Chapter 4: Income of Other Persons Included in the Assessee's Total Income for Income Tax Law
Chapter 4: Income of Other Persons Included in the Assessee's Total Income
1. Explain the concept of "Clubbing of Income"
under the Income Tax Act.
Introduction: The concept of Clubbing of Income
refers to the inclusion of income earned by another person in the assessee's
total income. The Income Tax Act has specific provisions under Section 60 to
Section 64 that require the inclusion of income in the hands of the
taxpayer when it is transferred or diverted in certain ways. This is done to
prevent tax avoidance where income is diverted to family members to escape tax.
Body:
- Section
60 - Transfer of Income without Transfer of Asset:
- Section
60 deals with income that is transferred without transferring the
asset. If an individual transfers income arising from an asset (e.g.,
rents, dividends) to another person but retains the asset’s ownership,
the income will be clubbed with the income of the transferor.
- Example:
A person transfers the income from a property to their spouse but
continues to own the property. The income will still be taxed in the
hands of the person transferring the income.
- Section
61 - Transfer of Capital Asset or Stock-in-Trade:
- If
an individual transfers a capital asset or stock-in-trade and the income
from that asset is derived by another person, it will be clubbed with the
income of the transferor if the transfer is made with the intention of
avoiding tax.
- Example:
A transfer of an asset to a relative or close family member with the aim
to reduce taxable income is subject to clubbing provisions.
- Section
64 - Income of Spouse, Minor Child, and Other Relatives:
- Income
of Spouse: If a taxpayer transfers property or income-generating
assets to their spouse, the income from such property is included in the
income of the taxpayer under certain conditions. However, income
transferred to a spouse for the purpose of earning income through an
independent business is not clubbed.
- Income
of Minor Children: The income of minor children (except for income
earned through manual work) is included in the income of the parents,
with certain exceptions, such as the income from a minor’s talent or
skills.
- Income
of Son’s Wife or Minor's Income: In certain cases, the income of a
son’s wife or the minor child can be clubbed with the assessee's income.
Conclusion: Clubbing of Income ensures that
individuals cannot evade tax by transferring income-producing assets to others
while still controlling the asset. It prevents the diversion of income to
family members to reduce tax liability.
2. Explain the clubbing of income provisions for the
income of a minor child.
Introduction: Under Section 64(1A) of the Income
Tax Act, 1961, the income of a minor child (except for income
arising from the child’s manual work or skill), is clubbed with
the income of the parent. This provision aims to prevent tax avoidance where
parents transfer their income-producing assets to minor children.
Body:
- Income
of Minor Child:
- Any
income arising to a minor child, other than income earned from manual
work or skills, is clubbed with the income of the parents. The
parent with the higher income is considered to include the minor's income
in their total income.
- Example:
If a minor child receives an income of ₹50,000 from a property gifted by
a parent, this ₹50,000 will be included in the parent’s income for tax
purposes.
- Exceptions
to Clubbing:
- Income
from Manual Work or Skill: Income earned from a minor child’s manual
work or skills is not clubbed with the parent's income.
- Example:
If a child runs a small business or earns from drawing or singing, this
income is not clubbed with the parent’s income.
- Income
of Minor for Work Related to Business or Profession of Parent: If the
income is earned by a minor in a business or profession in which one of
the parents is involved, the income may be clubbed with the parent’s
income.
- Application
of Exceptions: If the minor child earns through their personal skill
or talent (e.g., a child actor), the income would not be subject to
clubbing provisions.
- Taxation:
- Once
the income of the minor is clubbed with the parent's income, it is taxed
according to the parent's applicable tax slab.
- Example:
If the parent’s income is ₹5,00,000 and the minor child earns ₹50,000
from an asset, the total income of the parent for taxation will be
₹5,50,000.
Conclusion: The income of a minor child, except
income from manual work or skill, is clubbed with the parent’s income.
This provision aims to prevent parents from reducing their taxable income by
transferring assets to their children.
3. Discuss the taxability of income transferred to a
spouse under Section 64(1)(iv) of the Income Tax Act.
Introduction: Under Section 64(1)(iv) of the Income
Tax Act, 1961, the income arising from assets transferred by an individual
to their spouse is included in the transferor’s total income. The objective is
to prevent income splitting and tax avoidance by transferring income-generating
assets to a spouse.
Body:
- Income
Transferred to Spouse:
- If
an individual transfers an asset (such as a property or investments) to
their spouse, the income arising from that asset is included in the
transferor's total income.
- Example:
A person transfers a rental property to their spouse, and the rental
income generated from that property is included in the transferor's
income.
- Exceptions:
- The
provisions of Section 64(1)(iv) do not apply if the income is
transferred to the spouse as a result of a gift in the course of a
legitimate business transaction or if the transfer is made in the
course of a business operated independently by the spouse.
- Example:
If the spouse runs their own business or independently earns income, the
income generated through such business is not clubbed with the
transferor’s income.
- Remuneration
for Professional Services:
- If
a transfer of assets to a spouse results in the spouse earning remuneration
for professional services, such remuneration will not be clubbed with
the transferor's income.
- Example:
If a spouse is employed or engaged in independent professional work, any
income from such work will be treated as the spouse’s income.
Conclusion: Income transferred to a spouse is
generally clubbed with the transferor’s income, unless the income is from the
spouse’s independent business or profession, in which case it is treated as the
spouse’s income.
4. Explain the tax treatment of income of a spouse, where
the transferor has made a gift or transfer to avoid tax.
Introduction: When a taxpayer transfers assets to
their spouse with the intention to avoid tax, Section 64(1)(iv) of the Income
Tax Act, 1961 ensures that the income from such assets is still included in
the transferor’s total income.
Body:
- Tax
Treatment of Income Transferred to Spouse:
- If
an individual makes a gift or transfer to their spouse with the
intention of avoiding tax, the income generated from that asset is
included in the transferor’s income. The section applies even if the gift
or transfer is made with the intention to avoid paying taxes.
- Example:
A person transfers income-generating assets, such as stocks or property,
to their spouse to reduce their own taxable income. The income from such
assets will still be taxed in the hands of the transferor.
- Income
from Assets in the Form of Gifts:
- Gifts
to spouses are subject to clubbing provisions if the transferor retains
control over the asset or if the transfer is made to avoid tax.
- Example:
If an individual gifts stocks or other assets to their spouse, and the
income generated from these assets is diverted to the spouse to reduce
their tax liability, the income will still be taxed in the hands of the
individual making the gift.
Conclusion: Income transferred to a spouse to
avoid taxes is included in the transferor’s total income, ensuring that
the provisions prevent tax avoidance through such transfers.
5. What is the impact of the clubbing provisions on the
total income of an individual?
Introduction: Clubbing provisions ensure that income
diverted to others is not used to avoid taxation. The total income of an
individual is affected by these provisions, as income earned by certain
relatives or through specific transfers is clubbed with the individual’s income
for tax purposes.
Body:
- Spouse
and Minor Children:
- Income
earned by a spouse or minor children is clubbed with the
income of the individual making the transfer or earning the income.
- Example:
If a person transfers assets to a spouse or minor child, the income from
these assets is taxed in the individual’s hands.
- Impact
on Tax Liability:
- Since
the transferred income is taxed in the transferor’s hands, the total
taxable income of the transferor increases, potentially pushing them into
a higher tax bracket.
- Example:
If a person’s total income is ₹5,00,000 and they transfer
income-generating assets to their spouse, and the spouse earns ₹1,00,000
from those assets, the total income of the transferor will be ₹6,00,000,
increasing their tax liability.
Conclusion: The clubbing provisions increase the
total taxable income of the individual who has transferred assets to others,
leading to higher tax liability, thereby preventing tax avoidance through the
diversion of income.
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