Section 276B - Failure to pay tax to the credit of Central Government under Chapter XII-D or XVII-B - Income-tax Act, 1961

1 [Failure to pay tax to the credit of Central Government under Chapter XII-D or XVII-B. 276B. If a person fails to 3 [ **** ] ,- ( a ) 4 [ pay to the credit of the Central Government, the tax deducted ] at source by him as required by or under the provisions of Chapter XVII-B; or 5 [ (b) pay tax or ensure payment of tax to the credit of the Central Government, as required by or under (i) sub-section (2) of section 115-O; (ii) the proviso to section 194B; (iii) the first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 194R; (iv) the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 194S; or ] 6 [ (v) sub-section (2) of section 194BA, ] he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to seven years and with fine.] 7 [Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply if the payment referred to in clause (a) has been made to the credit of the Central Government at any time on or before the time prescribed for filing the statement for such payment under sub-section (3) of section 200. ] ------------------------ Notes :- 1. Substituted by the Finance Act, 1997, w.e.f. 1-6-1997. Prior to its substitution, section 276B, as inserted by the Finance Act, 1968, w.e.f. 1-4-1968 and later on substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1-10-1975 and amended by the Taxation Laws (Amendment Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1986, w.e.f. 10-9-1986 and further substituted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989, read as under : 276B . Failure to pay the tax deducted at source .- If a person fails to pay to the credit of the Central Government, the tax deducted at source by him as required by or under the provisions of Chapter XVII-B, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to seven years and with fine. 2. Omitted vide Finance Act, 2022 w.e.f. 01-04-2022 before it was read as second 3. Omitted vide THE FINANCE ACT, 2023 dated 31-03-2023 w.e.f. 01-04-2023 before it was read as, pay to the credit of the Central Government 4. Substituted vide THE FINANCE ACT, 2023 dated 31-03-2023 w.e.f. 01-04-2023 before it was read as, the tax deducted 5. Substituted vide THE FINANCE ACT, 2023 dated 31-03-2023 w.e.f. 01-04-2023 before it was read as, ( b ) the tax payable by him, as required by or under- ( i ) sub-section (2) of section 115-O; or ( ii ) the 2 [ **** ] proviso to section 194B, 6. Inserted vide THE FINANCE ACT, 2023 dated 31-03-2023 w.e.f. 01-07-2023 7. Inserted vide Section 84 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024 dated 16-08-2024 w.e.f. 01-10-2024