Section 278 - Abetment of false return, etc. - Income-tax Act, 1961

1 [Abetment of false return, etc. 278. If a person abets or induces in any manner another person to make and deliver an account or a statement or declaration relating to any income 2 [or any fringe benefits] 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 sub-section (1) of section 276C, he shall be punishable, ( i ) in a case where the amount of tax, penalty or interest which would have been evaded, if the declaration, account or statement had been accepted as true, or which is wilfully attempted to be evaded, exceeds 3 [ twenty-five 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 4 [ two years ] and with fine.] ---------------------------------- Notes :- 1. Substituted by the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975, w.e.f. 1-10-1975. 2. Inserted by the Finance Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-4-2006. 3. Substituted vide Finance Act, 2012, w.e.f. 01-07-2012, before it was read as:- "one hundred thousand rupees" 4. Substituted vide Finance Act, 2012, w.e.f. 01-07-2012, before it was read as:- "three years"