Provision for estimated service gratuity payable to its employees -Deduction under section 37(1) and section 40A(7) after its insertion by the Finance Act, 1975, with effect from 1-4-1973
In the Board’s Circular No. 47, dated 21-9-1970 [Clarification 2]. It was stated that provisions made by an assessee in his accounts on a scientific basis in respect of estimated service gratuity payable to employees would be admissible as deduction under section 37(1). The matter was re-examined by the Board in 1974 and the earlier instructions were withdrawn by the Board’s Circular No. 146 dated 26-9-1974 [Clarification 2]. Some of the High Courts have recently taken a view that a provision made by an assessee in his accounts in respect of estimated service gratuity payable to employees will be deductible in computing the taxable income in cases where the provision has been made on a scientific basis in the form of actuarial valuation. In order to remove uncertainty, in the matter, the Finance Act, 1975 has inserted a new sub-section (7) in section 40A which provides that no deduction will be allowed in the computation of taxable profits in respect of mere “provisions” made by employers in their books of account for payment of gratuity to their employees on their retirement or on termination of their employment for any reason. The amendment will not, however, affect provisions made for the purpose of payment of sums by way of contribution towards approved gratuity funds that have become payable during the previous year, or for the purpose of making any payment on account of gratuity to employees where such gratuity has become payable during the previous year and such provisions will continue to be eligible for deduction as hitherto.
Circular : No. 169 (para 27), dated 23-6-1975.
