Section 482
Section 482: false statement in verification, etc.
Section 482 covers false statements made in a verification under the Act or the rules made under it, or a false account or statement delivered under the Act, where the person knows or believes it to be false, or does not believe it to be true. The punishment is graded by the amount of tax that would have been evaded had the false statement or account been accepted as true.
What Section 482 says
"If a person makes a statement in any verification under this Act 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,--"
- With simple imprisonment for a term up to two years, or with fine, or with both - where the amount of tax which would have been evaded, if the statement or account had been accepted as true, exceeds fifty lakh rupees.
- With simple imprisonment for a term up to six months, or with fine, or with both - where that amount of tax exceeds ten lakh rupees but does not exceed fifty lakh rupees.
- With fine, in any other case.
Recent change to the punishment structure
The Act's footnotes record that clauses (a), (b) and (c) above were substituted for an earlier two-clause structure by the Finance Act, 2026, with effect from 1 April 2026. The earlier wording provided rigorous imprisonment of not less than six months (extendable to seven years) with fine where the evaded tax exceeded twenty-five lakh rupees, and rigorous imprisonment of not less than three months (extendable to two years) with fine in any other case.
Frequently asked questions
What does Section 482 punish?
Making a false statement in a verification under the Act or rules made under it, or delivering a false account or statement, where the person knows or believes it to be false, or does not believe it to be true.
How is the punishment determined?
By the amount of tax that would have been evaded if the false statement or account had been accepted as true - imprisonment up to two years (or fine, or both) above ₹50 lakh, up to six months (or fine, or both) between ₹10 lakh and ₹50 lakh, and fine only below ₹10 lakh.
Related sections
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Talk to our tax team about a verification or return noticeLast updated 9 September 2026