Who must file a statement under Section 507?

A person producing a cinematograph film or engaged in a specified activity during all or part of a tax year must furnish the prescribed statement.

What is the payment threshold under Section 507?

The statement must contain particulars of payments exceeding Rs. 50,000 in aggregate, paid or payable to each person engaged in the production or specified activity.

Section 507 Income Tax Act 2025: Who Must Report Film and Event Payments?

Film producers, documentary makers, OTT programme producers, event managers and other persons carrying on specified activities may have an annual reporting obligation for payments to persons engaged in their productions or events.

Current law: Section 507 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026. It deals with reporting particulars of payments exceeding Rs. 50,000 in aggregate to each engaged person. The form, filing deadline, manner and designated authority are governed by the applicable prescribed rules.

What does Section 507 require?

Section 507 is titled Submission of statements by producers of cinematograph films or persons engaged in specified activity. Sub-section (1) requires a person producing a cinematograph film or carrying on a specified activity, or both, during any part of a tax year to furnish a statement to the prescribed income-tax authority in the prescribed form, manner and time.

It is an information-reporting obligation. Whether a particular payment is subject to tax deduction at source is a separate question governed by the applicable TDS provisions.

Who is covered by Section 507?

The provision covers persons carrying on production of cinematograph films and persons engaged in activities specified in sub-section (3), even if the activity takes place for only part of the tax year. Depending on the facts, a production company, event-management enterprise or other person undertaking the activity may fall within its scope.

Which payments must be reported?

Under sub-section (2), the statement must include particulars of all payments exceeding Rs. 50,000 in aggregate made or due to each person engaged by the reporting person in the relevant production or specified activity.

The threshold applies to the aggregate for each engaged person, not merely to each individual invoice.
Amounts due but not yet paid are included in the statutory language.
A total of exactly Rs. 50,000 does not exceed the threshold; a total of Rs. 50,001 does.
The provision does not itself prescribe a separate tax rate or impose a tax on these payments.

Important statutory definitions

Specified activity - Section 507(3): Includes event management, documentary production, production of programmes for telecasting on television or over-the-top platforms or similar platforms, sports event management, other performing arts, and any other activity notified by the Central Government.

Tax year: The relevant tax year under Section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The reporting requirement applies where the production or specified activity is carried on during all or any part of that year.

Payments made or due: Amounts actually paid or payable to an engaged person, which are considered together when applying the per-person threshold in Section 507(2).

How should producers and organisers comply?

Identify the persons engaged in each covered production or activity, maintain contracts and invoices, reconcile amounts paid and outstanding, and determine whether the aggregate for each person exceeds Rs. 50,000. Prepare and submit the prescribed statement in accordance with the applicable Income-tax Rules, 2026, including Rule 236, and the relevant official form instructions.

Important: Verify the currently prescribed form, filing date, submission method and any subsequent amendments or notifications before filing. Section 507 itself leaves these procedural details to the rules.

Practical example

An event organiser engages a lighting technician for three events during a tax year and owes Rs. 18,000, Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 17,000. The aggregate is Rs. 55,000. Because it exceeds Rs. 50,000, the payments are within the reporting threshold under Section 507(2), subject to the prescribed statement requirements. By contrast, aggregate payments of Rs. 48,000 to another person do not cross this statutory threshold.

Relationship with the earlier Income-tax Act, 1961

Section 507 broadly corresponds to Section 285B of the Income-tax Act, 1961. For earlier years and transitional questions, consult the law applicable to the relevant period rather than assuming that the new Act applies retrospectively.

Frequently asked questions

Does Section 507 apply to OTT productions?

Yes. Section 507(3) expressly includes production of programmes for telecasting on television, OTT platforms or similar platforms.

Is the threshold Rs. 50,000 per invoice?

No. The threshold is measured in aggregate for each person engaged in the production or specified activity.

Must unpaid amounts be included?

Yes. Section 507(2) refers to payments made or due.

Does Section 507 itself specify the filing date?

No. The period, form and manner of furnishing the statement are prescribed under the applicable rules.

Official legal references

Official Income-tax Act, 2025 Income Tax Department: Act and Rules

Last reviewed: 12 November 2026. This article is general legal information; consult the enacted provision, current rules and notifications for a particular filing.