PRESUMTIVE TAXATION UNDER SECTION-44AD, SEC- 44AD OF INCOME TAX ACT

TAX ON PRESUMPTIVE BASIS IN CASE OF CERTAIN ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES OR PROFESSIONS

To give relief to small taxpayers from the tedious job of maintenance of books of account and from getting the accounts audited, the Income-tax Act has framed the presumptive taxation scheme under sections 44AD, section 44ADA and section 44AE.

Meaning of presumptive taxation scheme

As per the Income-tax Act, a person engaged in business or profession is required to maintain regular books of account and further, he has to get his accounts audited. To give relief to small taxpayers from this tedious work, the Income-tax Act has framed the presumptive taxation scheme under sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE.

A person adopting the presumptive taxation scheme can declare income at a prescribed rate and, in turn, is relieved from tedious job of maintenance of books of account and also from getting the accounts audited.

For small taxpayers the Income-tax Act has framed three types of presumptive taxation schemes for different businesses as given below:

1) Presumptive taxation scheme under Section 44AD for Businesses other than Business of plying, hiring or leasing of goods carriages referred to in section 44AE.
2) Presumptive taxation scheme under Section 44ADA for Specified Professions.
3) Presumptive taxation scheme under Section 44AE taxpayers engaged in the business of plying, hiring or leasing of goods carriages.

Presumptive Taxation Scheme under Section 44AD

For whom the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD is designed?

The presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD is designed to give relief to small taxpayers engaged in any business (except the business of plying, hiring or leasing of goods carriages referred to in section 44AE).

The presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD can be adopted by following persons :

1) Resident Individual
2) Resident Hindu Undivided Family
3) Resident Partnership Firm (not Limited Liability Partnership Firm)

In other words, the scheme cannot be adopted by a non-resident and by any person other than an individual, a HUF or a partnership firm (not Limited Liability Partnership Firm).
This scheme cannot be adopted by a person who has made any claim towards deductions under
section 10A/10AA/10B/10BA or under sections 80HH to 80RRB in the relevant year.

Note : All Deductions except Sec-80HH & 80RRB under Chapter VI-A (ie. Under Section 80C to 80U) is allowed under Presumptive taxation.

Businesses not covered under the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD

The scheme of section 44AD is designed to give relief to small taxpayers engaged in any business, except the following businesses:

• Business of plying, hiring or leasing of goods carriages referred to in section 44AE.
• A person who is carrying on any agency business.
• A person who is earning income in the nature of commission or brokerage

Apart from above discussed businesses, a person carrying on profession as referred to in section 44AA(1)is not eligible for presumptive taxation scheme.

An insurance agent cannot adopt the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD.

A person who is earning income in the nature of commission or brokerage cannot adopt the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD. Insurance agents earn income by way of commission and, hence, they cannot adopt the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD.

A person whose total turnover or gross receipts for the year exceed Rs. 2,00,00,000 cannot adopt the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD

Manner of computation of taxable business income under the normal provisions of the Income-tax Act, i.e., in case of a person not adopting the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD

For the purpose of computing taxable business income in the above manner, the taxpayers have to maintain books of account of the business. Income will be computed on the basis of the information revealed in the books of account.

Manner of computation of taxable business income in case of a person adopting the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD

In case of a person adopting the provisions of section 44AD, income is computed on presumptive basis at the rate of 8% of the turnover or gross receipts of the eligible business for the year.

In order to promote digital transactions and to encourage small unorganized business to accept digital payments, section 44AD is amended with effect from the assessment year 2017-18 to provide that income shall be computed at the rate of 6% instead of 8% if turnover/gross receipt is received by an account payee cheque or an account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account or through such other prescribed electronic modes.

Hence, in case of a person adopting the provisions of section 44AD, income will not be computed in normal manner as discussed earlier (i.e., Turnover less Expenses) but will be computed @ 6% or 8%, as the case may be, of the turnover or gross receipt.

However, a person may voluntarily disclose his business income at more than 8% or 6%, as the case may be, of turnover or gross receipt.

The presumptive income computed as per the prescribed rate is the final income and no further expenses will be allowed or disallowed

Under the normal provisions of the Income-tax Act, taxable business income will be computed after allowing deduction in respect of expenses which are deductible as per the Income-tax Act and after disallowing expenses which are not deductible as per the Income-tax Act.

In case of a person who is opting for the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD, the provisions of allowance/disallowances as provided for under the Income-tax Act will not apply and income computed at the presumptive rate of 6% or 8% will be the final taxable income of the business covered under the presumptive taxation scheme. In other words, the income computed as per the prescribed rate will be the final taxable income of the business covered under the presumptive taxation scheme and no further expenses will be allowed or disallowed.
While computing income as per the provisions of section 44AD, separate deduction on account of depreciation is not available. However, the written down value of any asset used in such business shall be calculated as if depreciation as per section 32 is claimed and has been actually allowed.

No need to maintain books of account as prescribed under section 44AA

Section 44AA deals with provisions relating to maintenance of books of account by a person engaged in business/profession. Thus, a person engaged in business/profession has to maintain books of account of his business/profession according to the provisions of section 44AA.

In case of a person engaged in a business and opting for the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD, the provisions of section 44AA relating to maintenance of books of account will not apply. In other words, if a person adopts the provisions of section 44AD and declares income @ 6% or 8% (as the case may be) of the turnover, then he is not required to maintain the books of account as provided for under section 44AA in respect of business covered under the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD.

Payment of advance tax in respect of income from business covered under section 44AD

Any person opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD is liable to pay whole amount of advance tax on or before 15th March of the previous year. If he fails to pay the advance tax by 15th March of previous year, he shall be liable to pay interest as per section 234C.

Note: Any amount paid by way of advance tax on or before 31st day of March shall also be treated as advance tax paid during the financial year ending on that day.

[As per section 208, every person whose estimated tax liability for the year is Rs. 10,000 or more, shall pay “Advance tax”.]

Provisions to be applied if a person opts for the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD and declares income at a lower rate, i.e., at less than 6% or 8%

A person can declare income at lower rate (i.e., at less than 6% or 8%), however, if he does so, and his income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax, then he is required to maintain the books of account as per the provisions of section 44AA and has to get his accounts audited as per section 44AB.

Consequences if a person opts out from the presumptive taxation scheme of section 44AD

If a person opts for presumptive taxation scheme then he is also required to follow the same scheme for next 5 years. If he failed to do so, then presumptive taxation scheme will not be available for him for next 5 years.

[For example, an assessee claims to be taxed on presumptive basis under Section 44AD for AY 2021-22. However, for AY 2022-23, he did not opt for presumptive taxation Scheme. In this case, he will not be eligible to claim benefit of presumptive taxation scheme for next five AYs, i.e. from AY 2022-23 to 2026-27.]
Further, he is required to keep and maintain books of account and he is also liable for tax audit as per section 44AB from the AY in which he opts out from the presumptive taxation scheme. [If his total income exceeds maximum amount not chargeable to tax]