Firm is an association of two or more than two persons, who came together to do a business and share profits thereof. Section 4 of the Partnership Act, 1932 defines Partnership as “relationship between persons who have agreed to share the profits of business carried on by all or any of them acting for all.”
The persons who have agreed to do business together are personally called “Partners” and collectively called a “Firm”. They are abiding by a deed called “Partnership Deed”. A Partnership Deed for partnership is same as Articles of Association, Trust Deed for companies and Trust respectively.
From Assessment Year 1993-94 the Partnership Firms are classified as;
1. Partnership Firms Assessed as Such (PFAS)
2. Partnership Firms Assessed as an Association of Person (PFAOP)
Page Contents
- Scheme of Taxation of Firms:
- Conditions To Be Fulfilled By A Firm To Be Assessed As Such (PFAS):
- Claiming Deduction of Remuneration Paid To Partners:
- Book Profit – How To Calculate:
- Claiming Deduction of Interest Paid/Payable To Partners:
- Carry Forward And Set Off Of Loss In Case Of Change In The Constitution Of Firm:
- Calculation of Tax:
- Allowability of remuneration and interest vis-a-vis presumptive taxation:
Scheme of Taxation of Firms:
1. The firm is taxed as a separate entity i.e. separate from its partners. No matter whether the firm is registered or not.
2. The definition of firm includes a Limited Liability Partnership and LLP is treated same as firm.
3. The share of partners in the income of the firm is exempted, while computing his individual income or share of partners in the firm is exempted in his hand.
4. Salary, Bonus, Commission or remuneration (by whatever name called) paid /payable to partners is allowed as deduction to the firm and same will be taxable in the hand of partners. These expenses are allowed as deduction subject to certain restriction under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
5. The interest to partners paid by firm is deductible subject to maximum rate of interest @12% pa. The amount is taxable in the hand of partners.
6. The firm is taxed at flat 30% plus 4% Cess plus Surcharge at 12% of taxable income if net income exceed 1 crore. However, the surcharge shall be subject to marginal relief (where income exceeds one crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge shall not exceed total amount payable as income-tax on total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees).
Conditions To Be Fulfilled By A Firm To Be Assessed As Such (PFAS):
Section 184; of the Income Tax Act, 1961 governs the taxation and assessment of Firm. A firm has to satisfy these conditions to be assessed as a firm;
Section 184(1) (i): The Firm should be evidenced by an instrument called “Partnership Deed” and;
1. It should be in writing;
2. It should not be by conduct or oral;
3. The deed may contains following clauses; Name of the Firm, Place of Business, Nature of Business, Date of Commencemence of Business, Duration of Partnership(if any), Capital Clause, Profit Sharing Ratio, Remuneration payable to partners, Interest Payable to partners, Arbitration Clause( if any), drawing, power to operate bank account, method of calculation of profit and keeping of books of accounts, management of business, duties of partners, valuation of goodwill , increase of capital of partners, removal or inclusion of partners and some other clauses as agreed among the partners.
Note: Individual Share of partners must be specified in the Partnership Deed. The loss will be shared by partners according to their profit sharing ratios. But in case of a minor, how the loss of the firm will be shared among major partners should be clearly specified in the Deed.
A certified true copy of the Partnership Deed will be submitted with the first return of the Firm. The Deed would be signed by all partners (major partners). The deed may be submitted by Authorised Representative along with their Authorisation Letter.
In case of any change in the constitution of the firm or profit sharing ratio, remuneration/payment of interest to partners etc., a revised copy of the Deed should be submitted with the return.
Claiming Deduction of Remuneration Paid To Partners:
Section 40(b); claiming deduction of remuneration to partners;
1. Remuneration should be payable to working partners;
2. Remuneration must be authorised by Partnership deed;
3. Remuneration should not pertain to period prior to Partnership Deed and
4. Remuneration should not exceed permissible limited
Note: above conditions are applicable in all cases if remuneration paid in representative capacity also.
Working Partner; Section 40(b) explanation defines as;
1. An individual , who is a partner of the firm;
2. Such an individual is actively engaged in conducting the affairs of the business/profession of the firm.
Note: to claim deduction of remuneration, it should be sanctioned, approved or directed by Partnership Deed or Partnership Deed should provide power for payment of remuneration to working partners
Circular No. 739, dated March 25, 1996, CBDT lays down two conditions;
1. Eighter the amount payable to the partners should be specified or
2. The manner of quantifying the remuneration should be specified in the Partnership deed.
Sood Brij & Associates V CIT[2011] 203 Taxman 188 Delhi; it was decided that Quantum of remuneration or the manner of computation of quantum of remuneration should be stated in the Partnership Deed and should not be left undetermined , undecided or to be determined or decided on future date.
Maximum Amount as Permitted by Section 40(b); the amount actually deductible is;
1. The remuneration amount permitted by section 40(b) or
2. The amount of remuneration paid or payable to partners as debited to profit and loss account, whichever is lower.
| Book Profit | Amount deductible under Section 40(b) |
|
Rs. 1,50,000 |
-on first 3 lakhs of book profit -on balance of book profit |
Rs. 1,50,000 or 90% of book profit whichever is more 60% of book profit |
Book Profit – How To Calculate:
1. First we have to calculate the net profit or take net profit from profit and loss account;
2. Make adjustments (that is required to convert the net profit of profit and loss account into taxable business income shall be applied) as provided by Sections 28 to 44DB.
3. Add remuneration paid to partners if debited to the profit and loss account.
Note:
1. Income chargeable under Capital Gain, Income from House Property, and Income from other Sources should not be part of Book Profit.
2. Unabsorbed Depreciation will be deducted but Unabsorbed Loss not.
3. Permissible deduction as provided under Sections 80C to 80 U shall be ignored, while computing Book Profit.
Claiming Deduction of Interest Paid/Payable To Partners:
The interest to partners will be deductible after complying provisions of Section 184 and 40(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Section 40(b); following conditions should be complied;
1. Payment of interest should be authorised by Partnership Deed;
2. Payment of interest should pertain to the period after Partnership Deed;
3. Rate of interest should not exceed @12pa.
Note: if rate of interest exceeds @12pa, then excess amount paid @12% will not be allowed to be deductible. The above provision is not applicable if interest is paid to a person, acting otherwise than in a representative capacity.
Example: lets us consider Mr. X is a partner of a Firm and representing his HUF. Not he has given Rs. 1 Lakh loan to Firm and HUS has also given Rs. 5 Lakhs to the Firm. Now firm has paid Rs. 14000 as interst to Mr. X and Rs. 70000 interest to HUF. In this case provisions of Section 40(b) will be applicable in case of Rs. 70000 and Rs. 60000 (@12%) will be allowed as deduction to the firm. The amount paid to Mr. X as interest in his personal capacity will not be governed by provisions of Section 40(b) and Rs. 14000 will be deductible.
Carry Forward And Set Off Of Loss In Case Of Change In The Constitution Of 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.
Calculation of Tax:
1. First find out incomes under various heads;
2. Adjustment of losses of Current as well as earlier years according to provisions of Sections 70 to 78 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. We find Gross Total Income;
3. From Gross Total Income deduct specified deductions under Chapter VIA, we find Net Income;
4. Net Income apply tax @30%
5. Add: Surcharge @10% if Net Income increase Rs. 1.0 Crore;
6. Add: Education cess and Special Education cess;
7. Deduct rebate if any under Sections 86,90,90A and 91;
8. Add: Interest payable if any;
9. Deduct : Advance Tax paid/TDS deducted if any;
10. Balance will be amount of tax to be paid
Allowability of remuneration and interest vis-a-vis presumptive taxation:
Remuneration and interest shall not be allowed as deduction from the presumptive income computed at prescribed rate u/s. 44AD, 44ADA. However, for section 44AE, remuneration and interest to partners shall be allowed as a deduction subject to sec 40(b).
(Author can be reached at cs.deepakpsingh@gmail.com)
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(Republished with Amendments by Team Taxguru)
Author Bio
if firm is engaged in agriculture business than the profit of the firm will be exempted like the partner salary can claim exemption in the hands of partner