Set-Off and Carry forward of Losses

Business losses incurred in a tax year can be set off against any other income earned during that year, except capital gains.

Unabsorbed business losses can be carried forward and set off against business profits of subsequent years for a period of eight years; the unabsorbed depreciation element in the loss can however, be carried forward indefinitely. However, this carry forward benefit is not available to closely-held (private) companies in which there has been no continuity of business or shareholding pattern. Also, any change in beneficial interest in the shares of the company exceeding 51 per cent disqualifies the private company from the carry forward benefit.

Loss from exempted source of income cannot be adjusted against taxable income

If income from a particular source is exempt from tax, then loss from such source cannot be set off against any other income which is chargeable to tax. E.g., Agricultural income is exempt from tax, hence, if the taxpayer incurs loss from agricultural activity, then such loss cannot be adjusted against any other taxable income.

Meaning of intra-head adjustment

If in any year the taxpayer has incurred loss from any source under a particular head of income, then he is allowed to adjust such loss against income from any other source falling under the same head.

The process of adjustment of loss from a source under a particular head of income against income from other source under the same head of income is called intra-head adjustment,

For example, adjustment of loss from business A against profit from business B.

Restrictions to be kept in mind while making intra-head adjustment of loss

Following restrictions should be kept in mind before making intra-head adjustment of loss:

• Loss from speculative business cannot be set off against any income other than income from speculative business. However, non-speculative business loss can be set off against income from speculative business.
• Long-term capital loss cannot be set off against any income other than income from long-term capital gain. However, short-term capital loss can be set off against long-term or short-term capital gain.
• No loss can be set off against income from winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, race including horse race, card game, and any other game of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature.
• Loss from the business of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off against any income other than income from the business of owning and maintaining race horses.
• Loss from business specified under section 35AD cannot be set off against any other income except income from specified business (section 35AD is applicable in respect of certain specified businesses like setting up a cold chain facility, setting up and operating warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, developing and building a housing projects, etc.).

Meaning of inter-head adjustment

After making intra-head adjustment (if any) the next step is to make inter-head adjustment. If in any year, the taxpayer has incurred loss under one head of income and is having income under other head of income, then he can adjust the loss from one head against income from other head, E.g., Loss under the head of house property to be adjusted against salary income.

Restrictions to be kept in mind while making inter-head adjustment of loss

Following restrictions should be kept in mind before making inter-head adjustment:

• Before making inter-head adjustment, the taxpayer has to first make intra-head adjustment.
• Loss from speculative business cannot be set off against any other income. However, non-speculative business loss can be set off against income from speculative business.
• Loss under head “Capital gains” cannot be set off against income under other heads of income.
• No loss can be set off against income from winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, race including horse race, card game, and any other game of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature.
• Loss from the business of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off against any other income.
• Loss from business specified under section 35AD cannot be set off against any other income (section 35AD is applicable in respect of certain specified businesses like setting up a cold chain facility, setting up and operating warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, developing and building housing projects, etc.)
• Loss from business and profession cannot be set off against income chargeable to tax under the head “Salaries”.

Carry forward of unadjusted loss for adjustment in next year

Many times it may happen that after making intra-head and inter-head adjustments, still the loss remains unadjusted. Such unadjusted loss can be carried forward to next year for adjustment against subsequent year(s)’ income. Separate provisions have been framed under the Income-tax Law for carry forward of loss under different heads of income.

Provisions under the Income-tax law in relation to carry forward and set off of business loss other than loss from speculative business

If loss of any business/profession (other than speculative business) cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which it is incurred, then the unadjusted loss can be carried forward for making adjustment in the next year. In the subsequent year(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income charged to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”

Loss under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” can be carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1). Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred. Above provisions are not applicable in case of unabsorbed depreciation.

Loss from business specified under section 35AD cannot be set off against any other income except income from specified business (section 35AD is applicable in respect of certain specified businesses like setting up a cold chain facility, setting up and operating warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce, developing and building a housing projects, etc.).

Such loss can be carried forward for adjustment against income from specified business for any number of years. Loss from the business of owning and maintaining race horses cannot be set off against any income other than income from the business of owning and maintaining race horses. Such loss can be carried forward only for a period of 4 years.

If loss of any speculative business cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which it is incurred, then the unadjusted loss can be carried forward for making adjustment in the next year. In the subsequent year(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income from speculative business (may be same or any other speculative business).

Loss from speculative business can be carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1). Such loss can be carried forward for four years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred. Above provisions are not applicable in case of unabsorbed depreciation of speculative business

Provisions under the Income-tax Law in relation to carry forward and set off of house property loss

If loss under the head “Income from house property” cannot be fully adjusted in the year in which such loss is incurred, then unadjusted loss can be carried forward to next year. In the subsequent years(s) such loss can be adjusted only against income chargeable to  tax under the head “Income from house property”. Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred.

Loss under the head “Income from house property” can be carried forward even if the return of income/loss of the year in which loss is incurred is not furnished on or before  the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).

Provisions under the Income-tax law in relation to carry forward and set off of capital loss

If loss under the head “Capital gains” incurred during a year cannot be adjusted in the same year, then unadjusted capital loss can be carried forward to next year.

In the subsequent year(s), such loss can be adjusted only against income chargeable to tax under the head “Capital gains”, however, long-term capital loss can be adjusted only against long-term capital gains. Short-term capital loss can be adjusted against long-term capital gains as well as short-term capital gains.

Such loss can be carried forward for eight years immediately succeeding the year in which the loss is incurred. Such loss can be can carried forward only if the return of income/loss of the year in  which loss is incurred is furnished on or before the due date of furnishing the return, as prescribed under section 139(1).

Meaning of unabsorbed depreciation, unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research and unabsorbed capital expenditure on promoting family planning amongst the employees

Apart from several other deductions, while computing income chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” a person is allowed to claim deduction on account for depreciation, capital expenditure incurred by him on scientific research and capital expenditure incurred by a company for promoting family planning amongst  its employees.

If the income of the year in which these expenses are incurred falls short of these expenses, then the unabsorbed expenses can be carried forward to next year in the form  of unabsorbed depreciation or unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research or unabsorbed capital expenditure on promoting family planning amongst the employees.

Provisions under the Income-tax Law relating to set off of unabsorbed depreciation, unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research and unabsorbed capital expenditure on promoting family planning amongst the employees

Depreciation is first deducted from the income chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”. If such depreciation could not be fully adjusted against such income chargeable to tax in that previous year, the unabsorbed portion  shall be added to the amount of depreciation for the following year and shall be deemed to be the part of depreciation for that year(similar treatment would be given to other  allowances as mentioned above). However, in the case of set off, following order of priority is to be followed:

• First adjustments are to be made for current scientific research expenditure, family planning expenditure and current depreciation.
• Second adjustment is to be made for brought forward business loss.
• Third adjustments are to be made for unabsorbed depreciation, unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research or on family planning.

Carry forward of loss in case of change in the constitution of business

Generally, the person incurring the loss is only entitled to carry forward the loss to be adjusted in subsequent year(s). However, in certain cases of reconstitution of the business like amalgamation, demerger, conversion of proprietary firm into company or conversion of partnership firm into company, etc., the reconstituted entity is entitled to carry forward the unadjusted loss of predecessor entity (provided that conditions specified in this regard are satisfied).

Provisions relating to carry forward of loss in case of retirement of a partner from a partnership firm

Section 78 contains provisions relating to carry forward and set off of loss in case of change in constitution of a partnership firm due to death or retirement of a partner (i.e. when a partner goes out of firm by retirement or death). In such a case, the share of loss attributable to the outgoing partner cannot be carried forward by the firm.

Restriction of section 78 is applicable only in case of loss and is not applicable in case of adjustment of unabsorbed depreciation, unabsorbed capital expenditure on scientific research or family planning expenditure.