revised" by the Taxation
Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
230 Substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
231 Substituted for the word "Commissioners" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
232 Substituted for the words and figure "an order of enhancement made by the Commissioner
under section 25" by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
233 Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "sub-sections (3) and (5) to (10) inclusive"
by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
234 Substituted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965. See also
Form H of the Wealth Tax Rules.
235 Substituted for the words "three months" by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1965.
236 Substituted for sub-sections (7), (8) and (9) by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964,
237 The words "and, where the appeal is made by the assessee, shall be accompanied by a fee
of five thousand rupees" omitted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1999.
238 Substituted by the Punjab Reorganisation and Delhi High Court (Adaptation of Laws on
Union Subjects) Order, 1968, w.r.e.f. 1st. November, 1966.
239 Omitted by the State of Himachal Pradesh (Adaptation of Laws on Union Subjects) Order,
1973, w.r.e.f. 25th. January, 1971.
240 Substituted by the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) (Adaptation of Laws on Union
Subjects) Order, 1974, w.r.e.f. 21st. January, 1972.
241 Substituted for the words "the Laccadive, Minicoy and Admindivi Islands" by the Laccadive,
Minicoy and Admindivi Islands (Alteration of Name) Adaptation of Laws Order, 1974, w.r.e.f. 1st.
November, 1973.
242 Inserted by the Punjab Reorganisation and Delhi High Court (Adaptation of Laws on Union
Subjects) Order, 1968, w.r.e.f. 1st. November, 1966.
243
[30. Notice of demand244
When any tax, interest, penalty, fine or any other sum is payable in consequence of any order
passed under this Act, the 245[Assessing] Officer shall serve upon the assessee a notice of
demand in the prescribed form specifying the sum so payable.]
243
[31. When tax, etc., payable and when assessee deemed in default
(1) Any amount specified as payable in a notice of demand under section 30 shall be paid within
246
[thirty days] of the service of the notice at the place and to the person mentioned in the
notice:
Provided that, where the 245[Assessing] Officer has any reason to believe that it will be
detrimental to revenue if the full period of 246[thirty days] aforesaid is allowed, he may, with the
previous approval of the 247[248[Joint] Commissioner], direct that the sum specified in the notice
of demand shall be paid within such period being a period less than the period of 246[thirty days]
aforesaid, as may be specified by him in the notice of demand.
(2) If the amount specified in any notice of demand under section 30 is not paid within the
period limited under sub-section (1), the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at
249 249A
[
[one and one-fourth per cent] for every month or part of a month comprised in the period
commencing from the day immediately following the end of the period mentioned in sub-section
(1) and ending with the day on which the amount is paid]:
Provided that, where as a result of an order under section 23, 250[or section 23A,] or section 24,
or section 25, or section 26, or section 27, or section 29, or section 35 251[or any order of the
Wealth-tax Settlement Commission under sub-section (4) of section 22D], the amount on which
interest was payable under this section had been reduced, the interest shall be reduced
accordingly and the excess interest paid, if any, shall be refunded:
251
[Provided further that in respect of any period commencing on or before the 31st day of
March, 1989, and ending after that date, such interest shall, in respect of so much of such
period as falls after that date, be calculated at the rate of 249A[one and one-fourth per cent] for
every month or part of a month.]
252
[(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the 253[Chief Commissioner or

Commissioner] may reduce or waive the amount of interest 254[paid or] payable by an assessee
under the said sub-section if 255[he is satisfied that]256
[(i) payment of such amount has caused or would cause genuine hardship to the assessee;
(ii) default in the payment of the amount on which interest has been paid or was payable under
the said sub-section was due to circumstances beyond the control of the assessee; and]
(iii) the assessee has co-operated in any inquiry relating to the assessment or any proceeding
for the recovery of any amount due from him.]
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (2), on an application made by
the assessee before the expiry of the due date under sub-section (1), the 245[Assessing] Officer
may extend the time for payment or allow payment by instalments, subject to such conditions as
he may think fit to impose in the circumstances of the case.
(4) If the amount is not paid within the time limited under sub-section (1) or extended under
sub-section (3), as the case may be, at the place and to the person mentioned in the said
notice, the assessee shall be deemed to be in default.
(5) If in a case where payment by instalments is allowed under sub-section (3), the assessee
commits default in paying any one of the instalments within the time fixed under that subsection, that assessee shall be deemed to be in default as to the whole of the amount then
outstanding, and the other instalment or instalments shall be deemed to have been due on the
same date as the instalment actually in default.
(6) Where an assessee has presented an appeal under section 23 250[or section 23A], the
245
[Assessing] Officer may, in his discretion, and subject to such conditions as he may think fit to
impose in the circumstances of the case, treat the assessee as not being in default in respect of
the amount in dispute in the appeal, even though the time for payment has expired, as long as
such appeal remains undisposed of.
(7) Where an assessee has been assessed in respect of assets located in a country outside India,
the laws of which prohibit or restrict the remittance of money to India, the 245[Assessing] Officer
shall not treat the assessee as in default in respect of that part of the tax which is attributable to
those assets, and shall continue to treat the assessee as not in default in respect of that part of
the tax until the prohibition or restriction of remittance is removed.]
243[32. Mode of recovery257
The provisions contained in sections 221 to 227, 258[228A,] 229, 231 and 232 of the Income-tax
Act and the Second and Third Schedules to that Act and any rules made thereunder shall, so far
as may be, apply as if the said provisions were provisions of this Act and referred to wealth-tax
and sums imposed by way of penalty, fine and interest under this Act instead of to income-tax
and sums imposed by way of penalty, fine and interest under that Act 259[and to the
corresponding wealth-tax authorities instead of to the income-tax authorities specified therein].
Explanation I.- Any reference to section 173 and sub-section (2) or sub-section (6) or subsection (7) of section 220 of the Income-tax Act in the said provisions of that Act or the rules
made thereunder shall be construed as references to sub-section (7) of section 22 and subsection (2) or sub-section (6) or sub-section (7) of section 31 of this Act, respectively.
260
[Explanation II.-The Chief Commissioner or Commissioner and the Tax Recovery Officer
referred to in the Income-tax Act shall be deemed to be the corresponding wealth-tax authorities
for the purpose of recovery of wealth-tax and sums imposed by way of penalty, fine and interest
under this Act.]]
33. Liability of transferees of properties in certain cases
(1) Where by reason of the provisions contained in section 4, the value of any assets transferred
to any of the persons mentioned in that section have to be included in the net wealth of an
individual, the person in whose name such assets stand shall, notwithstanding, anything
contained in any law to the contrary, be liable, on the service of a notice of demand by the
245
[Assessing] Officer in this behalf, to pay that portion of the tax assessed on the assessee as is
attributable to the value of the asset standing in his name as aforesaid:
Provided that where any such asset is held jointly by more than one person, they shall be jointly
and severally liable to pay the tax as is attributable to the value of the asset so jointly held.
(2) Where any such person as is referred to in sub-section (1) defaults in making payment of
any tax demanded from him, he shall be deemed to be an assessee in default in respect of such
sum, and all the provisions of this Act relating to recovery shall apply accordingly.
[34. Restrictions on registration of transfers of immovable property in certain casesOmitted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965]
261
[CHAPTER VIIA: REFUNDS
34A. Refunds
(1) Where, as a result of any order passed in appeal or other proceeding (including a
rectification proceeding) under this Act, refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee, the
245
[Assessing] Officer shall, except as otherwise provided in this Act, refund the amount to the
assessee without his having to make any claim in that behalf:
251
[Provided that where, by the order aforesaid,-
(a) an assessment is set aside or cancelled and an order of fresh assessment is directed to be
made, the refund, if any, shall become due only on the making of such fresh assessment;
(b) the assessment is annulled, the refund shall become due only of the amount, if any, of the
tax paid in excess of the tax chargeable on the 262[net wealth] returned by the assessee.]
263
[(2) Where refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee as a result of an order under
this Act or under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 16 after a return has been made
under section 14 or section 15 or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of
section 16 and the Assessing Officer is of the opinion, having regard to the fact that(i) a notice has been issued, or is likely to be issued, under sub-section (2) of section 16 in
respect of the said return; or
(ii) the order is the subject-matter of an appeal or further proceeding; or
(iii) any other proceeding under this Act is pending,
that the grant of the refund is likely to adversely affect the revenue, the Assessing Officer may,
with the previous approval of the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, withhold the refund till
such time as the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner may determine.]
(3) Where a refund is due to the assessee in pursuance of an order referred to in sub-section (1)
and the 245[Assessing] Officer does not grant the refund within a period of six months from the
date of such order, the Central Government shall pay to the assessee simple interest at 264[nine
per cent] per annum on the amount of refund due from the date immediately following the
expiry of the period of six months aforesaid to the date on which the refund is granted.
265
[(3A) Where the whole or any part of the refund referred to in sub-section (3) is due to the
assessee as a result of any amount having been paid by him after the 31st day of March, 1975,
in pursuance of any order of assessment or penalty and such amount or any part thereof having
been found in appeal or other proceeding under this Act to be in excess of the amount which
such assessee is liable to pay as tax or penalty, as the case may be, under this Act, the Central
Government shall pay to such assessee simple interest at the rate specified in sub-section (3) on
the amount so found to be in excess from the date on which such amount was paid to the date
on which the refund is granted:
Provided that, where the amount so found to be in excess was paid in instalments, such interest
shall be payable on the amount of each such instalment or any part of such instalment, which
was in excess, from the date on which such instalment was paid to the date on which the refund
is granted:
Provided further that no interest under this sub-section shall be payable for a period of one
month from the date of the passing of the order in appeal or other proceeding:
Provided also that, where any interest is payable to an assessee under this sub-section, no
interest under sub-section (3) shall be payable to him in respect of the amount so found to be in
excess.]
(4) Where a refund is withheld under the provisions of sub-section (2), the Central Government,
shall pay interest at the aforesaid rate on the amount of refund ultimately determined to be due
as a result of the appeal or further proceeding for the period commencing after the expiry of six
months from the date of the order referred to in that sub-section to the date the refund is
granted.
251
[(4A) The provisions of sub-sections (3), (3A) and (4) shall not apply in respect of any
assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, or any
subsequent assessment year.
(4B)(a) 266[Where refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee under this Act], he shall,
subject to the provisions of this sub-section, be entitled to receive, in addition to the said
amount, simple interest thereon calculated at the rate of 267[three-fourth per cent] for every
month or part of a month comprised in the period or periods from the date or, as the case may
be, dates of payment of the tax or penalty to the date on which the refund is granted.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, "date of payment of the tax or penalty" means the
date on and from which the amount of tax or penalty specified in the notice of demand issued
under section 30 is paid in excess of such demand.
(b) If the proceedings resulting in the refund are delayed for reasons attributable to the
assessee, whether wholly or in part, period of the delay so attributable to him shall be excluded
from the period for which interest is payable and where any question arises as to the period to
be excluded, it shall be decided by the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner whose decision
thereon shall be final.
(c) Where as a result of an order under 268[sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) of section 16 or]
section 17 or section 23 250[or section 23A] or section 24 or section 25 or section 27 or section
29 or section 35 or any order of the Wealth-tax Settlement Commission under sub-section (4) of
section 22D, the amount on which interest was payable under clause (a) has been increased or
reduced, as the case may be, the interest shall be increased or reduced accordingly and, in a
case where the interest is reduced, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice of
demand in the prescribed form specifying the amount of the excess interest paid and requiring
him to pay such amount; and such notice of demand shall be deemed to be a notice under
section 30 and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(d) The provisions of this sub-section shall apply in respect of assessments for the assessment
year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, and subsequent assessment years.]
(5) Where under any of the provisions of this Act, a refund is found to be due to any person, the
245
[Assessing] Officer, 269[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 270[Commissioner (Appeals)] or
253
[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner], as the case may be, may, in lieu of payment of the
refund, set off the amount to be refunded or any part of that amount, against the sum, if any,
remaining payable under this Act by the person to whom the refund is due, after giving an
intimation in writing to such person of the action proposed to be taken under this section.]
34AA. Appearance by registered valuers

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, any assessee who is entitled to or required to
attend before any wealth-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any matter
relating to the valuation of any asset, except where he is required under this Act to attend in
person, may attend by a registered valuer.
34AB. Registration of valuers
(1) The 272[Chief Commissioner or Director General] shall maintain a register to be called the
Register of Valuers in which shall be entered the names and addresses of persons registered
under sub-section (2) as valuers.
(2) Any person who possesses the qualifications prescribed in this behalf may apply to the
272
[Chief Commissioner or Director General] in the prescribed form273 for being registered as a
valuer under this section:
Provided that different qualifications may be prescribed for valuers of different classes of assets.
(3) Every application under sub-section (2) shall be verified in the prescribed manner, shall be
accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed and shall contain a declaration to the effect that
the applicant will(i) make an impartial and true valuation of any asset which he may be required to value;
(ii) furnish a report of such valuation in the prescribed form;
(iii) charge fees at a rate not exceeding the rate or rates prescribed in this behalf;
(iv) not undertake valuation of any asset in which he has a direct or indirect interest.
274
(4) The report of valuation of any asset by a registered valuer shall be in the prescribed form
and be verified in the prescribed manner.
34AC. Restrictions on practice as registered valuer
(1) No person, either alone, or in partnership with any other person, shall practise, describe
himself or hold himself out as a registered valuer for the purposes of this Act or permit himself
to be so described or held out unless he is registered as a valuer or, as the case may be, unless
he and all his partners are so registered under this Chapter.
(2) No company or other body corporate shall practise, describe itself or hold itself out as
registered valuers for the purposes of this Act or permit itself to be so described or held out.
252
[34ACC. Furnishing of particulars in certain cases
Where any person who is registered as a valuer under section 34AB or who has made an
application for registration as a valuer under that section is, at any time thereafter:(a) convicted of any offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment; or
(b) in a case where he is a member of any association or institution established in India having
as its object the control, supervision, regulation or encouragement of the profession of
architecture, accountancy, or company secretaries or such other profession as the Board may
specify in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette, found guilty of misconduct in his
professional capacity, by such association or institution,
he shall immediately after such conviction or, as the case may be, finding, intimate the
particulars thereof to the 272[Chief Commissioner or Director General].]
34AD. Removal from register of names of valuers and restoration

(1) The 272[Chief Commissioner or Director General] may remove the name of any person from
the register of valuers where 275[he] is satisfied, after giving that person a reasonable
opportunity of being heard and after such further inquiry, if any, as 275[he] thinks fit to make,(i) that his name has been entered in the register by error or on account of misrepresentation or
suppression of a material fact;
(ii) that he has been convicted of any offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment or has
been guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity which, in the opinion of the 272[Chief
Commissioner or Director General], renders him unfit to be kept in the register.
(2) The 272[Chief Commissioner or Director General] may, on application and on sufficient cause
being shown, restore to the register the name of any person removed therefrom.]
276
[(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), the Chief Commissioner
or Director General shall, once in three years review the performance of all the registered
valuers and may remove the name of any person from the Register of Valuers where he is
satisfied, after giving that person a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after such further
inquiry, if any, as he thinks fit to make, that his performance is such that his name should not
remain on the Register of Valuers.
(4) The Chief Commissioner or Director General may himself conduct the inquiry referred to in
sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) or appoint an Inquiry Officer not below the rank of a
Commissioner to conduct such inquiry, and for the purposes of such inquiry, the Chief
Commissioner or Director General and the Inquiry Officer so appointed shall have the same
powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, when trying a suit in
respect of the following matters, namely:(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person including any officer of a banking company and
examining him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of books of account and other documents;
(d) issuing commission.]
(2) The provisions of this Chapter regarding the registration of a person as a valuer and other
matters shall, so far as may be, apply to every application made under sub-section (1).
(3) Every application pending before the Board immediately before the 1st day of June, 1988,
shall be deemed to be an application received by the Chief Commissioner or Director General
under sub-section (1).]
277[34B. Transfers to defraud revenue to be void
(1) Where, during the pendency of any proceeding under this Act or after the completion
thereof, but before the service of notice under rule 2 of the Second Schedule to the Income-tax
Act as made applicable to this Act by section 32, any assessee creates a charge on, or parts with
(by way of sale, mortgage, gift, exchange or any other mode of transfer whatsoever) the
possession of, any of his assets in favour of any other person, such charge or transfer shall be
void as against any claim in respect of any tax or any other sum payable by the assessee as a
result of the completion of the said proceeding or otherwise:
Provided that such charge or transfer shall not be void, if it is made(i) for adequate consideration and without notice of the pendency of such proceeding or, as the
case may be, without notice of such tax or other sum payable by the assessee; or
(ii) with the previous permission of the
245
[Assessing] Officer.
(2) This section applies to cases where the amount of tax or other sum payable or likely to be
payable exceeds five thousand rupees and the assets charged or transferred exceed ten
thousand rupees in value.
Explanation.- In this section, "assets" means land, building, machinery, plant, shares, securities
and fixed deposits in banks to the extent to which any of the assets aforesaid does not form part
of the stock-in-trade of the business of the assessee.]
277
[34C. Provisional attachment to protect revenue in certain cases
(1) Where, during the pendency of any proceeding for the assessment of net wealth or for the
assessment or reassessment of net wealth which has escaped assessment, the 245[Assessing]
Officer is of the opinion that for the purpose of protecting the interests of the revenue it is
necessary so to do, he may, with the previous approval of the 253[Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner], by order in writing, attach provisionally any property belonging to the assessee
in the manner provided in the Second Schedule to the Income-tax Act as made applicable to this
Act by section 32.
278
[Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the proceedings under sub-section (5) of
section 37A shall be deemed to be proceedings for the assessment of any net wealth or for the
assessment or reassessment of any net wealth which has escaped assessment.]
(2) Every such provisional attachment shall cease to have effect after the expiry of a period of
six months from the date of the order made under sub-section (1):
Provided that the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] may, for reasons to be recorded in
writing, extend the aforesaid period by such further period or periods as he thinks fit, so
however, that the total period of extension shall not in any case exceed two years:]
278
[Provided further that where an application for settlement under section 22C is made, the
period commencing from the date on which such application is made and ending with the date
on which an order under sub-section (1) of section 22D is made shall be excluded from the
period specified in the preceding proviso.]
243[35. Rectification of mistakes
(1) With a view to rectifying any mistake apparent from the record(a) the 245[Assessing] Officer may amend any order of assessment or of refund or any other
order passed by him;
279
[(aa) a wealth-tax authority may amend any intimation or deemed intimation under subsection (1) of section 16;]
280 281
[(aaa)] the Valuation Officer may amend any order passed by him under section 16A;]
260
[(b) the 248[Joint] Director or 248[Joint] Commissioner or Director or Commissioner or Deputy

Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) may amend any order passed by him under
section 18A;]
260
[(c) the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) may amend any order
passed by him under section 23 250[or section 23A];
(d) the Commissioner may amend any order passed by him under section 25;
(e) the Appellate Tribunal may amend any order passed by it under section 24.]
(2) Where the amount of tax, penalty or interest determined as a result of the first appeal or
revision against the order referred to in sub-clause (iii) of clause (m) of section 2 282[, as it
existed immediately before its amendment by the Finance Act, 1992,] is paid within six months
of the date of the order passed in such appeal or revision, the 245[Assessing] Officer may,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, rectify the assessment by allowing a
deduction to the extent the tax, penalty or interest so paid stood disallowed therein as if such
rectification were a rectification of a mistake apparent from the record.
(3) Subject to the other provisions of this section, the authority concerned(a) may make an amendment under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of its own motion;
(b) shall make such amendment for rectifying any such mistake which has been brought to its
notice by the assessee, and where the authority concerned is the 280[Valuation Officer or the]
269
[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 270[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] or the Appellate
Tribunal, by the 245[Assessing] Officer also.
(4) An amendment, which has the effect of enhancing an assessment or reducing a refund or
otherwise increasing the liability of the assessee, shall not be made under this section unless the
authority concerned has given notice to the assessee of its intention so to do and has allowed
the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(5) Where an amendment is made under this section, an order shall be passed in writing by the
wealth-tax authority concerned or the tribunal, as the case may be.
(6) Where any such amendment has the effect of enhancing the assessment or reducing a
refund already made, the 245[Assessing] Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice of demand
in the prescribed form specifying the sum payable and such notice of demand shall be deemed
to be issued under section 30 and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
280
[(6A) Where any amendment made by the Valuation Officer under clause (aa) of sub-section
(1) has the effect of enhancing the valuation of any asset, he shall send a copy of his order to
the 245[Assessing] Officer who shall thereafter proceed to amend the order of assessment in
conformity with the order of the Valuation Officer and the provisions of sub-section (6) shall
apply accordingly.]
(7) No amendment under this section shall be made after the expiry of four years(a) in the case of an amendment under sub-section (2), 283[from the end of the financial year in
which the order was passed in the first appeal or revision] referred to in that sub-section; and
(b) in any other case, 284[from the end of the financial year in which the order sought to be
amended was passed].
280
[(7A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (7), where the valuation of any asset
has been enhanced by the Valuation Officer under this section, the consequential amendment to
the order of assessment may be made by the 245[Assessing] Officer at any time before the expiry
of one year from she date of the order of the Valuation Officer under this section.]
(8) Where any matter has been considered and decided in a proceeding by way of an appeal or
revision relating to an order referred to in subsection (1), the authority passing such order may,
notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, amend the
order under this section in relation to any matter other than the matter which has been so
considered and decided.]
265[35A. 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 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 exceeds one 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 three 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
impossible on him under any other provisions of this Act, be punishable with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to
three 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-
(a) 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
(b) makes, or causes to be made, any false entry or statement in such books of account or other
documents, or
(c) wilfully omits, or causes to be omitted, any relevant entry or statement in such books of
account or other documents, or
(d) causes any other circumstances 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.]
265
[35B. Failure to furnish returns of net wealth
If a person wilfully fails to furnish in due time the return of his net wealth which he is required to
furnish under sub-section (1) of section 14 or by notice given under sub-section (2) of section
14 or under sub-section (1) of section 17, 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 one 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 three 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 net wealth under sub-section (1) of section 14(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; or
(b) the tax payable by him on his net wealth determined on regular assessment does not exceed
three thousand rupees.]
265[35C. Failure to produce accounts, records, etc.
If a person wilfully fails to produce, or cause to be produced, on or before the date specified in
any notice under sub-section (4) of section 16, such accounts, records and documents as are
referred to in the notice, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which
may extend to one year or with fine equal to a sum calculated at a rate which shall not be less
than four rupees or more than ten rupees for every day during which the default continues, or
with both.]
265
[35D. False statement in verification, etc., made under certain provisions of the Act
If a person makes a statement in any verification under this Act (other than under section 34AB)
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 one 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;
months but which may extend to three years and with fine.]
265
[35E. False statement in verification mentioned in section 34AB
If a person makes a statement in a verification mentioned in section 34AB which is false, and
which he either knows or believes to be false, or does not believe to be true, he shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with
both.]
252
[35EE. Failure to furnish particulars under section 34ACC
If a person referred to in section 34ACC fails 285[***] to intimate to the Board the particulars of
conviction or finding referred to in the said section, he shall be punishable with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine:]
286
[Provided that no person shall be punishable under this section if he proves that there was
reasonable cause or excuse for the said failure.]
287
[35EEE. Contravention of order made under second proviso to sub-section (1) or

sub-section (3A) of section 37A
If a person contravenes any order referred to in the second proviso to sub-section (1) or subsection (3A) of section 37A, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two years and with fine.]
265
[35F. Abetment of false return, etc.
If a person abets or induces in any manner another person to make and deliver an account,
statement or declaration relating to any net wealth 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 subsection (1) of section 35A, he shall be punishable,(i) in a case where the amount of tax, penalty or interest, which would have been evaded, if he
declaration, account or statement had been accepted as true, or which is wilfully attempted to
be evaded, exceeds one 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;
months but which may extend to three years and with fine.]
265[35G. Punishment for second and subsequent offences
If any person convicted of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 35A or section 35B or
section 35D or section 35F is again convicted of an offence under any of the aforesaid
provisions, he shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to seven
years and with fine.]
265
[35H. Offences by Hindu undivided families
(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a Hindu undivided family, the karta
thereof shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against
and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render the karta liable to any
punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had
exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has
been committed by a Hindu undivided family and it is proved that the offence has been
committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of,
any member thereof, such member shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.]
282
[35HA. Offences by companies
(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at
the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for
the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty
of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any
punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had
exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has
been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the
consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager,
secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall
be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section,(a) "company" means a body corporate, and includes(i) a firm; and
(ii) an association of persons or a body of individuals whether incorporated or not; and
(b) "director", in relation to,(i) a firm, means a partner in a firm;
(ii) any association of persons or a body of individuals, means any member controlling the.
affairs thereof.]
288[35-I. Prosecutions to be with the previous sanction of certain wealth-tax

authorities and their power to compound offences
(1) A person shall not be proceeded against for an offence under this Act except with the
previous sanction of the Commissioner or Commissioner (Appeals):
Provided that the Chief Commissioner or, as the case may be, Director General may issue such
instructions or directions to the aforesaid wealth tax authorities as he may deem fit for
institution of proceedings under this sub-section.
(2) Any such offence may, either before or after the institution of proceedings, be compounded
by the Chief Commissioner or Director General.]
289
[Explanation.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the power of the Board to
issue orders, instructions or directions under this Act shall include and shall be deemed always
to have included the power to issue instructions or directions (including instructions or directions
to obtain the previous approval of the Board) to other wealth tax authorities for the proper
composition of offences under this section.]
265
[35J. Certain offences to be non-cognizable
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence

punishable under section 35A or section 35B or section 35D or section 35F shall be deemed to
be non-cognizable within the meaning of that Code.]
265
[35K. Bar on prosecution and on inadmissibility of evidence in certain circumstances
(1) A person shall not be proceeded against for an offence under section 35A or section 35D in
relation to the assessment for 290[an assessment year] in respect of which the penalty imposed
or imposable on him under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 18 has been reduced or
waived by an order under section 18B.
(2) Where any proceeding for prosecution has been taken against any person under this Act, any
statement made or account or other document produced by such person before 291[any wealthtax authority (not being an Inspector of Income-tax)] shall not be inadmissible as evidence for
the purpose of such proceedings merely on the ground that such statement was made or such
account or other document was produced in the belief that the penalty imposable would be
reduced or waived under section 18B or that the offence in respect of which such proceeding
was taken would be compounded.]
265
[35L. Jurisdiction of courts
No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try
any offence under this Act.]
265
[35M. Section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Probation of
Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply
Nothing contained in section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or in the Probation of
Offenders Act, 1958, shall apply to a person convicted of an offence under this Act unless that
person is under eighteen years of age.]
265[35N. Presumption as to books of account, etc., in certain cases
(1) Where during the course of any search made under section 37A, any books of account or
other documents, articles or things including money have been found in the possession or
control of any person and such books of account or other documents are tendered, or such
articles or things including money are relied upon, by the prosecution in evidence against such
person or against such person and the person referred to in section 35F for an offence under this
Act, the provisions of sub-section (5) of section 37A shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to
such books of account or other documents, articles or things including money.
(2) Where(i) any books of account or other documents, taken into custody, from the possession or control
of any person by any officer or authority under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of
section 37B, are delivered to the requisitioning officer under sub-section (2) of that section; or
(ii) any note or inventory of any articles or things including money taken into custody, from the
possession of any person, by any officer or authority under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
section 37B, is furnished to the requisitioning officer under sub-section (2) of that section,
and such books of account or other documents are tendered, or such note or inventory is relied
upon, by the prosecution in evidence against such person or against such person and the person
referred to in section 35F for an offence under this Act, the provisions of sub-section (5) of
section 37A shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to such books of account or other
documents or, as the case may be, the articles or things including money, covered by such note
or inventory.]
286
[35-O. Presumption as to culpable mental state
(1) In any prosecution for any offence under this Act which requires a culpable mental state on
the part of the accused, the court shall presume the existence of such mental state but it shall
be a defence for the accused to prove the fact that he had no such mental state with respect to
the act charged as an offence in that prosecution.
Explanation.- In this sub-section, "culpable mental state" includes intention, motive or
knowledge of a fact, or belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to
exist beyond reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a
preponderance of probability.]
268
[36. Proof of entries in records or documents
Entries in the records or other documents in the custody of a wealth tax authority shall be
admitted in evidence in any proceedings for the prosecution of any person for an offence under
this Act, and all such entries may be proved either by the production of the records or other
documents in the custody of the wealth-tax authority containing such entries or by the
production of a copy of the entries certified by the wealth-tax authority having custody of the
records or other documents under its signature and stating that it is a true copy of the original
entries and that such original entries are contained in the records or other documents in its
custody.]
261[36A. Power to tender immunity from prosecution
(1) The Central Government may, if it is of opinion (the reasons for such opinion being recorded
in writing) that with a view to obtaining the evidence of any person appearing to have been
directly or indirectly concerned in or privy to the concealment of particulars of net wealth or to
the evasion of payment of tax on net wealth, it is, necessary or expedient so to do, tender to
such person immunity from prosecution for any offence under this Act or under the Indian Penal
Code, 1860 or under any other Central Act for the time being in force and also from the
imposition of any penalty under this Act on condition of his making a full and true disclosure of
the whole circumstances relating to the concealment of particulars of net wealth or evasion of
payment of tax on net wealth.
(2) A tender of immunity made to, and accepted by, the person concerned shall, to the extent to
which the immunity extends, render him immune from prosecution for any offence in respect of
which the tender was made or from the imposition of any penalty under this Act.
(3) If it appears to the Central Government that any person to whom immunity has been
tendered under this section has not complied with the condition on which the tender was made
or is wilfully concealing anything or is giving false evidence, the Central Government may record
a finding to that effect, and thereupon the immunity shall be deemed to have been withdrawn,
and any such person may be tried for the offence in respect of which the tender of immunity was
made or, for any other offence of which he appears to have been guilty in connection with the
same matter and shall also become liable to the imposition of any penalty under this Act to
which he would otherwise have been liable.]
243
[37. Power to take evidence on oath, etc.
(1) The 245[Assessing] Officer, 280[Valuation Officer, 269[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)],

270
[Commissioner (Appeals), ] 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] and the Appellate
Tribunal shall, for the purposes of this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a court under
the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, when trying a suit in respect of the following matters,
namely:(a) discovery and inspection:
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer of a banking company and
examining him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of books of account and other documents; and
(d) issuing commissions.
276
[(1A) If the Director General or Director or 248[Joint] Director or Assistant Director 292[or
Deputy Director], or the authorised officer referred to in sub-section (1) of section 37A before he
takes action under clauses (i) to (vi) of that sub-section, has reason to suspect that any net
wealth has been concealed, or is likely to be concealed, by any person or class of persons within
his jurisdiction, then, for the purposes of making any inquiry or investigation relating thereto, it
shall be competent for him to exercise the powers conferred under sub-section (1) on the wealth
tax authorities referred to in that sub-section, notwithstanding that no proceedings with respect
to such person or class of persons are pending before him or any other wealth-tax authority.]
293
[***]
(3) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, any authority referred to in sub-section (1) 251[or
sub-section (1A)] may impound and retain in its custody for such period as it thinks fit any
books of account or other documents produced before it in any proceeding under this Act:
Provided that an 245[Assessing] Officer
292
[or Deputy Director] shall not-
280
[or a Valuation Officer]
251
[or an Assistant Director]
(a) impound any books of account or other documents without recording his reasons for so
doing, or
(b) retain in his custody any such books or documents for a period exceeding fifteen days
(exclusive of holidays) without obtaining the approval of 294[the 295[Chief Commissioner or
Director General or Commissioner or Director therefor, as the case may be.]]
(4) Any proceeding under this Act before a wealth-tax authority or the tribunal shall be deemed
to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of
section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.]
296[37A. Power of search and seizure
297
(1) Where the 298[Director General or Director] or the 253[ Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner] or any such 299[248[Joint] Director] or 247[248[Joint] Commissioner] as may be
empowered in this behalf by the Board, in consequence of information in his possession, has
reason to believe that(a) any person to whom a notice under sub-section (4) of section 16 or a summons under
section 37 was issued to produce, or cause to be produced, any books of account or other
documents, has omitted or failed to produce, or cause to be produced, such books of account or
other documents as required by such notice or summons, or
(b) any person to whom a notice or summons as aforesaid has been or might be issued will not,
or would not, produce, or cause to be produced, any books of account or other documents which
will be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act, or
(c) any person is in possession of 300[any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or
thing] disproportionate to his known assets, particulars of which will be useful for, or relevant to,
any proceeding under this Act,
then,(A) the 298[Director-general or Director] or the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner], as the
case may be, may authorise any 299[248[Joint] Director], 247[248[Joint Commissioner], 301[Assistant
Director] 292[or Deputy Director], 302[Assistant Commissioner 292[or Deputy Commissioner] or
Income-tax Officer], or
(B) such 299[248[joint] Director] or 247[248[Joint] Commissioner] may authorise any 301[Assistant
Director] 292[or Deputy Director], or 303[Assistant Commissioner 292[or Deputy Commissioner] or
Income-tax Officer],
(the officer so authorised in all cases being hereafter in this section referred to as the authorised
officer) to-
(i) enter and search any building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft where he has reason to
suspect that such books of account or other documents 304[money, bullion, jewellery or other
valuable article or thing] are kept;
(ii) search any person who has got out of, or is about to get into, or is in, the building, place,
vessel, vehicle or aircraft, if the authorised officer has reason to suspect that such person has
secreted about his person any such books of account or other documents, 304[money, bullion,
jewellery or other valuable article or thing];
(iii) break open the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, almirah or other receptacle for exercising
the powers conferred by clause (i) where the keys thereof are not available;
260
[(iv) seize any such books of account, other documents, money, bullion, jewellery or other
valuable article or thing found as a result of such search;]
(v) place, marks of identification on any such books of account or other documents or make, or
cause to be made, extracts or copies therefrom;
(vi) make a note or an inventory of any 304[money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or
thing] found which, in his opinion, will be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this
Act:
305
Provided that where any building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft referred to in clause (i) is
within the area of jurisdiction of any 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] but such 253[Chief
Commissioner or Commissioner] has no jurisdiction over the person referred to in clause (a) or
clause (b) or clause (c) of this sub-section, then, notwithstanding anything contained in
306
[section 8], it shall be competent for him to exercise the powers under this sub-section in all
cases where he has reason to believe that any delay in getting the authorisation from the
253
[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] having jurisdiction over such person may be
prejudicial to the interests of the revenue:
251
[Provided further that where it is not possible or practicable to take physical possession of any
valuable article or thing and remove it to a safe place due to its volume, weight or other physical
characteristics or due to its being of a dangerous nature, the authorised officer may serve an
order on the owner or the person who is in immediate possession or control thereof that he shall
not remove, part with or otherwise deal with it except with the previous permission of such
authorised officer and such action of the authorised officer shall be deemed to be seizure of such
valuable article or thing under clause (iv) of this sub-section.]
307
(2) Where any 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner], in consequence of information in his

possession, has reason to suspect that any books of account or other documents, 304[money,
bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing] in respect of which an officer has been
authorised by the 298[Director General or Director] or any other 253[Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner] or any such 299[248[Joint] Director] or 247[248[Joint Commissioner] as may be
empowered in this behalf by the Board to take action under clauses (i) to (vi) of sub-section (1)
are kept in any building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft not mentioned in the authorisation
under sub-section (1), such 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] may, notwithstanding
anything contained in 306[section 8], authorise the said officer to take action under any of the
clauses aforesaid in respect of such building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft.
(3) The authorised officer may requisition the services of any police officer or of any officer of
the Central Government, or of both, to assist him for all or any of the purposes specified in sub-
section (1) or sub-section (2) and it shall be the duty of every such officer to comply with such
requisition.
251
[(3A) The authorised officer may, where it is not practicable to seize any books of account,
other documents, money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing, for reasons other
than those mentioned in the second proviso to sub-section (1), serve an order on the owner or
the person who is in immediate possession or control thereof that he shall not remove, part with
or otherwise deal with it except with the previous permission of such officer and such officer may
take such steps as may be necessary for ensuring compliance with this sub-section.
Explanation.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that serving of an order as
aforesaid under this sub-section shall not be deemed to be seizure of such books of account,
other documents, money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing under clause (iv) of
sub-section (1).]
(4) The authorised officer may, during the course of the search or seizure, examine on oath any
person who is found to be in possession or control of any books of account or other documents,
articles or things including money and any statement made by such person during such
examination may thereafter be used in evidence in any proceeding under this Act.
251
[Explanation.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the examination of any
person under this sub-section may be not merely in respect of any books of account, other
documents or assets, found as a result of the search, but also in respect of matters, relevant for
the purposes of any investigation connected with any proceedings under this Act.]
(5) Where any books of account or other documents, articles or things including money are
found in the possession or control of any person in the course of a search, it may be presumed
that(i) such books of account or other documents, articles or things including money belong to such
person;
(ii) the contents of such books of account or other documents are true; and
(iii) the signature and every other part of such books of account or other documents which
purport to be in the handwriting of any particular person or which may reasonably be assumed
to have been signed by, or to be in the handwriting of, any particular person, are in that
person's handwriting, and in the case of a document stamped, executed or attested, that it was
duly stamped and executed or attested by the person by whom it purports to have been so
executed or attested.
251
[(5A) Where any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing (hereafter in this
section and in sections 37B and 37C referred to as the assets) is seized under sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2), the Assessing Officer, after affording a reasonable opportunity to the person
concerned of being heard and making such inquiry as may be prescribed, shall, within one
hundred and twenty days of the seizure, make an order, with the previous approval of the
248
[Joint] Commissioner,(i) estimating the undisclosed net wealth in a summary manner to the best of his judgment on
the basis of such materials as are available with him;
(ii) calculating the amount of tax on the net wealth so estimated in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
(iii) determining the amount of interest payable and the amount of any penalty imposable in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, as if the order had been the order of regular
assessment;
(iv) specifying the amount that will be required to satisfy any existing liability under this Act in
respect of which such person is in default or is deemed to be in default, and retain in his custody
such assets or part thereof as are in his opinion sufficient to satisfy the aggregate of the
amounts referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) and forthwith release the remaining portion, if
any, of the assets to the person from whose custody they were seized:
Provided that where a person has paid or made satisfactory arrangements for payment of all the
amounts referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) or any part thereof, the Assessing Officer, may
with the previous approval of the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner release the assets or
such part thereof as he may deem fit in the circumstances of the case.
(5B) The assets retained under sub-section (5A) may be dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of section 37C.
(5C) If the Assessing Officer is satisfied that the seized assets or any part thereof were held by
such person for or on behalf of any other person, the Assessing Officer may proceed under subsection (5A) against such other person and all the provisions of this section shall apply
accordingly.]
(6) The books of account or other documents, seized under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2),
shall not be retained by the authorised officer for a period exceeding one hundred and eighty
days from the date of the seizure unless the reasons for retaining the same are recorded by him
in writing and the approval of the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] for such retention is
obtained:
Provided that the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] shall not authorise the retention of
the books of account or other documents for a period exceeding thirty days after all the
proceedings under this Act in respect of the years for which the books of account or other
documents are relevant are completed.
251
[(6A) An order under sub-section (3A) shall not be in force for a period exceeding sixty days
from the date of the order, except where the authorised officer, for reasons to be recorded in
writing by him, extends the period of operation of the order beyond sixty days, after obtaining
the approval of the 308[Director or, as the case may be, Commissioner] for such extension:
Provided that the 308[Director or, as the case may be, Commissioner] shall not approve the
extension of the period for any period beyond the expiry of thirty days after the completion of
the proceedings under this Act in respect of the years for which the books of account, other
documents, money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable articles or things are relevant.]
(7) The person from whose custody any books of account or other documents are seized under
sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) may make copies thereof, or take extracts therefrom, in the
presence of the authorised officer or any other person empowered by him in this behalf at such
place and time as the authorised officer may appoint in this behalf.
(8) Where the authorised officer has no jurisdiction over the person referred to in clause (a) or
clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1), the books of account or other documents seized
under that sub-section shall be handed over by the authorised officer to the 245[Assessing]
Officer having jurisdiction over such person within a period of fifteen days of such seizure and
thereupon the powers exercisable by the authorised officer under sub-section (6) or sub-section
(7) shall be exercisable by such 245[Assessing] Officer.
(9) If a person legally entitled to the books of account or other documents seized under subsection (1) or sub-section (2) objects for any reason to the approval given by the 253[Chief
Commissioner or Commissioner] under sub-section (6), he may make an application to the
Board stating therein the reasons for such objection and requesting for the return of the books
of account or other documents.
251
[(9A) If any person objects for any reason to an order made under sub-section (5A), he may,
within thirty days from the date of such order, make an application to the Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner stating therein the reasons for such objection and requesting for appropriate relief
in the matter.]
260
[(10) On receipt of the application under sub-section (9), the Board, or on receipt of the
application under sub-section (9A), the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, may, after giving
the applicant an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders as it or he thinks fit.]
(11) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, relating to searches shall apply, so
far as may be, to searches under this section.
(12) The Board may make rules in relation to searches or seizure under this section; and in
particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide
for the procedure to be followed by the authorised officer(i) for obtaining ingress into any building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft to be searched where
free ingress thereto is not available;
(ii) for ensuring the safe custody of any books of account or other documents seized.
251
[Explanation 1.- In computing the period referred to in subsection (5A) for the purposes of
that sub-section, any period during which any proceeding under this section is stayed by an
order or injunction of any court shall be excluded.
Explanation 2.- In this section, the word "proceeding" means any proceeding in respect of any
year under this Act which may be pending on the date on which a search is authorised under this
section or which may have been completed on or before such date and includes also proceedings
under this Act which may be commenced after such date in respect of any year.]
30937B. Power to requisition books of account, etc.
310
(1) Where the 298[Director-General or Director] or the 253[Chief Commissioner or

Commissioner], in consequence of information in his possession, has reason to believe that(a) any person to whom a notice under sub-section (4) of section 16 or a summons under
section 37 was issued to produce, or cause to be produced, any books of account or other
documents has omitted or failed to produce, or cause to be produced, such books of account or
other documents as required by such notice or summons and the said books of account or other
documents have been taken into custody by any officer or authority under any other law for the
time being in force, or
(b) any books of account or other documents will be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding
under this Act and any person to whom a notice or summons as aforesaid has been or might be
issued will not, or would not, produce or cause to be produced such books of account or other
documents on the return of such books of account or other documents by any officer or
authority by whom or which such books of account or other documents have been taken into
custody under any other law for the time being in force, or
(c) 300[any assets] disproportionate to the known assets of any person particulars of which will
be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act, have been taken into custody by any
officer or authority under any other law for the time being in force, from the possession of such
person, then, the 298[Director-General or Director] or the 253[Chief Commissioner or
Commissioner] may authorise any 299[248[Joint] Director], 247[248[Joint Commissioner],
301
[Assistant Director] 292[or Deputy Director] or 311[Assistant Commissioner 292[or Deputy
Commissioner] or Income-tax Officer] (hereafter in this section referred to as the requisitioning
officer) to require such officer or authority 312[to deliver such books of account, other
documents, or assets to the requisitioning officer].
(2) On a requisition being made under sub-section (1), 312[the officer or authority referred to in
clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c), as the case may be, of that sub-section shall deliver the
books of account, other documents, or assets to the requisitioning officer either forthwith or
when such officer or authority is of the opinion that it is no longer necessary to retain the same
in his or its custody.]
260
[(3) Where any books of account, other documents, or assets have been delivered to the
requisitioning officer, the provisions of subsections (5) to (12) (both inclusive) of section. 37A
and section 37C shall, so far as may be, apply as if such books of account, other documents or
assets had been seized under sub-section (1) of section 37A by the requisitioning officer from
the custody of the person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1)
of this section and as if for the words "the authorised officer" occurring in sub-sections (5) to
(12) aforesaid, the words "the requisitioning officer" were substituted.]]
251[37C. Application of retained assets
(1) The assets retained under sub-section (5A) of section 37A may be dealt with in the following
manner, namely:(i) the amount of the existing liability referred to in clause (iv) of the said sub-section and the
amount of the liability determined on completion of the regular assessment or reassessment for
all the assessment years for which the net wealth referred to in clause (i) of that sub-section is
assessable to tax (including any penalty levied or interest payable, in connection with such
assessment or reassessment) and in respect of which the assessee is in default or is deemed to
be in default may be recovered out of such assets;
(ii) if the assets consist solely of money, or partly of money and partly of other assets, the
Assessing Officer may apply such money in the discharge of the liabilities referred to in clause (i)
and the assessee shall be discharged of such liabilities to the extent of the money so applied;
(iii) the assets other than money may also be applied for the discharge of any such liability
referred to in clause (i) as remains undischarged and for this purpose such assets shall be
deemed to be under distraint as if such distraint was effected by the Assessing Officer under
authorisation from the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner under sub-section (5) of section
226 of the Income-tax Act as made applicable to this Act by section 32, and the Assessing
Officer may recover the amount of such liabilities by the sale of such assets and such sale shall
be effected in the manner laid down in the Third Schedule to the Income-tax Act as made
applicable to this Act by section 32.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall preclude the recovery of the amount of liabilities
aforesaid by any other mode laid down in this Act.
(3) Any assets or proceeds thereof which remain after the liabilities referred to in clause (i) of
sub-section (1) are discharged shall be forthwith made over or paid to the persons from whose
custody the assets were seized.
(4) (a) The Central Government shall pay simple interest at the rate of fifteen per cent per
annum on the amount by which the aggregate of the money retained under section 37A and of
the proceeds, if any, of the assets sold towards the discharge of the existing liability referred to
in clause (iv) of sub-section (5A) of that section exceeds the aggregate of the amounts required
to meet the liabilities referred to in clause (i) of subsection (1) of this section.
(b) Such interest shall run from the date immediately following the expiry of the period of six
months from the date of the order under subsection (5A) of section 37A to the date of the
regular assessment or reassessment referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1) or, as the case
may be, to the date of the last of such assessments or reassessments.]
38. Information, returns and statements
313
[Where, for the purposes of this Act,] it appears necessary for 314[any wealth-tax authority] to
obtain any statement or information from any individual, company 251[(including a banking
company)], firm, Hindu undivided family or other person, 314[such wealth-tax authority] may
serve a notice requiring such individual, company, firm, Hindu undivided family or other person,
on or before a date to be therein specified, to furnish such statement or information on the
points specified in the notice, and the individual or the principal officer concerned or the
manager of the Hindu undivided family, as the case may be, shall, notwithstanding anything in
any law to the contrary, be bound to furnish such statement or information to 314[such wealthtax authority]:
Provided that no legal practitioner shall be bound to furnish any statement or information under
this section based on any professional communications made to him otherwise than as permitted
by section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
315[38A. Powers of Valuation Officer, etc.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a Valuation Officer or any overseer, surveyor or assessor
authorised by him in this behalf may, subject to any rules made in this behalf and at such
reasonable times as may be prescribed,(a) enter any land within the limits of the area assigned to the Valuation Officer, or
(b) enter any land, building or other place belonging to or occupied by any person in connection
with whose assessment a reference has been made under section 16A to the Valuation Officer,
or
(c) inspect any asset in respect of which a reference under section 16A has been made to the
Valuation Officer,
and require any person in charge of, or in occupation or possession of, such land, building or
other place or asset to afford him the necessary facility to survey or inspect such land, building
or other place or asset or estimate its value or inspect any books of account, document or record
which may be relevant for the valuation of such land, building or other place or asset and gather
other particulars relating to such land, building or other place or asset:
Provided that no Valuation Officer, overseer, surveyor or assessor shall enter any building or
place referred to in clause (b), or inspect any asset referred to in clause (c) (unless with the
consent of the person in charge of, or in occupation or possession of, such building, place or
asset) without previously giving to such person at least two days' notice in writing of his
intention to do so.
(2) If a person who, under sub-section (1), is required to afford any facility to the Valuation
Officer or the overseer, surveyor or assessor, either refuses or evades to afford such facility, the
Valuation Officer shall have all the powers under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 37 for
enforcing compliance of the requirements made.]
39. Effect of transfer of authorities on pending proceedings.
Whenever in respect of any proceeding under this Act any wealth-tax authority ceases to
exercise jurisdiction and is succeeded by another who has and exercises such jurisdiction, the
authority so succeeding may continue the proceeding from the stage at which the proceeding
was left by his predecessor:
261
[Provided that the assessee concerned may demand that before the proceeding is so
continued the previous proceeding or any part thereof be reopened or that before any order of
assessment is passed against him he be reheard.]
40. Computation of periods of limitation
In computing the period of limitation prescribed for an appeal under this Act or for an application
under section 27, the day on which the order complained of was made and the time requisite for
obtaining a copy of such order shall be excluded.
41. Service of notice
(1) A notice or a requisition under this Act may be served on the person therein named either by
post or as if it were a summons issued by a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
(2) Any such notice or requisition may, in the case of a firm or a Hindu undivided family, be
addressed to any member of the firm or to the manager or any adult male member of the
family, and in the case of 268[a company or] any other association of persons be addressed to
the principal officer thereof.
261
[(3) After a finding of total partition has been recorded by the 245[Assessing] Officer under
section 20 in respect of any Hindu family, notices under this Act in respect of the net wealth of
the Hindu family shall be served on the person who was the last manager of the Hindu family,
or, if such person is dead, then on all surviving adults who were members of the Hindu family
immediately before the partition.]
316
[(4) Where an association of persons referred to in section 21AA is dissolved, notices under
this Act in respect of any matter relating to the association may be served on any person who
was a member of the association immediately before its dissolution.]
[42. Prohibition of disclosure of information- Omitted by the Finance Act, 1964, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1964]
317
[42A. Publication of information respecting assessees
(1) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest
to publish the names of any assessees and any other particulars relating to any proceedings
265
[or prosecutions] under this Act in respect of such assessees, it may cause to be published
such names and particulars in such manner as it thinks fit.]
318
[(2) No publication under this section shall be made in relation to any penalty imposed under
this Act until the time for presenting an appeal to the 269[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 270[or,
as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] has expired without an appeal having been
presented or the appeal, if presented, has been disposed of.]
268
[Explanation - In the case of a company, the names of the directors, secretaries and
treasurers, or managers of the company, may also be published if, in the opinion of the Central
Government, the circumstances of the case justify it.]
319
[42B. Disclosure of information respecting assessees320
Where a person makes an application to the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] in the

prescribed form for any information relating to any assessee in respect of any assessment made
under this Act, the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] may, if he is satisfied that it is in
the public interest so to do, furnish or cause to be furnished the information asked for in respect
of that assessment only and his decision in this behalf shall be final and shall not be called in
question in any court of law.]
265
[42C. Return of wealth, etc., not to be invalid on certain grounds
No return of wealth, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding furnished or made or

issued or taken or purported to have been furnished or made or issued or taken in pursuance of
any of the provisions of this Act shall be invalid or shall be deemed to be invalid merely by
reason of any mistake, defect or omission in such return of wealth, assessment, notice,
summons or other proceeding if such return of wealth, assessment, notice, summons or other
proceeding is in substance and effect in conformity with or according to the intent and purpose
of this Act.]
43. Bar of jurisdiction
No suit shall lie in any civil court to set aside or modify 321[any proceeding taken or order made]
under this Act, and no prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against 322[the
Government or] any officer of the Government for anything in good faith done or intended to be
done under this Act.
243
[44. Appearance before wealth-tax authorities by authorised representatives
(1) Any assessee who is entitled to or required to attend before any wealth-tax authority or the
Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceeding under this Act, except where he is required
under this Act to attend in person, may attend by a person who would be entitled to represent
him before any income-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal under section 288 of the Incometax Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1)-
(i) no person who has been convicted of an offence connected with any wealth-tax proceeding or
on whom a penalty has been imposed under this Act other than a penalty imposed on him under
clause (i) or clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 18 shall be qualified to represent an
assessee under sub-section (1) for such time as the 253[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner]
may by order determine;
(ii) if any person who is not a legal practitioner or a chartered accountant, is found guilty of
misconduct in connection with any wealth-tax proceeding by the prescribed authority, the
prescribed authority may direct that he shall thenceforth be disqualified to represent an
assessee under sub-section (1);
(iii) no person not qualified to represent an assessee under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922, the
Estate Duty Act, 1953, the Expenditure-tax Act, 1957, or the Gift-tax Act, 1958, shall be entitled
to appear on behalf of any assessee under this Act:
Provided that any order or direction under clause (i) or clause (ii) shall be subject to the
following conditions, namely:(a) no such order or direction shall be made in respect of any person unless he has been given a
reasonable opportunity of being heard;
(b) any person against whom any such order or direction is made may, within one month of the
making of the order or direction, appeal to the Board to have the order or direction cancelled;
and
(c) no such order or direction shall take effect until the expiration of one month from the making
thereof, or, where an appeal has been preferred, until the disposal of the appeal.]
261[44A. Agreement for avoidance or relief of double taxation with respect to wealthtax
323
[The Central Government may enter into an agreement with the Government of any
reciprocating country(a) for the avoidance or relief of double taxation with respect to wealth-tax payable under this
Act and under the corresponding law in force in the reciprocating country, or
(b) for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of wealth-tax
chargeable under this Act or under the corresponding law in force in that country or investigation
of cases of such evasion or avoidance, or
(c) for recovery of tax under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in that country,
and may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make such provision as may be necessary for
implementing the agreement.]
Explanation.- The expression "reciprocating country" for the purposes of this Act means any
country which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be
a reciprocating country.]
261
[44B. Countries with which no agreement exists
Where the net wealth of any assessee includes any foreign wealth and he proves that, in respect
of such foreign wealth, he has paid in any country, with which there is no reciprocal
arrangement under section 44A for the relief or avoidance of double taxation, a tax in respect of
wealth, under the law in force in that country, he shall be entitled to the deduction from the
Indian wealth-tax payable by him of a sum calculated on such doubly taxed foreign wealth at the
Indian rate of tax or the rate of tax of the said country, whichever is the lower, or at the Indian
rate of tax if both the rates are equal.
Explanation.- In this section(1) the expression "Indian wealth-tax" means wealth-tax charged in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
(2) the expression "Indian rate of tax" means the rate determined by dividing the amount of
Indian wealth-tax after deduction of any relief due under the provisions of this Act but before the
deduction of any relief due under this section by the net wealth;
(3) the expression "rate of tax of the said country" means any tax in respect of wealth, actually
paid in the said country, in accordance with the corresponding laws in force in the said country
after deduction of all relief due but before deduction of any relief due in the said country in
respect of double taxation, divided by the whole amount of the wealth assessed in the said
country;
(4) the expression "foreign wealth" in relation to any assessee, means the value of all his assets
located in any country outside India as reduced by the value of his debts in that country.]
324
[44C. Rounding off of net wealth
The amount of net wealth computed in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Act shall
be rounded off to the nearest multiple of one hundred rupees and, for this purpose, any part of a
rupee consisting of paise shall be ignored and thereafter, if such amount contains a part of one
hundred rupees, then, if such part is fifty rupees or more, the amount shall be increased to the
next higher amount which is a multiple of one hundred and, if such part is less than fifty rupees,
the amount shall be reduced to the next lower amount which is a multiple of one hundred; and
the amount so rounded off shall be deemed to be the net wealth of the assessee for the
purposes of this Act.]
324[44D. Rounding off of tax, etc.
The amount of wealth-tax, interest, penalty, fine or any other sum payable, and the amount of
refund due, under the provisions of this Act, shall be rounded off to the nearest rupee and, for
this purpose, where such amount contains a part of a rupee consisting of paise, then, if such
part is fifty paise or more, it shall be increased to one rupee, and if such part is less than fifty
paise, it shall be ignored.]
45. Act not to apply in certain cases
325
[No tax shall be levied under this Act in respect of the net wealth of-]
326
[***]
(f) any company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956;
327
[(g) any co-operative society;]
328
[(h) any social club;]
329
[(i) any political party.
Explanation.- For the purposes of clause (i), "political party" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in the Explanation to section 13A of the Income-tax Act;]
330
[(j) a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act.]
46. Power to make rules

(1) The Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, rules made
under this section may provide for(a) the manner in which the market value of any asset may be determined;
(b) 331the form in which returns under this Act shall be made and the manner in which they shall
be verified;
(c) 332the form in which appeals and applications under this Act may be made, and the manner
in which they shall be verified;
258
[(cc) the circumstances in which, the conditions subject to which, and the manner in which,
the 269[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 270[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] may permit an
appellant to produce evidence which he did not produce or which he was not allowed to produce
before the 245[Assessing] Officer;]
(d)
244
the form of any notice of demand under this Act;
324
[(dd) the procedure to be followed in calculating interest payable by assessees or interest

payable by the Government to assessees under any provision of this Act, including the rounding
off of the period for which such interest is to be calculated in cases where such period includes a
fraction of a month, and specifying the circumstances in which and the extent to which petty
amounts of interest payable by assessees may be ignored;]
333
[(e) the areas within which Valuation Officers may exercise jurisdiction;
(ee) the manner in which and the conditions subject to which Valuation Officers, overseers,
surveyors and assessors may exercise their powers under sub-section (1) of section 38A;]
(f) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed for the purposes of this Act.
334
[(3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall include the power to give
retrospective effect, from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act, to the
rules or any of them and, unless the contrary is permitted (whether expressly or by necessary
implication), no retrospective effect shall be given to any rule so as to prejudicially affect the
interests of assessees.]
243
[(4) The Central Government shall cause every rule made under this Act 335[and the rules of
procedure framed by the Settlement Commission under sub-section (7) of section 22F] to be laid
as soon as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a
total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two 336[or more]
successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the session 337[immediately following the session
or the successive sessions aforesaid], both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule
or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done
under that rule.]
338[46A. Power to make exemption, etc., in relation to certain Union territories
If the Central Government considers it necessary or expedient so to do for avoiding any hardship
or anomaly or removing any difficulty that may arise as a result of the application of this Act, to
the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry, or in the
case of the Union territory of Pondicherry, for implementing any provision of the Treaty of
Cession concluded between France and India on the 28th day of May, 1956, that Government
may, by general or special order, make an exemption, reduction in rate or other modification in
respect of wealth-tax in favour of any class of assets or in regard to the whole or any part of the
net wealth of any assessee or class of assessees:
Provided that the power conferred by this section shall not be exercisable after the 31st day of
March, 1967, except for the purposes of rescinding an exemption, reduction or modification
already made.]
330
[47. Power to remove difficulties
(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act as amended by the Direct
Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, the Central Government may, by order, do anything not
inconsistent with such provisions for the purpose of removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiration of three years from the 1st day of
April, 1988.
(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid before each House of Parliament.]
SCHEDULE
340
339
[I]
[See section 3(1)]
Rate of wealth-tax
341
[PART I
(1) In the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family, not being a Hindu undivided family
to which item (2) of this part appliesRate of tax
(a) where the net wealth does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000
Nil;
(b) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 2,50,000 but does
1/2 per cent of the amount by which the net wealth exceeds Rs.
not exceed Rs. 10,00,000
2,50,000;
(c) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 10,00,000 but does
Rs. 3,750 plus 1 per cent of the amount by which the net
wealth exceeds Rs. 10,00,000;
(d) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 20,00,000
wealth exceeds Rs. 20,00,000;
(2) In the case of every Hindu undivided family which has at least one member whose net
wealth assessable for the assessment year exceeds Rs. 2,50,000-
(a) where the net wealth does not exceed Rs. 1,50,000
(b) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 1,50,000 but does
(c) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 5,00,000 but does
(d) where the net wealth exceeds Rs. 10,00,000
278
Rate of tax
Nil;
1 per cent of the amount by which the net wealth exceeds Rs.
1,50,000;
Rs. 3,750 plus 2 per cent of the amount by which the net wealth
exceeds Rs. 5,00,000;
wealth exceeds Rs. 10,00,000.]
[Surcharge on wealth-tax
The amount of wealth-tax computed in accordance with the provisions of this Part shall, in
relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, be increased by a
surcharge calculated at the rate of the ten per cent of such wealth-tax.]
342
[***]
Foot Notes
243. Substituted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
244. See Form C of the Wealth Tax Rules.
245. Substituted for the words "Wealth-tax" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
246. Substituted for the words "thirty-five days" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
247. Substituted for the words "Inspecting Assistant Commissioner", by the Direct Tax Laws
248. Substituted for the word "Deputy" by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October,
1998.
249. Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "fifteen per cent per annum from the day
commencing after the end of the period mentioned in sub-section (1)" by the Direct Tax Laws
(Amendment) Act, 1987 w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989. It has further been clarified by the Amendment
Act that the increase in the rate of interest will apply in respect of any period falling after 30th.
September, 1984. This is true also for those cases where the interest became chargeable or
payable from an earlier date.
249A. Substituted for the words "one and one-half per cent" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st
June, 2001.
250. Inserted by the Finance Act, 2000, w.e.f. 1st. June, 2000.
251. Inserted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
252. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
253. Substituted for the word "Commissioner" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987,
254. Inserted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.r.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
255. Substituted for the words ", on the recommendation made by the Commissioner in this
behalf, it is satisfied that", by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1987.
256. Substituted for the former clauses (i) and (ii) by the Finance Act, 1987, w.r.e.f. 1st.
October, 1984.
257. For assessees in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, see also Order No. 12/93-WT, dated
17th. June, 1993.
258. Inserted by the Finance Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1972.
259. Substituted for the words "and to Wealth-tax Officer and Commissioner of Wealth-tax
instead of to Income-tax Officer and Commissioner of Income-tax" by the Direct Tax Laws
260. Substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
261. Inserted by the Wealth-tax (Amendment) Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1965.
262. Substituted for the words "total income" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989,
263. Substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
264. Substituted for the words "fifteen per cent" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f. 1st June,
2001.
265. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1975.
266. Substituted for the words "Where, in pursuance of any order passed under this Act, the
refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1989, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
267. Substituted for the words "one per cent" by the Finance Act, 2001, w.e.f.1st June, 2001.
269. Substituted for the words "Appellate Assistant Commissioner", by the Direct Tax Laws
270. Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1977, w.e.f. 10th. July, 1978.
271. Chapter VIIB inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 15th.
November, 1972.
272. Substituted for the words "Board" by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
273. See Form N of the Wealth Tax Rules.
274. See Forms O-1 to O-10 of the Wealth Tax Rules.
275. Substituted for the word "it" by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
277. Earlier sections 34B and 34C substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975,
w.e.f. 1st. October, 1975.
279. Substituted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1999.
280. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1st. January, 1973.
281. Substituted for the brackets and figures "(aa)" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
283. Substituted for the words "from the date of the order passed in the first appeal or revision"
by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
284. Substituted for the words "from the date of the order sought to be amended", by the
Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1984.
285. The words ", without reasonable cause excuse," omitted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment
& Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f. 10th. September, 1986.
286. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f.
288. Substituted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1991.
289. Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1975.
290. Substituted for the words and figure "the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of
April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year" by the Finance Act, 1990, w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
291. Substituted for the words and figure "any of the wealth-tax authority specified in sections
8, 9, 9A, 10, 10A and 11" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April,
1989.
292. Inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1998.
293. Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
294. Substituted for the words "the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner therefor" by the
Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. June, 1988.
295. Substituted for the word "Commissioner", by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
296. Sections 37A and 37B substituted for former section 37A by the Taxation Laws
(Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1975.
297. See Form M of the Wealth Tax Rules.
298. Substituted for the words "Director of Inspection" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment)
Act, 1987. w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
299. Substituted for the words "Deputy Director of Inspection" by the Direct Tax Laws
300. Substituted for the words "any articles or things including money" by the Direct Tax Laws
301. Substituted for the words "Assistant Director of Inspection" by the Direct Tax Laws
302. Substituted for the words "or Wealth-tax Officer" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987 and the effective date was modified by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
303. Substituted for the words "or Wealth-tax Officer" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
304. Substituted for the words "articles or things including money" by the Direct Tax Laws
305. See Form M-1 of the Wealth Tax Rules.
306. Substituted for the words and figure "section 10" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
308. Substituted for the words "Chief Commissioner or Commissioner " by the Finance (No. 2)
Act, 1991, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1991.
309. Sections 37B and 37A substituted for former section 37A by the Taxation Laws
(Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1975.
311. Substituted for the words "Wealth-tax Officer", by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act,
1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1988.
312. Substituted for clauses (i) and (ii) by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f.
1st. April, 1989.
313. Substituted for the words "Where, for the purposes of determining the wealth-tax payable
by any person" by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
314. Substituted for the words "the Wealth-tax Officer", by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment)
Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1989.
315. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 15th. November, 1972.
317. Substituted by the Finance Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1964. It was inserted by the
Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1960, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1960.
318. Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. October, 1975.
319. Substituted by the Finance Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1964.
320. See Forms I to L of the Wealth Tax Rules.
321. Substituted for the words "any order made" by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1st. March,
1988.
324. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1970, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1971.
325. Substituted for the words "The provisions of this Act shall not apply to-" by the Finance Act,
1972, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1972.
326. Clauses (a) to (e) omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.
327. Inserted by the Finance Act, 1972, w.r.e.f. 1st. April, 1957.
331. See Forms A and B of the Wealth Tax Rules.

332. See Forms E to H of the Wealth Tax Rules.
333. Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972, w.e.f. 15th. November, 1972.
334. Substituted by the Direct Taxes (Amendment) Act, 1974, w.e.f. 18th. August, 1974.
337. Substituted for the words "in which it is so laid or the session immediately following" by the
Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1976.
338. Inserted by the Taxation Laws (Extension to Union Territories) Regulation, 1963, w.e.f. 1st.
April, 1963.
340. Substituted for the words, figure and brackets "[See section 3]" by the Finance Act, 1992,
342. Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1st. April, 1993.
1. Value of assets how to be determined
The value of any asset, other than cash, for the purposes of this Act, shall be determined in the
manner laid down in these rules.
2. Definitions
In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires,(1) "accounting year" in relation to a company means a period in respect of which any profit and
loss account of the company laid before it in the annual general meeting is made up;
(2) "debenture" includes debenture stock, bonds and any other securities of a company, whether
constituting a charge on the
assets of the company or not;
(3) "equity share" means any share in the share capital of a company other than a preference
share;
(4) "gold" means gold, including its alloy, whether virgin, melted, remelted, wrought or
unwrought, in any shape or form of a purity of not less than nine carats and includes any gold
coin (whether legal tender or not), any gold ornament and other article of gold;
(5) "gold ornament" means any article in a finished form, meant for personal adornment or for
the adornment of any idol, deity or any other object of religious worship made of, or
manufactured from, gold, whether or not set with stones or gems, real or artificial, or with
pearls, real, cultured or imitation, or with all or any of them and includes parts, pendants or
broken pieces of gold ornaments;
(6) "investment company" means a company whose gross total income consists mainly of
income which is chargeable to income-tax under the heads "Income from house property",
"Capital gains" and "Income from other sources".
Explanation.- In this clause, the expression "gross total income" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in section 80B of the Income-tax Act;
(7) "jewellery" includes(a) ornaments made of gold, silver, platinum or any other precious metal or any alloy containing
one or more of such precious metals, whether or not containing any precious or semi-precious
stones, and whether or not worked or sewn into any wearing apparel;
(b) precious or semi-precious stones, whether or not set in any furniture, utensils or other article
or worked or sewn into any apparel;
(8) "preference share" has the meaning assigned to it in section 85 of the Companies Act, 1956
(1 of 1956);
(9) "quoted share" or "quoted debenture", in relation to an equity share or a preference share
or, as the case may be, a debenture, means a share or debenture quoted on any recognised
stock exchange with regularity from time to time, where the quotations of such shares or
debentures are based on current transactions made in the ordinary course of business.
Explanation.- Where any question arises whether a share or debenture is a "quoted share" or a
"quoted debenture" within the meaning of this clause, a certificate to that effect furnished by the
concerned stock exchange in the prescribed form2 shall be accepted as conclusive;
(10) "recognised stock exchange" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (f) of section 2 of the
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);
(11) "unquoted share" or "unquoted debenture", in relation to an equity share or a preference
share or, as the case may be, a debenture, means a share or debenture which is not a quoted
share or a quoted debenture.
Part B
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
3. Valuation of immovable property
Subject to the provisions of rules 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, for the purposes of sub-section (1) of section
7, the value of any immovable property, being a building or land appurtenant thereto, or part
there of, shall be the amount arrived at by multiplying the net maintainable rent by the figure
12.5:
Provided that in relation to any such property which is constructed on leasehold land, this rule
shall have effect as if for the figure 12.5,(a) where the unexpired period of the lease of such land is fifty years or more, the figure 10.0
had been substituted; and
(b) where the unexpired period of the lease of such land is less than fifty years, the figure 8.0
had been substituted:
Provided further that where such property is acquired or construction of which is completed after
31st day of March, 1974, if the value so arrived at is lower than the cost of acquisition or the
cost of construction, as increased, in either case, by the cost of any improvement to the
property, the cost of acquisition or, as the case may be, the cost of construction, as so
increased, shall be taken to be the value of the property under this rule:
Provided also that the provisions of the second proviso shall not apply for determining the value
of one house belonging to the assessee, where such house is acquired or the construction
whereof is completed after the 31st day of March, 1974, and the house is exclusively used by
the assessee for his own residential purposes throughout the period of twelve months
immediately preceding the valuation date and the cost of acquisition or, as the case may be, the
cost of construction, as increased, in either case, by the cost of any improvement to the house,
does not exceed,(a) if the house is situate at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi or Madras, fifty lakh rupees;
(b) if the house is situate at any other place, twenty-five lakh rupees:
Provided also that where more than one house belonging to the assessee is exclusively used by
him for residential purposes, the provisions of the third proviso shall apply only in respect of one
of such houses which the assessee may, at his option, specify in this behalf.
4. Net maintainable rent how to be computed
For the purposes of rule 3, "net maintainable rent" in relation to an immovable property referred
to in that rule, shall be the amount of gross maintainable rent as reduced by(i) the amount of taxes levied by any local authority in respect of the property; and
(ii) a sum equal to fifteen per cent of the gross maintainable rent.
5. Gross maintainable rent how to be computed
For the purposes of rule 4, "gross maintainable rent", in relation to any immovable property
referred to in rule 3, means(i) where the property is let, the amount received or receivable by the owner as annual rent or
the annual value assessed by the local authority in whose area the property is situated for the
purposes of levy of property tax or any other tax on the basis of such assessment, whichever is
higher;
(ii) where the property is not let, the amount of annual rent assessed by the local authority in
whose area the property is situated for the purpose of levy of property tax or any other tax on
the basis of such assessment, or, if there is no such assessment or the property is situated
outside the area of any local authority the amount which the owner can reasonably be expected
to receive as annual rent had such property been let.
Explanation.- In this rule,(1) "annual rent" means,(a) where the property is let throughout the year ending on the valuation date (hereinafter
referred to as "previous year"), the actual rent received or receivable by the owner in respect of
such year;
(b) where the property is let for only a part of the previous year, the amount which bears the
same proportion to the amount of actual rent received or receivable by the owner for the period
for which the property is let as the period of twelve months bears to the number of months
(including part of a month) during which the property is let during the previous year:
Provided that in the following cases, such actual rent under sub-clauses (a) and (b) shall be
increased in the manner specified below:(i) where the property is in the occupation of a tenant and taxes levied by any local authority in
respect of the property are borne wholly or partly by the tenant, by the amount of the taxes so
borne by the tenant;
(ii) where the property is in the occupation of a tenant and expenditure on repairs in respect of
the property is borne by the tenant, by one-ninth of the actual rent;
(iii) where the owner has accepted any amount as deposit (not being advance payment towards
rent for a period of three months or less), by the amount calculated at the rate of 15 per cent
per annum on the amount of deposit outstanding from month to month, for the number of
months (excluding part of a month) during which such deposit was held by the owner in the
previous year, and if the owner is liable to pay interest on such deposit, the increase to be made
under this clause shall be limited to the sum by which the amount calculated as aforesaid
exceeds the interest actually paid;
(iv) where the owner has received any amount by way of premium or otherwise as consideration
for leasing of the property or any modification of the terms of the lease, by the amount obtained
by dividing the premium or other amount by the number of years of the period of the lease;
(v) where the owner derives any benefit or perquisite, whether convertible into money or not, as
consideration for leasing of the property or any modification of the terms of the lease, by the
value of such benefit or perquisite;
(2) "rent received or receivable" shall include all payments for the use of the property, by
whatever name called, the value of all benefits or perquisites whether convertible into money or
not, obtained from a tenant or occupier of the property and any sum paid by a tenant or
occupier of the property in respect of any obligation which, but for such payment, would have
been payable by the owner.
6. Adjustments to value arrived at under rule 3, for unbuilt area of plot of land
Where the unbuilt area of the plot of land on which the property referred to in rule 3 is
constructed exceeds the specified area, the value arrived at in accordance with the provisions of
rule 3 shall be increased by an amount calculated in the following manner, namely:-
(a) where the difference between the unbuilt area and the specified area exceeds five per cent
but does not exceed ten per cent of the aggregate area, by an amount equal to twenty per cent
of such value;
(b) where the difference between the unbuilt area and the specified area exceeds ten per cent
but does not exceed fifteen per cent of the aggregate area, by an amount equal to thirty per
cent of such value;
(c) where the difference between the unbuilt area and the specified area exceeds fifteen per
cent, but does not exceed twenty per cent of the aggregate area by an amount equal to forty
per cent of such value.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this rule and rule 6,(a) "aggregate area", in relation to the plot of land on which the property is constructed, means
the aggregate of the area on which the property is constructed and the unbuilt area;
(b) "specified area", in relation to the plot of land on which the property is constructed, means(i) where the property is situate at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi or Madras, sixty per cent of the
aggregate area;
(ii) where the property is situate at Agra, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bhopal,
Cochin, Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jamshedpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai,
Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Salem, Sholapur, Srinagar, Surat, Tiruchirappali, Trivandrum, Vadodara
(Baroda) or Varanasi (Benaras), sixty-five per cent of the aggregate area; and
(iii) where the property is situate at any other place, seventy per cent of the aggregate area:
Provided that where, under any law for the time being in force, the minimum area of the plot of
land required to be kept as open space for the enjoyment of the property exceeds the specified
area, such minimum area shall be deemed to be the specified area;
(c) "unbuilt area", in relation to the aggregate area of the plot of land on which the property is
constructed, means that part of such aggregate area on which no building has been erected.
7. Adjustment for unearned increase in the value of the land
Where the property is constructed on land obtained on lease from the Government, a local
authority or any authority referred to in clause (20A) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, and
the Government or any such authority is, under the terms of the lease, entitled to claim and
recover a specified part of the unearned increase in the value of the land at the time of the
transfer of the property, the value of such property as determined under rule 3 shall be reduced
by the amount so liable to be claimed and recovered or by an amount equal to fifty per cent of
the value of the property as so determined, whichever is less, as if the property had been
transferred on the valuation date.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this rule, "unearned increase" means the difference between
the value of such land on the valuation date as determined by the Government or such authority
for the purpose of calculating such increase and the amount of the premium paid or payable to
the Government or such authority for the lease of the land.
8. Rule 3 not to apply in certain cases
Nothing contained in rule 3 shall apply(a) where, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the Assessing Officer with
the previous approval of the 3[Joint] Commissioner, is of opinion that it is not practicable to
apply the provisions of the said rule to such a case; or
(b) where the difference between the unbuilt area and the specified area exceeds twenty per
cent of the aggregate area; or
(c) where the property is constructed on leasehold land and the lease expires within a period not
exceeding fifteen years from the relevant valuation date and the deed of lease does not give an
option to the lessee for the renewal of the lease,
and in any case referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c), the value of the property
shall be determined in the manner laid down in rule 20.
4
[Part C]
Part D
ASSETS OF BUSINESS
14. Global valuation of assets of business
(1) Where the assessee is carrying on a business for which accounts are maintained by him
regularly, the net value of the assets of the business as a whole, having regard to the balance
sheet of such business on the valuation date after adjustments specified in sub-rule (2) shall be
taken as the value of such assets for the purposes of this Act.
(2) For the purposes of sub-rule (1)(a) the value of any asset as disclosed in the balance sheet shall be taken to be,(i) in the case of an asset on which depreciation is admissible, its written down value;
(ii) in the case of an asset on which no depreciation is admissible, its book value;
(iii) in the case of closing stock its value adopted for the purposes of assessment under the
Income-tax Act for the previous year relevant to the corresponding assessment year;
(b) where the value of any of the assets referred to in clause (a), determined in accordance with
the provisions of this Schedule as applicable to that particular asset or if there are no such
provisions, determined id accordance with rule 20, exceeds the value arrived at in accordance
with clause (a) by more than 20 per cent, then the higher value shall be taken to be the value of
that asset;
(c) the value of an asset not disclosed in the balance sheet, shall be taken to be the value
determined in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule as applicable to that asset;
(d) the value of the following assets which are disclosed in the balance sheet shall not be taken
into account, namely:(i) any amount paid as advance tax under the Income-tax Act;
(ii) the debt due to the assessee according to the balance sheet or part thereof which has been
allowed as a deduction under clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 36 of the Income-tax Act,
for the purposes of assessment for the previous year relevant to the corresponding assessment
year under that Act;
(iii) the value of any asset in respect of which wealth-tax is not payable under this Act;
(iv) any amount shown in the balance sheet including the debit balance in the profit and loss
account or profit and loss appropriation account which does not represent the value of any
asset;
(v) any asset shown in the balance sheet not really pertaining to the business;
(e) the following amounts shown as liabilities in the balance sheet shall not be taken into
account, namely:(i) capital employed in the business other than that attributable to borrowed money;
(ii) reserves by whatever name called;
(iii) any provision made for meeting any future or contingent liability;
(iv) any liability shown in the balance sheet not really pertaining to the business;
(v) any debt owed by the assessee to the extent to which it has been specifically utilised for
acquiring an asset in respect of which wealth-tax is not payable under this Act:
Provided that where it is not possible to calculate the amount of debt so utilised, it shall be taken
as the amount which bears the same proportion to the total of the debts owed by the assessee
as the value of that asset bears to the total value of the assets of the business.
Explanation.- Provision for any purpose other than taxation shall be treated as a reserve.
Part E
INTEREST IN FIRM OR ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS
15. Valuation of interest in firm or association of persons
The value of the interest of a person in a firm of which he is a partner or in an association of
persons of which he is a member shall be determined in the manner provided in rule 16.
16. Computation of net wealth of the firm or association and its allocation amongst the
partners or members
The net wealth of the firm or association of persons on the valuation date shall first be
determined as if it were the assessee and, thereafter,(i) that portion of the net wealth of the firm or association as is equal to the amount of its capital
shall be allocated among the partners or members in the proportion in which capital has been
contributed by them;
(ii) the residue of the net wealth of the firm or association shall be allocated amongst the
partners or members in accordance with the agreement of partnership or association for the
distribution of assets in the event of dissolution of the firm or association or, in the absence of
such agreement, in the proportion in which the partners or members are entitled to share the
profits,
and the sum total of amounts so allocated to a partner or member under clause (i) and clause
(ii) shall be treated as the value of the interest of that partner or member in the firm or
association:
Provided that in determining the net wealth of the firm or association for the purposes of this
rule, no account shall be taken of the exemptions in sub-sections (1) and (1A) of section 5.
Explanation:- For the purposes of this rule,(a) where the net wealth of the firm or association computed in accordance with this rule
includes the value of any assets located outside India, the value of the interest of any partner or
member in the assets located in India shall be determined having regard to the proportion which
the value of assets located in India diminished by the debts relating to those assets bears to the
net wealth of the firm or association;
(b) where the net wealth of the firm or association computed in accordance with this rule
includes the value of any assets which are exempt from inclusion in the net wealth under subsections (1) and (1A) of section 5, the value of the interest of a partner or member shall be
deemed to include the value of his proportionate share in the said assets and, the provisions of
sub-sections (1) and (1A) of section 5 shall apply to him accordingly;
(c) where the net wealth of the firm or association computed in accordance with this rule
includes the value of any assets referred to in sub-section (2) of section 5, the value of the
interest of a partner or member shall be deemed to include the value of his proportionate share
in the said assets, and the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 5 shall apply to him
accordingly.
Part F
LIFE INTEREST
17. Valuation of life interest
(1) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 7, the value of the life interest of an assessee
shall be arrived at by multiplying the average annual income that accrued to the assessee from
the life interest by the fraction 1/P+d minus 1, where 'P' represents the annual premium for a
whole life insurance without profits on the life of the life tenant for unit sum assured as specified
in the Appendix to these rules, and 'd' is equal to i/ 1 + i, 'i' being the rate of interest
Explanation.- In this rule,(a) "life tenant" means a person for the duration of whose life the life interest is to subsist;
(b) "average annual income" means the average of the gross income derived by the assessee
from the life interest during each year of the period ending on the valuation date, reduced by the
average of the expenses incurred on the collection of such income in each of those years:
Provided that the amount of the reduction for such expenses shall, in no case, exceed five per
cent of the average of the annual gross income:
Provided further that in case the income so derived is for a period exceeding three years, only
that income derived during the three years ending on the valuation date shall be taken into
account;
(c) the rate of interest shall be 6 1/2 per cent per annum.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1),(a) the Assessing Officer, may, if he is of the opinion that in the case of the life tenant, a life
insurance company would not take the risk of insuring his life at the normal premium rates in
force but would demand a higher premium, vary the valuation suitably;
(b) the value of the life interest so determined shall, in no case, exceed the value as on the
valuation date as determined under this Schedule, of the corpus of the trust from which the life
interest is derived.
Part G
JEWELLERY
5[18. Valuation of jewellery6
(1) The value of the jewellery shall be estimated to be the price which it would fetch if sold in
the open market on the valuation date (hereafter in this rule referred to as fair market value).
(2) The return of net wealth furnished by the assessee shall be supported by,(i) a statement in the prescribed form, where the value of the jewellery on the valuation date
does not exceed rupees five lakhs;
(ii) a report of a registered valuer in the prescribed form, where the value of the jewellery on the
valuation date exceeds rupees five lakhs.
(3) Notwithstanding anything mentioned in sub-rule (2), the Assessing Officer may, if he is of
opinion, that the value of the jewellery declared in the return,(a) is less than its fair market value by such percentage or such amount as is prescribed under
sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 16A;
(b) is less than its fair market value as referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section
16A;
he may refer the valuation of such jewellery to a Valuation Officer under sub-section (1) of the
said section and the value of such jewellery shall be the fair market value as estimated by the
Valuation Officer.]
19. Adjustment in value of jewellery for subsequent assessment years
The value of any jewellery determined in accordance with 7[sub-rule (3)] of rule 18 for any
assessment year (hereinafter referred to as the first assessment year), shall be taken to be the
value of such jewellery for the subsequent four assessment years, subject to the following
adjustments, namely:(a) where the jewellery includes gold or silver or any alloy containing gold or silver, the value of
such gold or silver or such alloy as on the valuation date relevant to the concerned subsequent
assessment year shall be substituted for the value of such gold or silver or alloy on the valuation
date relevant to the first assessment year;
(b) where any jewellery or part of jewellery is sold or otherwise disposed of by the assessee, or
any jewellery or part of jewellery is acquired by him, on or before the valuation date relevant to
the concerned subsequent year, the value of the jewellery determined for the first assessment
year shall be reduced or increased, as the case may be, and the value as so reduced or
increased shall be the value of the jewellery for such subsequent assessment year.
Part H
RESIDUARY
20. Valuation of assets in other cases
(1) The value of any asset, other than cash, being an asset which is not covered by rules 3 to
19, for the purposes of this Act, shall be estimated to be the price which, in the opinion of the
Assessing Officer, it would fetch if sold in the open market on the valuation date.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), where the valuation of any asset
referred to in that sub-rule is referred by the Assessing Officer to the Valuation Officer under
section 16A, the value of such asset shall be estimated to be the price which, in the opinion of
the Valuation Officer, it would fetch if sold in the open market on the valuation date.
(3) Where the value of any asset cannot be estimated under this rule because it is not saleable
in the open market, the value shall be determined in accordance with such guidelines or
principles as may be specified by the Board from time to time by general or special order.
21. Restrictive covenants to be ignored in determining market value
For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the price or other consideration for which
any property may be acquired by or transferred to any person under the terms of a deed of trust
or through or under any restrictive covenant in any instrument of transfer shall be ignored for
the purposes of determining under any provision of this Schedule, the price such property would
fetch if sold in the open market on the valuation date.
Table of [{(1/p+d)}-1]
APPENDIX
[See rule 17]
Table of [{(1/P+d)} -- 1]
Age nearer birthday
1
Premium for unit

sum assured
2
Value of life interest of Rupee 1 per

annum at 61/2% rate of interest
3
0.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44. 0.03475 9.441
45. 0.03637 9.267
46. 0.03806 9.092
47. 0.03987 8.911
0.02906
0.01590
0.01295
0.01162
0.01095
0.01065
0.01058
0.01063
0.01076
0.01095
0.01117
0.01142
0.01169
0.01197
0.01226
0.01257
0.01286
0.01319
0.01350
0.01387
0.01431
0.01469
0.01512
0.01556
0.01606
0.01656
0.01706
0.01762
0.01825
0.01894
0.01962
0.02037
0.02112
0.02194
0.02281
0.02369
0.02462
0.02562
0.02669
0.02787
0.02912
0.03044
0.03181
0.03325
10.100
11.999
12.517
12.765
12.893
12.951
12.965
12.955
12.930
12.893
12.850
12.803
12.751
12.699
12.644
12.587
12.534
12.473
12.417
12.351
12.273
12.207
12.132
12.057
11.972
11.888
11.806
11.715
11.614
11.505
11.399
11.285
11.173
11.053
10.927
10.804
10.675
10.541
10.400
10.249
10.093
9.932
9.771
9.607
48. 0.04181 8.724

49. 0.04387 8.533
50. 0.04612 8.333
51. 0.04850 8.130
52. 0.05100 7.926
53. 0.05362 7.722
54. 0.05637 7.518
55. 0.05931 7.310
56. 0.06244 7.099
57. 0.06575 6.888
58. 0.06925 6.676
59. 0.07294 6.464
60. 0.07681 6.255
61. 0.08167 6.008
62. 0.08589 5.806
63. 0.09025 5.610
64. 0.09475 5.419
65. 0.09938 5.234
66. 0.10415 5.054
67. 1.10907 4.879
68. 0.11414 4.709
69. 0.11938 4.543
70. 0.12483 4.380
71. 0.13054 4.220
72. 0.13652 4.062
73. 0.14278 3.907
74. 0.14936 3.753
75. 0.15627 3.602
76. 0.16356 3.453
77. 0.17125 3.305
78. 0.17937 3.160
79. 0.18796 3.016
80. 0.19706 2.875
8
[ANNEXURE: Text of section 40 of the Finance Act, 1983]
Foot Notes
1. Inserted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989,
w.e.f. 1st April, 1989.
2. See Form O-11 of the Wealth Tax Rules.
3. Substituted for the word "Deputy" by the Finance (No. 2)
Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1st October, 1998.
5. Substituted by the Finance Act, 1990, w.e.f. 1st April,
1990.
6. See Form No. O-8A of the Wealth Tax Rules.
7. Substituted for the words and brackets "clause (b)" by the
Finance Act, 1990, w.e.f. 1st April, 1990.

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Wealth-tax Act, 1957

[Act No. 27 of Year 1957 dated 12th. September, 1957]

[(cb)] "assessment" includes reassessment;

[1].- For the purposes of this clause,-

(i) "executor" means an executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person;

[(ob) "regular assessment" means the assessment made under

[sub-section (3) or sub-

[(s) the expressions "Chief Commissioner", Director-General, Commissioner, Commissioner

[(1) In computing the net wealth-

[(b) of an assessee who is a partner in a firm or a member of an association of persons (not

[***] shall be deemed to be assets belonging to

(aa) the expression "child" includes a step-child and an adopted child;]

5. Exemptions in respect of certain assets

6. Exclusion of assets and debts outside India

[7. Value of assets, how to be determined

[9. Control of wealth-tax authorities

[10. Instructions to subordinate authorities

[11. Jurisdiction of Assessing Officers and power to transfer cases

[12A. Appointment of Valuation Officers

[13A. Powers of 98[Director-General or Director], 99[Chief Commissioner or

107[15. Return after due date and amendment of return

[15A. Return by whom to be signed

[(a) in the case of an individual,-

(i) by the individual himself;

119[16A. Reference to Valuation Officer

[Assessing] Officer is of opinion-

125[17A. Time limit for completion of assessment and reassessment

on the amount of tax payable on the net wealth as determined

[under sub-section (1) of

(4) Where, as a result of an order under section 23 or section 24 or section 25 or section 27 or

[(2A) and (2B) ***]

[(3) No order imposing a penalty under sub-section (1) shall be made,-

(4) A 134[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 135[a Commissioner (Appeals),] a 136[Chief

[(5) No order imposing a penalty under this section shall be passed-

[Joint] Director or the

[***] Commissioner] may, in his

[19A. Assessment in the case of executors

Explanation.- In this section "executor" includes an administrator or other person administering

162[20A. Assessment after partial partition of a Hindu undivided family

[Explanation.- A trust which is not declared by a duly executed instrument in writing

[three per cent],

whichever course would be more beneficial to the revenue:

[Explanation 173[2].- Notwithstanding anything contained in section 5, in computing the net

(b) "trust" includes any other legal obligation.]

22. Assessment of persons residing outside India

[22BA. Jurisdiction and powers of Settlement Commission

[22BC. Power of Chairman to transfer cases from one Bench to another

[22BD. Decision to be by majority

[22DD. Power of Settlement Commission to order provisional attachment to protect

[(5) and (6) ***]

[22HA. Power of Settlement Commission to send a case back to the

[(iii) the case of any such person is sent back to the

[Assessing] Officer by the Settlement

[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] from orders of

[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A), any person],-

(a) objecting to the amount of

[***] net wealth determined under this Act; or

(e) objecting to any order of the

[Assessing] Officer under sub-section (2) of section 20; or