Rationalisation of the provision of presumptive taxation for professionals under section 44ADA
Section 44ADA of the Act relates to special provision for computing profits and gains of profession on presumptive basis.
Sub-section (1) of the said section provides that notwithstanding anything contained in sections 28 to 43C, in case of an assessee, being a resident in India engaged in a profession referred to in sub-section (1) of section 44AA and whose total gross receipts do not exceed fifty lakh rupees in a previous year, a sum equal to fifty per cent of the total gross receipts of the assessee in the previous year on account of such profession, or as the case may be, a sum higher than the aforesaid sum claimed to have been earned by the assessee, shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such profession chargeable to tax.
The provisions of section 44ADA of the Act were made applicable to individual, Hindu undivided family (HUF) and partnership firm but not a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) as defined under clause (n) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. This is for the reason that LLP are required to maintain books of accounts in any case under LLP Act.
It is proposed to make this position clear in the law. Hence it is proposed to amend sub-section (1) of section 44ADA of the Act to provide that the provision of this section shall apply to an assessee, being an individual, HUF or partnership firm, not being an LLP as defined under clause (n) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. All other provisions like being a resident in India engaged in a profession referred to in sub-section (1) of section 44AA and whose total gross receipts do not exceed fifty lakh rupees in a previous year, shall remain same.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment years.
[Clause 12]
Clause 12 of the Bill seeks to amend section 44ADA of the Income-tax Act relating to special provision for computing profits and gains of profession on presumptive basis.
Sub-section (1) of the said section provides that notwithstanding anything contained in sections 28 to 43C, in the case of an assessee, being a resident in India engaged in a profession referred to in sub-section (1) of section 44AA and whose total gross receipts do not exceed fifty lakh rupees in a previous year, a sum equal to fifty per cent. of the total gross receipts of the assessee in the previous year on account of such profession, or as the case may be, a sum higher than the aforesaid sum claimed to have been earned by the assessee, shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such profession chargeable to tax under the head “profits and gains of business of profession”.
It is proposed to amend the said sub-section so that the assessee referred to therein shall, inter alia, mean an individual, Hindu undivided family or a partnership firm other than a Limited Liability Partnership as defined under clause (n) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
This amendment will come into force from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-2022 and subsequent assessment years.
