The Income-tax Act, 1961 · XVII — COLLECTION AND RECOVERY OF TAX

Section 217. Interest payable by assessee when no estimate made

In force · As amended up to 2026-08

217. Interest payable by assessee when no estimate made. —[5] [(1) Where, on making the regular assessment,[6] [the[1] [Assessing Officer] finds— (a) that any such person as is referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 209A has not sent the statement referred to in that clause or the estimate in lieu of such statement referred to in sub-section (2) of that section; or (b) that any such person as is referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 209A has not sent the estimate referred to in that clause, simple interest at the rate of[4] [fifteen per cent.] per annum] from the 1st day of April next following the financial year in which the advance tax was payable in accordance with[7] [the said sub-section (1) or sub-section (2)] up to the date of the regular assessment shall be payable by the assessee upon the amount equal to the assessed tax as defined in sub-section (5) of section 215. (1A) Where, on making the regular assessment, the[1] [Assessing Officer] finds that[8] [any person who is required to send an estimate under sub-section (4) of section 209A or] any such person as is referred to in sub-section (3A) of section 212 has not sent the estimate referred to therein, simple interest at the rate of[4] [fifteen per cent.] per annum from the 1st day of April next following the financial year in which the advance tax was payable in accordance with[9] [the said sub-section (4) or, as the case may be, sub-section (3A)] up to the date of the regular assessment shall be payable by the assessee upon the amount by which the advance tax paid by him falls short of the assessed tax as defined in sub-section (5) of section 215.] 1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, s. 2, for "Income-tax officer" (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). 2. Subs. by Act 14 of 1969, s. 19, for clause (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1970). 3. Subs. by Act 19 of 1978, s. 28, for "sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A) of section 212" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978). 4. Subs. by Act 67 of 1984, s. 24, for "twelve per cent." (w.e.f. 1-10-1984). Earlier the quoted words were substituted by Act 16 of 1972, s. 25 for "nine per cent." (w.e.f. 1-4-1972). 5. Subs. by Act 14 of 1969, s. 20, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1970). 6. Subs. by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29, for "the Income-tax Officer finds that any such person as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 212 has not sent the estimate referred to therein, simple interest at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978). 7. Subs. by s. 29, ibid., for "the said sub-section" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978). 8. Ins. by s. 29, ibid . (w.e.f. 1-6-1978). 9. Subs. by s. 29, ibid., for "the said sub-section" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978). (2) The provisions of sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 215 shall apply to interest payable under this section as they apply to interest payable under that section.

Source: India Code

How this section changed

  1. substituted by Act 14 of 1969, s. 20

    In force from 1 Apr 1970

    Footnote: 5. Subs. by Act 14 of 1969, s. 20, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1970).

  2. substituted by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29

    In force from 1 Jun 1978

    Earlier wording: “the Income-tax Officer finds that any such person as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 212 has not sent the estimate referred to therein, simple interest at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum”

    Footnote: 6. Subs. by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29, for "the Income-tax Officer finds that any such person as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 212 has not sent the estimate referred to therein, simple interest at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978).

  3. substituted by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29

    In force from 1 Jun 1978

    Earlier wording: “the said sub-section”

    Footnote: 7. Subs. by s. 29, ibid., for "the said sub-section" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978).

  4. inserted by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29

    In force from 1 Jun 1978

    Footnote: 8. Ins. by s. 29, ibid . (w.e.f. 1-6-1978).

  5. substituted by Act 19 of 1978, s. 29

    In force from 1 Jun 1978

    Earlier wording: “the said sub-section”

    Footnote: 9. Subs. by s. 29, ibid., for "the said sub-section" (w.e.f. 1-6-1978).