§ 524
Chapter XXIII — Miscellaneous
Presumption as to assets, books of account, etc
Income-tax Act, 2025
When assets, documents, or electronic data are seized during a tax search or survey, the law presumes they belong to the person in control and that their contents are accurate. This includes books, money, jewellery, virtual digital assets, and computer systems. The presumption also covers signatures, stamps, and electronic exchanges as genuine. The same presumptions apply when items are handed over under a requisition order.
📜 Official text of the section +
524. (1) Where any books of account, other documents, money, bullion, jewellery,
virtual digital asset or other valuable article or thing or any information in
electronic form as defined in section 261(g) or on a computer system as defined in
section 261(e) or any computer system containing the said information, is found in
the possession or control of any person in the course of a search under section 247
or survey under section 253, it may, in any proceeding under this Act, be presumed—
( a) that such books of account, other documents, money, bullion, jewellery,
virtual digital asset or other valuable article or thing such information
or computer system belong or belongs to such person;
( b) that the contents of such books of account and other documents or such
information or computer system are true;
( c) that the signature and every other part of such books of account and
other documents, which purports to be in the handwriting of any
particular person, or which may reasonably be assumed to have been
signed by, or to be in the handwriting of, any particular person, are in
the handwriting of that person;
( d) in the case of a document stamped, executed or attested, that it was duly
stamped and executed or attested by the person by whom it purports to
have been so executed or attested; and
( e) that exchange of such information in electronic form, or on such comput-
er system purported to be exchanged between any parties, is exchanged
between the parties thereto.
(2) Where any books of account, other documents or assets have been delivered to
the requisitioning officer as per section 248, then, the provisions of sub-section (1)
shall apply as if such books of account, other documents or assets, which had been
taken into custody from the person referred to in sub-section (1)(a) or (b) or (c) of
the said section, had been found in the possession or control of that person in the
course of a search under section 247.
Authorisation and assessment in case of search or requisition.
Plain-language summary — not the official text. Refer to the bare Act and confirm with a professional for your specific case.
Related sections
§ 499Certain transfers to be void§ 500Provisional attachment to protect revenue in certain cases§ 501Director or Director. Service of notice, generally§ 502Authentication of notices and other documents§ 503Service of notice when family is disrupted or firm etc., is dissolved§ 504Service of notice in case of discontinued business