The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(16)H(12)Cl(4)N(2)O(2), comprises half of a potentially tetra-dentate Schiff base ligand, located about a twofold rotation axis which bis-ects the central C-C bond of the ethane-1,2-diamine group. In the solid state, the compound exists in the zwitterionic form. There are two intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds making S(6) ring motifs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming two-dimensional frameworks which lie parallel to (100). There are also short Cl⋯Cl [3.4395 (9) Å] contacts present.