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CA Hemant Sharma

As we all aware that there is always a chaos regarding Land Acquisition Bill and its implication on taxability of the interest income generated by way of compulsory acquisition of land. The scope of this write up is an attempt to clarify chaos that is taxability of various incomes (specifically interest) from compulsory acquisition of land. Types of income which an asset under consideration can result are capital gain (if asset is a capital asset), interest on compensation or enhanced compensation.

Extract of Section 28 and 34 of Land Acquisition Act 1894

Quoting Section 28 of Land Acquisition Act 1894

Section 28 of the 1894 Act which reads as under:

Section 28 – Collector may be directed to pay interest on excess compensation. – If the sum, which the Collector did award as compensation, the award of the Court may direct that the collector shall pay interest on such excess at the rate of [nine per centum] per annum from the date on which he took possession of the land to the date of payment of such excess into Court:

Provided that the award of the Court may also direct that where such excess or any part thereof is paid into Court after the date or expiry of a period of one year from the date on which possession is taken, interest at the rate of fifteen per centum per annum shall be payable from the date of expiry of the said period of one year on the amount of such excess or part thereof which has not been paid into Court before the date of such expiry.”

Quoting Section 34 of Land Acquisition Act 1894

Section 34 of the 1894 which reads as under:

Section 34 – Payment of interest.-When the amount of such compensation is not paid or deposited on or before taking possession of the land, the Collector shall pay the amount awarded with interest thereon at the rate of nine per centum per annum from the time of so taking possession until it shall have been so paid or deposited.

Provided that if such compensation or any part thereof is not paid or deposited within a period of one year from the date on which possession is taken, interest at the rate of fifteen per centum per annum shall be payable from the date of expiry of the said period of one year on the amount of compensation or part thereof which has not been paid or deposited before the date of such expiry.”

Views of Hob’ble Apex Court in CIT vs Ghanshyam (HUF) regarding interest

“To sum up, interest is different from compensation. However, interest paid on the excess amount under Section 28 of the 1894 Act depends upon a claim by the person whose land is acquired whereas interest under Section 34 is for delay in making payment. This vital difference needs to be kept in mind in deciding this matter. Interest under Section 28 is part of the amount of compensation whereas interest under Section 34 is only for delay in making payment after the compensation amount is determined. Interest under Section 28 is a part of enhanced value of the land which is not the case in the matter of payment of interest under Section 34.

Thus, it can concluded that out of the total interest amount portion which is under section 28 will be taxed as compensation and interest under section 34 will be taxed normally by applying sections 145A(b), 56(2)(viii), and 57(iv) which are reproduced below:

Extract of some section Section 145B(1), Section 56(2)(viii) & Section 57(iv) of Income Tax Act, 1961:

Section 145B(1)

145B. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 145, the interest received by an assessee on any compensation or on enhanced compensation, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which it is received.

Section 56(2)(viii)

(viii) income by way of interest received on compensation or on enhanced compensation referred to in 12[sub-section (1) of section 145B];

Section 57(iv)

(iv) in the case of income of the nature referred to in clause (viii) of sub-section (2) of section 56, a deduction of a sum equal to fifty per cent of such income and no deduction shall be allowed under any other clause of this section.

Now it has to be looked into how legal position can affect the assesse (Whether in his favour or against), this can be understood by the following table describing different situations:

Examples on Taxability of Chaotic Interest Incomes from Acquisition of Land:

S.no Particulars If Land is Rural Agricultural If Land is Urban Agricultural If Land is Urban Land
1 Whether Land is Capital Asset? No (If falling outside the limits as specified in Section 2(14)). Yes (If falling Inside the limits as specified in Section 2(14)). Yes
2 Whether Capital Gain is Exempt? No Question of Cap Gain Yes, subject to Fulfillment of Conditions as specified in Section 10(37) No
3 Inclusion of Interest Under Section 28 of the Act 1894 Will be included under enhanced compensation and will not be taxed as no Capital Gain will arise. Will be included under enhanced compensation and will not be taxed as Capital Gains from this are exempt under Section 10(37). The Interest under consideration should be included in the enhanced compensation as per above cited case but practically assessee will never want this inclusion due to reason mentioned in point 4.
4 Whether Assessee will be benefited by inclusion of interest under section 28 of 1894 Act in enhanced compensation? Yes, because here part of interest under section 28 of 1894 Act will not be taxed as it is included in enhanced compensation of an asset the gains of which are exempt. In other words, by dint of falling outside section 2(14) will save tax. In this Scenario above mentioned SC order can be used favorably. Yes, because here part of interest under section 28 of 1894 Act will not be taxed as it is included in enhanced compensation of a Capital Asset the gains of which are exempt under Section 10(37) of the 1961 Act. In other words, by dint of Section 10(37) will save this class of interest from tax. In this Scenario above mentioned SC order can be used favorably. No, because the Capital Gains in this situation are taxable at the flat rate of 20%. Whereas if interest is not included in enhanced compensation it will entitled to get a flat deduction of 50% and the balance 50% will subject to tax at normal slab rates. Incidence of tax is higher if interest under consideration is included in compensation and vice-versa.
5. Whether Tax Planning can be done by using above cited judgment in respect of interest under section 28 of the 1894 Act? Yes Yes No
6. Taxability of Interest Under Section 34 of the 1894 Act Taxed normally after a deduction of flat 50% Taxed normally after a deduction of flat 50% Taxed normally after a deduction of flat 50%
7. When interest under Section 34 of the 1894 Act is to be taxed is an issue at all in these cases? A.    What Various Judicial Pronouncement says?

Interest on enhanced compensation is not taxable on lumsum basis under mercantile system, however spread over on annual basis over the period starting from the date of compulsory acquisition to the date on which court makes an order for enhanced compensation.

This ratio-decidendi expressed by following judicial pronouncements:

1.       ITO vs Amar Lal (order dated 30th Nov 2006)

2.       CIT vs Rama Bai (order dated 8th Nov 1989)

3.       CIT vs Vikrambhai Sombhai Patel (order dated 23rd May 2014)

B.    What statue says?

This has been dealt by section 145B(1) and the same is reproduced below:

145B. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 145, the interest received by an assessee on any compensation or on enhanced compensation, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which it is received.

Author can be reached @ hs.rbmco@hotmail.com

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(Republished with Amendments by Team Taxguru)

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14 Comments

  1. Pankaj says:

    Hi sir, our land was acquired by Haryana govt for SEZ in 2008. We have received the enhanced compensation along with interest on the delayed payment. The HSIIDC have issued form 16 where TDS was deduced at 10% on interest amount under section 194A. Please help us to understand how the return would be filed?

  2. Haresh says:

    Hello sir
    I want ask you one question about compulsory land acquisition, in 1970 government acquired and pay in 1972 compensation RS. 35000, and after owner filed case and win in 2015 pat rs 200000 something, in which has above 1800000 deducted tds as 194a 10%. now i want to claim tds refund . how can file return , how can i saw income which is 1800000 is treated as income from other sources ? plz help me
    mo-9022552009

  3. Chandan j patel says:

    Hello Hemanth Sharma, the above article of urs is very helpful.
    Our land was acquired in 1997 for a Irrigation project . During that time land was in agriculture zone ..considering the potentiality of the land being converted to urban use the civil court enhanced the compensation . Along with compensation , interest was paid for 15years ..
    Questions : 1) do we have to file income tax returns?
    2) is the interest ( for delay in payment ) taxable ?

  4. Manohar Naidu Guntreddi says:

    Dear Sir,

    Agricultural land which was under cultivation in
    rural area was acquired by State Government for SEZ purpose in 2004 Due
    to some dispute in the village the amount was not paid by the district
    Collector to the actual cultivators in spite of having the full
    ownership rights with registered title sale deeds and the district
    Collector deposited the amount in the district Court in 2006. Finally
    the Court gave the judgement and the amount is expected by the actual
    cultivators. The original amount was deposited by the Court in the
    Commercial banks and now the Cultivators receive the original amount along with banks interest.

    Kindly clarify whether the original amount or the interest will attract the Capital gains if so what steps to be taken for investment purpose to avoid Capital gains

  5. vijay anand Tyagi says:

    there should be writ file against the deptt officer who deduct the tds on amt of compensation even interest u/s 28 of L.A. 1894 regarding agriculture land.

  6. Amit Kumar Jain says:

    Dear Sir,

    Our Land was acquired by Government and my Father have received the enhanced compensation along with interest after 15 years. Hence it becomes taxable. But since father is making a house and have invested the amount in the new house, can he claim exemption u/s 54

  7. CA Apurv Kalantri says:

    The Apex Court settled a very old controversy with regard to the year of taxability of the receipt of Disputed Enhanced Compensation is now resolved and the same is taxable in the year of receipt, notwithstanding the fact that the dispute with regard to the ultimate right of receiving such compensation under the L.A. Act is finally not settled. The judgments of the Apex Court in the above cases also make it clear that the above position with regard to the taxability of receipt of such compensation will apply under the Post-1988 Law. In the context of the year of taxability of interest on compensation or on enhanced compensation, the Act is now specifically amended by the Finance Act, 2009 w.e.f. the A.Y. 2010-11 [Ref. sections 145A(b), 56(2)(viii) and 57(iv)]. Under the amended provisions, effectively, 50% of the interest received by the assessee on compensation or on Enhanced Compensation is taxable in the year of receipt. These provisions do not distinguish between the interest received u/s 28 or 34 of the L.A. Act. In fact, these provisions also do not make any reference to compulsory acquisition or to the L.A. Act. Therefore, some issues are likely to come up for consideration with regard to the applicable provisions for the taxability of such interest and in particular, in the context of interest awarded u/s 28 of the L.A. Act.

    But inspite of these guidelines laid by the Apex Court the dispute on the very issue of relevance of enhanced compensation and refute persists which often results in the incorrect usage of the provision and undue advantage are taken. Not to forget the inherent limitations of the statute because of its age. The Land Acquisition Act is more than 150 years old nod and its provision need to be amended drastically, especially in matters relating to compensation and their tax implications. With the taxation laws and rules changing by the day, it is very difficult o keep a harmony and find a way to draw relevant conclusions on its application. The problem is also not properly dealt properly in the new Land Acquisition Bill. So the only solution at the disposal is a dynamic Act, in-competence with the ever-changing issues arising.

  8. Ashish says:

    Thanx for the valuable info.
    What is taxability of compensation received in form of land along with monetory term? is plot of land received as compensation for complusory acquisition will form part of compensation ans subsequently exempted as per sec 10 or 10(37),as applicable.?
    Also what is a tax treatment of sale of that plot?

  9. P.P. Maheshwary (Senior Advocate) says:

    Hi Hemant. In one of our client case, CIT decided that the interest u/s 28 of LA Act, was exempt before the ammendment of Section 145A(b) and insertion of clause (Viii) in section 56 (Income from other sources). After the amendment of the said sections in Income tax Act, the Supreme court ruling in the case of CIT V/s Ghanshyam (HUF) does not hold.

    What are your views on this? Do you have any latest judicial ruling on this, which we can refer, particularly after the said amendment.

    Thanks.
    P.P. Maheshwary
    9417037614

  10. Gnanasekar says:

    Sir,
    your article was really good and useful.Our land was taken up by Tamilnadu Housing Board and after more than 15 years of legal war recently we received the compensation partly.Our land was an agricultural land and the board have deducted tax up to 5% of the compensation.My question is since it is an agricultural land whether we have to pay 20% income tax or not to pay any tax? Kindly give your valuable suggestion and kindly send the reply to my e-mail id nata67@rediffmail.com.
    Thanking you
    with best wishes
    N.GNANASEKAR

  11. MUKESH ANTIL says:

    this is very key point raised by you ,no professionals raised this question reagarding taxabilty of interest on land compensation ,as per our view interest under section 28 of land Act,1894 must be part of compensation as interest on compensation under section 28 is given to farmers against the deprive of rights which ought to have enjoyed at time of announcement of award by Collector, in other words interest payment under section 28 is to compensate to farmer against damage of right – this is finding of Apex court.
    So Hon’ble Finance Minister should draw attention of above key point

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