Section 155 of the Income-tax Act, 1961: Other Amendments
Understanding Section 155
Section 155 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, titled Other amendments, authorises specified consequential changes to completed income-tax assessments when a later event, determination or statutory condition requires an adjustment. Unlike the general rectification power in section 154, section 155 identifies particular situations and often prescribes a special starting point for limitation.
Scope and important definitions
Assessing Officer (AO): The income-tax authority empowered to make or amend an assessment under the applicable statute. Consequential amendment: A change made to an existing assessment because another legally relevant determination or event has occurred. Assessment year: The year used under the 1961 Act to assess income of the preceding previous year. Tax year: The corresponding consolidated time-period concept under the 2025 Act.
Section 154: The general provision for rectification of a mistake apparent from the record; its procedural provisions apply to several amendments under section 155, subject to express special rules. Section 147: Reassessment of income escaping assessment under the 1961 Act. AOP/BOI: Association of persons or body of individuals.
Major categories of amendments under Section 155
Firm, partner and association assessments
Sub-section (1) addresses specified historical assessments of partners for assessment year 1992-93 or earlier when their share in a firm's income requires correction. Sub-section (1A) concerns corresponding adjustment of a partner's income where remuneration is disallowed to the firm under section 40(b). Sub-section (2) deals with the consequential correction of a member's share in the income of an AOP or BOI.
Carry-forward losses and depreciation
Sub-section (4) permits consequential recomputation for later years when reassessment under section 147 changes a loss or depreciation that had been carried forward and set off.
Allowances, deductions and export receipts
Special rules cover withdrawal or adjustment of historical investment allowance, development rebate and development allowance, research-related deductions, and certain deductions dependent on receipt or repatriation of convertible foreign exchange. Their applicability depends on the relevant assessment year and statutory conditions; many concern legacy regimes.
Capital gains and revised consideration
Sub-sections including (11), (15) and (16) address particular subsequent events, such as qualifying investment following compulsory acquisition, revision of stamp-duty valuation under section 50C, or reduction of compensation by a court or other authority. The resulting assessment change must follow the applicable statutory conditions.
Tax credits and other subsequent events
Sub-section (14A) concerns foreign tax credit where an overseas tax dispute is subsequently settled, subject to evidence, undertaking and timing conditions. Later provisions also deal with specified TDS credit mismatches and other adjustments. The exact current sub-section must be checked against the amended statute, rather than relying on the older extract below.
Important subsequent amendments
The older source page predates important additions to section 155. The amended 1961 Act includes later sub-sections dealing with, among other matters, specified business and tax-credit adjustments. Finance Act, 2025 inserted section 155(21), effective 1 April 2026, concerning recomputation of income for two immediately succeeding previous years where the transfer-pricing option under section 92CA(3B) is valid. The provision links recomputation to the arm's length price determined by the Transfer Pricing Officer and any applicable directions under section 144C(5), with specific three-month periods. Read the enacted provision for its full conditions.
Limitation, notice and procedure
Many section 155 amendments apply section 154 procedures, but their four-year period may run from a later specified event, such as the end of the financial year in which the final order in the firm's case was passed, a reassessment order was passed, or a revised valuation or compensation order was made. It is therefore incorrect to apply one uniform limitation starting date to all sub-sections.
- Identify the applicable sub-section and tax year.
- Collect the original assessment or intimation and the later order, certificate or event triggering amendment.
- Calculate limitation using that sub-section's special rule and any applicable saving provision.
- Submit a reasoned request with supporting records through the appropriate tax authority or e-filing process.
- Where a proposed amendment increases liability, verify the applicable notice and hearing safeguards under section 154.
For the department's detailed limitation table, consult its official periods of limitation guide.
Transition to the Income-tax Act, 2025
The 2025 Act came into effect on 1 April 2026 and the corresponding subject of other assessment amendments is mapped to section 288. Section 536 addresses repeal and savings. The governing statute and procedure depend on the tax year, the date and nature of the proceedings, and transitional provisions. Do not assume that the old and new section numbers or wording are interchangeable.
Consult the official Income-tax Act, 2025 portal and the Income Tax Department transition FAQ.
Earlier statutory text retained for reference
The following is the substantive historical extract supplied on this webpage, retained for continuity. It is not represented as the complete law in force on the update date. Superscript amendment markers and the outdated editorial footnote apparatus have been omitted; check the current official consolidated statute before relying on a particular sub-section.
Read the earlier Section 155 text
(1) 1 Where, in respect of any completed assessment of a partner in a firm for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1992, or any earlier assessment year, it is found
(a) on the assessment or reassessment of the firm, or
(b) on any reduction or enhancement made in the income of the firm under this section, section 154, section 250, section 254, section 260, section 262, section 263 or section 264, 5 or
(c) on any order passed under sub-section (4) of section 245D on the application made by the firm, that the share of the partner in the income of the firm has not been included in the assessment of the partner or, if included, is not correct, the 3 Assessing Officer may amend the order of assessment of the partner with a view to the inclusion of the share in the assessment or the correction thereof, as the case may be; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned 4 from the end of the financial year in which the final order was passed in the case of the firm.
(1A) Where in respect of any completed assessment of a firm it is found
(a) on the assessment or reassessment of the firm, or
(b) on any reduction or enhancement made in the income of the firm under this section, section 154, section 250, section 254, section 260, section 262, section 263 or section 264, or
(c) on any order passed under sub-section (4) of section 245D on the application made by the firm, that any remuneration to any partner is not deductible under clause (b) of section 40, the Assessing Officer may amend the order of assessment of the partner with a view to adjusting the income of the partner to the extent of the amount not so deductible ; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the financial year in which the final order was passed in the case of the firm.
(2) Where in respect of any completed assessment of a member of an association of persons or of a body of individuals it is found
(a) on the assessment or reassessment of the association or body, or
(b) on any reduction or enhancement made in the income of the association or body under this section, section 154, section 250, section 254, section 260, section 262, section 263 or section 264, 6 or
(c) on any order passed under sub-section (4) of section 245D on the application made by the association or body, that the share of the member in the income of the association or body, as the case may be, has not been included in the assessment of the member or, if included, is not correct, the 7 Assessing Officer may amend the order of assessment of the member with a view to the inclusion of the share in the assessment or the correction thereof, as the case may be; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned 8 from the end of the financial year in which the final order was passed in the case of the association or body, as the case may be.
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(4) Where as a result of proceedings initiated under section 147, a loss or depreciation has been recomputed and in consequence thereof it is necessary to recompute the total income of the assessee for the succeeding year or years to which the loss or depreciation allowance has been carried forward and set off under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 72, or sub-section (2) of section 73, or 10 sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 74, 11 or sub-section (3) of section 74A, the 7 Assessing Officer may proceed to recompute the total income in respect of such year or years and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned 12 from the end of the financial year in which the order was passed under section 147.
(4A) Where an allowance by way of investment allowance has been made wholly or partly to an assessee in respect of a ship or an aircraft or any machinery or plant in any assessment year under section 32A and subsequently
(a) at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person other than the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or in connection with any amalgamation or succession referred to in sub-section (6) or sub-section (7) of section 32A; or
(b) at any time before the expiry of ten years from the end of the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, the assessee does not utilise the amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (4) of section 32A for the purposes of acquiring a new ship or a new aircraft or new machinery or plant other than machinery or plant of the nature referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of14 the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 32A for the purposes of the business of the undertaking; or
(c) at any time before the expiry of ten years referred to in clause (b) the assessee utilises the amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (4) of section 32A
(i) for distribution by way of dividends or profits; or
(ii) for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India ; or
(iii) for any other purpose which is not a purpose of the business of the undertaking, the investment allowance originally allowed shall be deemed to have been wrongly allowed, and the 15 Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the assessee for the relevant previous year and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned,
(i) in a case referred to in clause (a), from the end of the previous year in which the sale or other transfer took place;
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), from the end of the ten years referred to in that clause;
(iii) in a case referred to in clause (c), from the end of the previous year in which the amount was utilised.
Explanation. For the purposes of clause (b), new ship or new aircraft or new machinery or plant shall have the same meanings as in the16 Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 32A.
(5) Where an allowance by way of development rebate has been made wholly or partly to an assessee in respect of a ship, machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of December, 1957, in any assessment year under section 33 or under the corresponding provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), and subsequently
(i) at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, the ship, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person other than the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or in connection with any amalgamation or succession referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 33; or
(ii) at any time before the expiry of the eight years referred to in sub-section (3) of section 34, the assessee utilises the amount credited to the reserve account under clause (a) of that sub-section
(a) for distribution by way of dividends or profits; or
(b) for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India; or
(c) for any other purpose which is not a purpose of the business of the undertaking, the development rebate originally allowed shall be deemed to have been wrongly allowed, and the 15 Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the assessee for the relevant previous year and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the sale or transfer took place or the money was so utilised.
(5A) Where an allowance by way of development allowance has been made wholly or partly to an assessee in respect of the cost of planting in any area in any assessment year under section 33A and subsequently
(i) at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which such allowance was made, the land is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person other than the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or in connection with any amalgamation or succession referred to in sub-section (5) or sub-section (6) of section 33A; or
(ii) at any time before the expiry of the eight years referred to in sub-section (3) of section 33A, the assesseeutilises the amount credited to the reserve account under clause (ii) of that sub-section.
(a) for distribution by way of dividends or profits; or
(b) for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India; or
(c) for any other purpose which is not a purpose of the business of the undertaking;
the development allowance originally allowed shall be deemed to have been wrongly allowed, and the 18 Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the assessee for the relevant previous year and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the sale or transfer took place or the money was so utilised.
Explanation. For the purposes of this sub-section, where an assessee having any leasehold or other right of occupancy in any land transfers such right, he shall be deemed to have sold or otherwise transferred such land.
(5B) Where any deduction in respect of any expenditure on scientific research has been made in any assessment year under sub-section (2B) of section 35 and the assessee fails to furnish a certificate of completion of the programme obtained from the prescribed authority within one year of the period allowed for its completion by such authority, the deduction originally made in excess of the expenditure actually incurred shall be deemed to have been wrongly made, and the 18 Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the assessee for the relevant previous year and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the period allowed for the completion of the programme by the prescribed authority expired.
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(7) Where as a result of any proceeding under this Act, in the assessment for any year of a company in whose case an order under section 104 has been made for that year, it is necessary to recompute the distributable income of that company, the 18 Assessing Officer may proceed to recompute the distributable income and determine 22 the tax payable on the basis of such recomputation and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned 23 from the end of the financial year in which the final order was passed in the case of the company in respect of that proceeding.
24 * * * * * 25 (7B) Where in the assessment for any year, the capital gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset is not charged under section 45 by virtue of the provisions of clause (iv) or, as the case may be, clause (v) of section 47, but is deemed under section 47A to be income chargeable under the head Capital gains of the previous year in which the transfer took place by reason of
(i) such capital asset being converted by the transferee company into, or being treated by it, as stock-in-trade of its business; or
(ii) the parent company or its nominees or, as the case may be, the holding company ceasing to hold the whole of the share capital of the subsidiary company, at any time before the expiry of the period of eight years from the date of such transfer, the Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the transferor company for the relevant previous year and make the necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the capital asset was so converted or treated or in which the parent company or its nominees or, as the case may be, the holding company ceased to hold the whole of the share capital of the subsidiary company.
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(10A) Where in the assessment for any year, a capital gain arising from the transfer of a 28 long-term capital asset, is charged to tax and within a period of six months after the date of such transfer, the assessee has made any investment or deposit in any specified asset within the meaning of Explanation 1 to sub-section (1) of section 54E, the 29 Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to exclude the amount of the capital gain not chargeable to tax 30 under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 54E; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being 31 reckoned from the end of the financial year in which the assessment was made.
32 * * * * * 33 (11) Where in the assessment for any year, a capital gain arising from the transfer of any original asset as is referred to in section 54H is charged to tax and within the period extended under that section the assessee acquires the new asset referred to in that section or, as the case may be, deposits or invests the amount of such capital gain within the period so extended, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to exclude the amount of the capital gain not chargeable to tax under any of the sections referred to in section 54H; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of section 154 being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the compensation was received by the assessee.
(11A) Where in the assessment for any year, the deduction under section 10A or section 10B or section 10BA has not been allowed on the ground that such income has not been received in convertible foreign exchange in India, or having been received in convertible foreign exchange outside India, or having been converted into convertible foreign exchange outside India, has not been brought into India, by or on behalf of the assessee with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange and subsequently such income or part thereof has been or is received in, or brought into, India in the manner aforesaid, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to allow deduction under section 10A or section 10B or section 10BA, as the case may be, in respect of such income or part thereof as is so received in, or brought into, India, and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, and the period of four years shall be reckoned from the end of the previous year in which such income is so received in, or brought into, India.
(12) Where in the assessment for any year commencing before the 1st day of April, 1988, the deduction under section 80-O in respect of any income, being the whole or any part of income by way of royalty, commission, fees or any similar payment as is referred to in that section, has not been allowed on the ground that such income has not been received in convertible foreign exchange in India, or having been received in convertible foreign exchange outside India, or having been converted into convertible foreign exchange outside India, has not been brought into India, by or on behalf of the assessee in accordance with any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange and subsequently such income or part thereof has been or is received in, or brought into, India in the manner aforesaid, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to allow deduction under section 80-O in respect of such income or part thereof as is so received in, or brought into, India; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which such income is so received in, or brought into, India; so, however, that the period from the 1st day of April, 1988 to the 30th day of September, 1991 shall be excluded in computing the period of four years.
(13) Where in the assessment for any year, the deduction under section 80HHB or section 80HHC or section 80HHD or section 80HHE or section 80-O or section 80R or section 80RR or section 80RRA has not been allowed on the ground that such income has not been received in convertible foreign exchange in India, or having been received in convertible foreign exchange outside India, or having been converted into convertible foreign exchange outside India, has not been brought into India, by or on behalf of the assessee with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange and subsequently such income or part thereof has been or is received in, or brought into, India in the manner aforesaid, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to allow deduction under section 80HHB or section 80HHC or section 80HHD or section 80HHE or section 80-O or section 80R or section 80RR or section 80RRA, as the case may be, in respect of such income or part thereof as is so received in, or brought into, India; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, and the period of four years shall be reckoned from the end of the previous year in which such income is so received in, or brought into, India. 36 (14) Where in the assessment for any previous year or in any intimation or deemed intimation under sub-section (1) of section 143 for any previous year, 37 credit for tax deducted or collected in accordance with the provisions of section 199 or, as the case may be, section 206C has not been given on the ground that the certificate furnished under 38 section 203 or section 206C was not filed with the return and subsequently such certificate is produced before the Assessing Officer within two years from the end of the assessment year in which such income is assessable, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment or any intimation or deemed intimation under sub-section (1) of section 143, as the case may be, and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply unless the 39 income from which the tax has been deducted or income on which the tax has been collected has been disclosed in the return of income filed by the assessee for the relevant assessment year.
(14A) Where in the assessment for any previous year or in any intimation or deemed intimation under sub-section (1) of section 143 for any previous year, credit for income-tax paid in any country outside India or a specified terriotory outside India referred to in section 90, section 90A or section 91 has not been given on the ground that the payment of such tax was under dispute, and if subsequently such dispute is settled, and the assessee, within six months from the end of the month in which the dispute is settled, furnishes to the Assessing Officer evidence of settlement of dispute and evidence of payment of such tax along with an undertaking that no credit in respect of such amount has directly or indirectly been claimed or shall be claimed for any other assessment year, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment or any intimation or deemed intimation under sub-section (1) of section 143, as the case may be, and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto:
Provided that the credit of tax which was under dispute shall be allowed for the year in which such income is offered to tax or assessed to tax in India:
(15) Where in the assessment for any year, a capital gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset, being land or building or both, is computed by taking the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer to be the value adopted or assessed by any authority of a State Government for the purpose of payment of stamp duty in accordance with sub-section (1) of section 50C, and subsequently such value is revised in any appeal or revision or reference referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) of that section, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to compute the capital gain by taking the full value of the consideration to be the value as so revised in such appeal or revision or reference; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, and the period of four years shall be reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the order revising the value was passed in that appeal or revision or reference.
(16) Where in the assessment for any year, a capital gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset, being a transfer by way of compulsory acquisition under any law, or a transfer, the consideration for which was determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India, is computed by taking the compensation or consideration as referred to in clause (a) or, as the case may be, the compensation or consideration enhanced or further enhanced as referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 45, to be the full value of consideration deemed to be received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the asset and subsequently such compensation or consideration is reduced by any court, Tribunal or other authority, the Assessing Officer shall amend the order of assessment so as to compute the capital gain by taking the compensation or consideration as so reduced by the court, Tribunal or any other authority to be the full value of consideration; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, and the period of four years shall be reckoned from the end of the previous year in which the order reducing the compensation was passed by the court, Tribunal or other authority.
(17) Where a deduction has been allowed to an assessee in any assessment year under section 80RRB in respect of any patent, and subsequently by an order of the Controller or the High Court under the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970),
(i) the patent was revoked, or
(ii) the name of the assessee was excluded from the patents register as patentee in respect of that patent, the deduction from the income by way of royalty attributable to the period during which the patent had been revoked or the period for which the assessees name was excluded as patentee in respect of that patent, shall be deemed to have been wrongly allowed and the Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, recompute the total income of the assessee for the relevant previous year and make necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 154 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto, the period of four years specified in sub-section (7) of that section being reckoned from the end of the previous year in which such order of the Controller referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1), or the High Court referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 2, of the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970), as the case may be, was passed.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section, (a) additional compensation shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (1) of the Explanation to sub-section (2) of section 54;
(b) additional consideration, in relation to the transfer of any capital asset the consideration for which was determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India, means the difference between the amount of consideration for such transfer as enhanced by any court, tribunal or other authority and the amount of consideration which would have been payable if such enhancement had not been made. ------------------------
Official statutory references
- Income Tax Department: Section 155 and amendment notes
- Income-tax Act, 1961 consolidated PDF (Finance Act, 2025)
- Finance Act, 2025: amendment inserting section 155(21)
- Income-tax Act, 2025 and official cross-reference tools
- Official limitation periods reference
Updated: 26 October 2026. This article is general legal information; the applicable enacted text, amendments and facts of the case govern.
Frequently asked questions
What is Section 155 of the Income-tax Act, 1961?
It authorises specified consequential amendments to assessments following later orders, changes in tax treatment, or other events identified in the section.
Is Section 155 the same as Section 154?
No. Section 154 provides general rectification of mistakes apparent from the record. Section 155 specifies particular amendment situations and may apply section 154 procedures with different limitation starting points.
What is the corresponding provision under the Income-tax Act, 2025?
The official legislative cross-reference maps the subject of Section 155 to Section 288 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
