Income-tax Act, 1961Section 142(1)
- AO may require a return or documents via notice under 142(1)
- Special audit under 142(2A)
- Valuation Officer reference under 142A
Applies to FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) and earlier years.
IT Act 1961 → 2025 / Section 142(1)
Returns & assessmentSection 142(1) → Section 268
Inquiry before assessment: notice to file return or produce documents
Section 142(1) of the old Income-tax Act, 1961 · new section 268 under the Income-tax Act, 2025
New reference Section 268 (142A → 269)
Income-tax Act, 2025Section 268 (142A → 269)
- Inquiry powers now in section 268
- Valuation Officer reference: section 269
Applies from tax year 2026-27 (from 1 April 2026).
What changed
Renumbered.
Practice notes
- Non-compliance can lead to best judgment assessment (section 271) and prosecution (section 479).
Frequently asked
What is a 142(1) notice called under the new Income Tax Act 2025?
A notice under section 268; valuation references (old 142A) are under section 269.
What is section 142(1) called in the new Income-tax Act, 2025?
Section 142(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 corresponds to Section 268 (142A → 269) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, which applies from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27).
What changed in section 142(1) under the new Income Tax Act?
Renumbered.
Is section 142(1) still applicable for FY 2025-26?
Yes. Income of FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) and earlier years is governed by section 142(1) of the 1961 Act. Section 268 (142A → 269) of the 2025 Act applies from tax year 2026-27.