Now, Individual and HUF has option to choose their own tax slab rate!
In line with options provided to domestic companies under the Taxation Law Amendment Act, 2019 (TLAA) and proposed to be provided to resident co-operative societies under this Bill, it is also proposed to provide similar option to individual and HUF by insertion of section 115BAC in the Act, which provides the following:-
(i) On satisfaction of certain conditions, an individual or HUF shall, from assessment year 2021-22 onwards, have the option to pay tax in respect of the total income at following rates:
| Total Income (Rs) | Rate |
| Upto 2,50,000 | Nil |
| From 2,50,001 to 5,00,000 | 5 per cent. |
| From 5,00,001 to 7,50,000 | 10 per cent. |
| From 7,50,001 to 10,00,000 | 15 per cent. |
| From 10,00,001 to 12,50,000 | 20 per cent. |
| From 12,50,001 to 15,00,000 | 25 per cent. |
| Above 15,00,000 | 30 per cent. |
(ii) The option shall be exercised for every previous year where the individual or the HUF has no business income, and in other cases the option once exercised for a previous year shall be valid for that previous year and all subsequent years.
(iii) The option shall become invalid for a previous year or previous years, as the case may be, if the Individual or HUF fails to satisfy the conditions and other provisions of the Act shall apply;
(iv) the condition for concessional rate shall be that the total income of the individual or HUF is computed,—
(a) without any exemption or deduction under the provisions of clause (5) or clause (13A) or prescribed under clause (14) (other than those as may be prescribed for this purpose) or clause (17) or clause (32) of section 10 or section 10AA or section 16 or clause (b) of section 24 [in respect of property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23] or clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of section 32 or section 32AD or section 33AB or section 33ABA or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iia) or sub-clause (iii) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2AA) of section 35 or section 35AD or section 35CCC or clause (iia) of section 57 or under any provisions of Chapter VI-A other than the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 80CCD or section 80JJAA;
(b) without set off of any loss,-
(i) carried forward or depreciation from any earlier assessment year, if such loss or depreciation is attributable to any of the deductions referred to in (a) above; or
(ii) under the head house property with any other head of income;
(c) by claiming the depreciation, if any, under section 32, except clause (iia) of sub-section (1) thereof, determined in such manner as may be prescribed; and
(d) without any exemption or deduction for allowances or perquisite, by whatever name called, provided under any other law for the time being in force.
(v) the loss and depreciation referred to in (ii)(b) above shall be deemed to have been given full effect to and no further deduction for such loss or depreciation shall be allowed for any subsequent year so however, that where there is a depreciation allowance in respect of a block of asset which has not been given full effect to prior to the assessment year beginning on 1st April, 2021, corresponding adjustment shall be made to the written down value of such block of assets as on 1st April, 2020 in the prescribed manner, if the option is exercised for a previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on 1st April, 2021;
(vi) the concessional rate shall not apply unless option is exercised by the individual or HUF in the form and manner as may be prescribed,-
a. where such individual or HUF has no business income, along with the return of income to be furnished under sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act; and
b. in any other case, on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act for furnishing the return of income for any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after 1st April, 2021 and such option once exercised shall apply to subsequent assessment years;
(vii) if the individual or HUF has a Unit in the International Financial Services Centre [clause (zc) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005], as referred to in sub-section (1A) of section 80LA, the deduction under section 80LA shall be available to such Unit subject to fulfilment of the conditions contained in that section; and
(viii) the option can be withdrawn only once where it was exercised by the individual or HUF having business income for a previous year other than the year in which it was exercised and thereafter, the individual or HUF shall never be eligible to exercise option under this section, except where such individual or HUF ceases to have any business income in which case, option under para (vi)(a) above shall be available.
It is further proposed to amend section 115JC of the Act so as to provide that the provisions relating to AMT shall not apply to such individual or HUF having business income.
It is also proposed to amend section 115JD of the Act so as to provide that the provisions relating to carry forward and set off of AMT credit, if any, shall not apply to such individual or HUF having business income.
The condition listed at (iva) above, means that the individual or HUF opting for taxation under the newly inserted section 115BAC of the Act shall not be entitled to the following exemptions/ deductions:
(i) Leave travel concession as contained in clause (5) of section 10;
(ii) House rent allowance as contained in clause (13A) of section 10;
(iii) Some of the allowance as contained in clause (14) of section 10;
(iv) Allowances to MPs/MLAs as contained in clause (17) of section 10;
(v) Allowance for income of minor as contained in clause (32) of section 10;
(vi) Exemption for SEZ unit contained in section 10AA;
(vii) Standard deduction, deduction for entertainment allowance and employment/professional tax as contained in section 16;
(viii) Interest under section 24 in respect of self-occupied or vacant property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23. (Loss under the head income from house property for rented house shall not be allowed to be set off under any other head and would be allowed to be carried forward as per extant law);
(ix) Additional deprecation under clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of section 32;
(x) Deductions under section 32AD, 33AB, 33ABA;
(xi) Various deduction for donation for or expenditure on scientific research contained in sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iia) or sub-clause (iii) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2AA) of section 35;
(xii) Deduction under section 35AD or section 35CCC;
(xiii) Deduction from family pension under clause (iia) of section 57;
(xiv) Any deduction under chapter VIA (like section 80C, 80CCC, 80CCD, 80D, 80DD, 80DDB, 80E, 80EE, 80EEA, 80EEB, 80G, 80GG, 80GGA, 80GGC, 80IA, 80-IAB, 80-IAC, 80-IB, 80-IBA, etc). However, deduction under sub-section (2) of section 80CCD (employer contribution on account of employee in notified pension scheme) and section 80JJAA (for new employment) can be claimed.
As many allowances have been provided through notification of rules, it is proposed to carry out amendment of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (the Rules) subsequently, so as to allow only following allowances notified under section 10(14) of the Act to the Individual or HUF exercising option under the proposed section:
(a) Transport Allowance granted to a divyang employee to meet expenditure for the purpose of commuting between place of residence and place of duty
(b) Conveyance Allowance granted to meet the expenditure on conveyance in performance of duties of an office;
(c) Any Allowance granted to meet the cost of travel on tour or on transfer;
(d) Daily Allowance to meet the ordinary daily charges incurred by an employee on account of absence from his normal place of duty.
It is also proposed to amend rule 3 of the Rules subsequently, so as to remove exemption in respect of free food and beverage through vouchers provided to the employee, being the person exercising option under the proposed section, by the employer.
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.
[Clauses 53, 57 & 58]
Extract of Relevant Clauses of Finance Bill 2020
Clause 53 –
“Clause 53 of the Bill seeks to insert new sections 115BAC in the Income-tax Act relating to tax on income of individuals and Hindu undivided family.
Sub-section (1) of proposed new section 115BAC provides that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act but subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the income-tax payable in respect of the total income of a person, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, for any previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2021, shall, at the option of such person, be computed at the rate given in the table below, if the conditions contained in sub-section (2) are satisfied:
| Total Income | Rate |
| UptoRs 2,50,000 | Nil |
| From Rs 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 | 5 per cent. |
| From Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 7,50,000 | 10 per cent. |
| From Rs 7,50,001 to Rs 10,00,000 | 15 per cent. |
| From Rs 10,00,001 to Rs 12,50,000 | 20 per cent. |
| From Rs 12,50,001 to Rs 15,00,000 | 25 per cent. |
| Above Rs 15,00,000 | 30 per cent. |
First proviso to said sub-section provides that where the person fails to satisfy the conditions contained in sub-section (2) in any previous year, the option shall become invalid in respect of the assessment year relevant to that previous year and other provisions of the Act shall apply, as if the option had not been exercised for the assessment year relevant to that previous year:
Second proviso to said sub-section provides that where the option is exercised under clause (i) of sub-section (5), in the event of failure to satisfy the conditions contained in subsection (2), it shall become invalid for subsequent assessment years also and other provisions of the Act shall apply for those years accordingly.
Sub-section (2) of proposed section provides that for the purposes of sub-section (1), the total income of the individual or Hindu undivided family shall be computed,—
(i) without any exemption or deduction under the provisions of clause (5) or clause (13A) or prescribed under clause (14)(other than those as may be prescribed for this purpose) or clause (17) or clause (32) of section 10 or section 10AA or section 16 or clause (b) of section 24 [in respect of property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23] or clause (iia) of subsection (1) of section 32 or section 32AD or section 33AB or section 33ABA or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iia) or sub-clause (iii) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2AA) of section 35 or section 35AD or section 35CCC or clause (iia) of section 57 or under any provisions of Chapter VI-A other than the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 80CCD or section 80JJAA;
(ii) without set off of any loss,-
(a) carried forward or depreciation from any earlier assessment year, if such loss or depreciation is attributable to any of the deductions referred to in clause (i);
(b) under the head “Income from House Property” with any other head of income;
(iii) by claiming the depreciation, if any, under any provision of section 32, except clause (iia) of subsection (1) of the said section, determined in such manner as may be prescribed; and
(iv)without any exemption or deduction for allowances or perquisite, by whatever name called, provided under any other law for the time being in force.
Sub-section (3) of proposed section provides that the loss and depreciation referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed to have been given full effect to and no further deduction for such loss or depreciation shall be allowed for any subsequent year:
Proviso to said sub-section (3) provides that where there is a depreciation allowance in respect of a block of asset which has not been given full effect to prior to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021, corresponding adjustment shall be made to the written down value of such block of assets as on the 1st day of April, 2020 in the prescribed manner, if the option under sub-section (5) is exercised for a previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021.
Sub-section (4) of proposed section provides that in case of a person, having a Unit in the International Financial Services Centre, as referred to in sub-section(1A) of section 80LA, which has exercised option under sub-section (5), the conditions contained in sub-section (2) shall be modified to the extent that the deduction under section 80LA shall be available to such Unit subject to fulfillment of the conditions contained in the said section.
Explanation to the said sub-section (4) of the proposed section provides that for the purposes of that sub-section, the term “Unit” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (zc) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.
Sub-section (5) of proposed section provides that nothing contained in this section shall apply unless option is exercised in the prescribed manner by the person,-
(i) having business income, on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139 for furnishing the returns of income for any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2021 and such option once exercised shall apply to subsequent assessment years;
(ii) having no business income, along with the return of income to be furnished under sub-section (1) of section 139 for an assessment year:
Proviso to said sub-section (5) of the proposed section provides that the option under clause (i), once exercised for any previous year can be withdrawn only once for a previous year other than the year in which it was exercised and thereafter, the person shall never be eligible to exercise option under this section, except where such person ceases to have any business income in which case, option under clause (ii) shall be available.”
b) Clause 57
“Clause 57 of the Bill seeks to amend section 115JC of the Income-tax Act relating to special provisions for payment of tax by certain persons other than a company.
Sub-section (1) of the said section provides that where the regular income-tax payable for a previous year by a person, other than a company, is less than the alternate minimum tax payable for such previous year, the adjusted total income shall be deemed to be the total income of that person for such previous year and he shall be liable to pay income-tax on such total income at the rate of eighteen and one-half per cent.
Sub-section (3) of the said section provides that every person to whom the said section applies shall obtain a report in such form as may be prescribed, from an accountant, certifying that the adjusted total income and the alternate minimum tax have been computed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and furnish such report on or before the due date for furnishing of return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139.
It is proposed to amend the said sub-section (3) so as to provide that every person to whom the said section applies shall obtain a report before the specified date referred to in section 44AB (i.e. one month prior to the due date for filing of return under sub-section (1) of section 139), in such form as may be prescribed, from an accountant, certifying that the adjusted total income and the alternate minimum tax have been computed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and furnish such report by that date.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2020 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2020-2021 and subsequent assessment years.
It is proposed to consequentially insert a new subsection (5) in the said section so as to provide that the provisions contained therein shall not apply to a person who has exercised the option referred to in section 115BAC or section 115BAD.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-2022 and subsequent assessment years.”
c) Clause 58
“Clause 58 of the Bill seeks to amend section 115JD of the Income-tax Act relating to tax credit for alternate minimum tax.
It is proposed consequentially to insert a new subsection (7) in said section so as to provide that the provisions contained therein shall not apply to a person who has exercised the option referred to in section 115BAC or section 115BAD.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-2022 and subsequent assessment years.”
Extract of Relevant Amendment Proposed by Finance Bill, 2020
53. Insertion of new sections 115BAC and 115BAD.
After section 115BAB of the Income-tax Act, the following sections shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2021, namely:–
Tax on income of individuals and Hindu undivided family.
‘115BAC. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act but subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the income-tax payable in respect of the total income of a person, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, for any previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2021, shall, at the option of such person, be computed at the rate of tax given in the following Table, if the conditions contained in sub-section (2) are satisfied, namely:—
| Sl. No. | Total income | Rate of tax |
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
| 1. | Upto Rs 2,50,000 | Nil |
| 2. | From Rs 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 | 5 per cent. |
| 3. | From Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 7,50,000 | 10 per cent. |
| 4. | From Rs 7,50,001 to Rs 10,00,000 | 15 per cent. |
| 5. | From Rs 10,00,001 to Rs 12,50,000 | 20 per cent. |
| 6. | From Rs 12,50,001 to Rs 15,00,000 | 25 per cent. |
| 7. | Above Rs 15,00,000 | 30 per cent.: |
Provided that where the person fails to satisfy the conditions contained in sub-section (2) in any previous year, the option shall become invalid in respect of the assessment year relevant to that previous year and other provisions of this Act shall apply, as if the option had not been exercised for the assessment year relevant to that previous year:
Provided further that where the option is exercised under clause (i) of sub-section (5), in the event of failure to satisfy the conditions contained in sub-section (2), it shall become invalid for subsequent assessment years also and other provisions of this Act shall apply for those years accordingly.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the total income of the individual or Hindu undivided family shall be computed,—
(i) without any exemption or deduction under the provisions of clause (5) or clause (13A) or prescribed under clause (14) (other than those as may be prescribed for this purpose) or clause (17) or clause (32), of section 10 or section 10AA or section 16 or clause (b) of section 24 (in respect of the property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23) or clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of section 32 or section 32AD or section 33AB or section 33ABA or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iia) or sub-clause (iii), of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2AA), of section 35 or section 35AD or section 35CCC or clause (iia) of section 57 or under any of the provisions of Chapter VI-A other than the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 80CCD or section 80JJAA;
(ii) without set off of any loss,—
(a) carried forward or depreciation from any earlier assessment year, if such loss or depreciation is attributable to any of the deductions referred to in clause (i);
(b) under the head “Income from house property” with any other head of income;
(iii) by claiming the depreciation, if any, under any provision of section 32, except clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of the said section, determined in such manner as may be prescribed; and
(iv) without any exemption or deduction for allowances or perquisite, by whatever name called, provided under any other law for the time being in force.
(3) The loss and depreciation referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed to have been given full effect to and no further deduction for such loss or depreciation shall be allowed for any subsequent year:
Provided that where there is a depreciation allowance in respect of a block of assets which has not been given full effect to prior to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021, corresponding adjustment shall be made to the written down value of such block of assets as on the 1st day of April, 2020 in the prescribed manner, if the option under sub-section (5) is exercised for a previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021.
(4) In case of a person, having a Unit in the International Financial Services Centre, as referred to in sub-section (1A) of section 80LA, which has exercised option under sub-section (5), the conditions contained in sub-section (2) shall be modified to the extent that the deduction under section 80LA shall be available to such Unit subject to fulfillment of the conditions contained in the said section.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the term “Unit” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (zc) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.
(5) Nothing contained in this section shall apply unless option is exercised in the prescribed manner by the person,—
(i) having business income, on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139 for furnishing the returns of income for any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2021, and such option once exercised shall apply to subsequent assessment years;
(ii) having no business income, alongwith the return of income to be furnished under sub-section (1) of section 139 for a previous year relevant to the assessment year:
Provided that the option under clause (i), once exercised for any previous year can be withdrawn only once for a previous year other than the year in which it was exercised and thereafter, the person shall never be eligible to exercise option under this section, except where such person ceases to have any business income in which case, option under clause (ii) shall be available.
Tax on income of certain resident co-operative societies.
115BAD. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act but subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the income-tax payable in respect of the total income of a person, being a co-operative society resident in India, for any previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2021, shall, at the option of such person, be computed at the rate of twenty-two per cent., if the conditions contained in sub-section (2) are satisfied:
Provided that where the person fails to satisfy the conditions contained in sub-section (2) in computing its income in any previous year, the option shall become invalid in respect of the assessment year relevant to that previous year and subsequent assessment years and other provisions of the Act shall apply, as if the option had not been exercised for the assessment year relevant to that previous year and subsequent assessment years.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the total income of the co-operative society shall be computed,—
(i) without any deduction under the provisions of section 10AA or clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of section 32 or section 32AD or section 33AB or section 33ABA or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iia) or sub-clause (iii) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2AA) of section 35 or section 35AD or section 35CCC or under any of the provisions of Chapter VI-A other than the provisions of section 80JJAA;
(ii) without set off of any loss carried forward or depreciation from any earlier assessment year, if such loss or depreciation is attributable to any of the deductions referred to in clause (i); and
(iii) by claiming the depreciation, if any, under section 32, other than clause (iia) of sub-section (1) of the said section, determined in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The loss and depreciation referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed to have been given full effect to and no further deduction for such loss or depreciation shall be allowed for any subsequent year:
Provided that where there is a depreciation allowance in respect of a block of asset which has not been given full effect to prior to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021, corresponding adjustment shall be made to the written down value of such block of assets as on the 1st day of April, 2020 in such manner as may be prescribed, if the option under sub-section (5) is exercised for a previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2021.
(4) In case of a person, having a Unit in the International Financial Services Centre, as referred to in sub-section (1A) of section 80LA, which has exercised option under sub-section (5), the conditions contained in sub-section (2) shall be modified to the extent that the deduction under the said section shall be available to such Unit subject to fulfilment of the conditions contained in that section. Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the term “Unit” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (zc) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.
(5) Nothing contained in this section shall apply unless option is exercised by the person in such manner as may be prescribed on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139 for furnishing the return of income for any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2021 and such option once exercised shall apply to subsequent assessment years:
Provided that once the option has been exercised for any previous year, it cannot be subsequently withdrawn for the same or any other previous year.’.
57. Amendment of section 115JC.
In section 115JC of the Income-tax Act,–
(i) in sub-section (3), for the portion beginning with the words “in such form” and ending with the word and figures “section 139”, the words, figures and letters “before the specified date referred to in section 44AB, in such form as may be prescribed, from an accountant referred to in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the adjusted total income and the alternate minimum tax have been computed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and furnish such report by that date” shall be substituted;
(ii) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, with effect from the 1st day of April, 2021, namely:–
“(5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who has exercised the option referred to in section 115BAC or section 115BAD.”.
58. Amendment of section 115JD.
In section 115JD of the Income-tax Act, after sub-section (6), the following sub-section shall be inserted, with effect from the 1st day of April, 2021, namely:–
“(7) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who has exercised the option referred to in section 115BAC or section 115BAD.”.
