Return of fringe benefits

Section 115WD of the Income-tax Act, 1961 deals with return of fringe benefits. Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 139, every employer who during a previous year has paid or made provision for payment of fringe benefits to his employees, shall, on or before the due date, furnish or cause to be furnished a return of fringe benefits to the Assessing Officer The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1962. Repealed by the Income-tax Act, 2025 with effect from 1 April 2026, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 139, every employer who during a previous year has paid or made provision for payment of fringe benefits to his employees, shall, on or before the due date, furnish or cause to be furnished a return of fringe benefits to the Assessing Officer in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed, in respect of the previous year.

Explanation.—In this sub-section, "due date" means,—

(a) where the employer is—

(i) a company; or (ii) a person (other than a company) whose accounts are required to be audited under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force, the 30th day of September of the assessment year;

(b) in the case of any other employer, the 31st day of July of the assess-ment year.

(2) In the case of any employer who, in the opinion of the Assessing Officer, is responsible for paying fringe benefit tax under this Act and who has not furnished a return under sub-section (1), the Assessing Officer may, after the due date, issue a notice to him and serve the same upon him, requiring him to furnish within thirty days from the date of service of the notice, the return in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(3) Any employer responsible for paying fringe benefit tax who has not furnished a return within the time allowed under sub-section (1) or within the time allowed under a notice issued under sub-section (2), may furnish the return for any previous year, 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.

(4) If any employer, having furnished a return under sub-section (1), or in pursuance of a notice issued under sub-section (2), discovers any omission or any wrong statement therein, he may furnish a revised return 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.

Assessment.

Section 115WD, The Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act 43 of 1961).